DANGER! Host Ken Jennings is counting on the approval of fellow game show host Drew Carey as he seeks a long-running stint on the game show, The US Sun has been told.
Former champion Ken, 50, took over sole hosting duties after co-host Mayim Bialik was fired in December.
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Initially, then-executive producer Mike Richards was named the new Jeopardy! host in 2021.
He was forced to resign after just a week when sexist comments he had previously made on a podcast resurfaced.
Now, Ken has ambitions to replicate his hero, Alex Trebek, and his decades-long run on the beloved quiz show.
It looks like he has a huge supporter on his side in The Price Is Right host Drew, 66, which is a huge achievement for him.
Read more about Ken Jennings
‘DREW HAS ARRIVED AT KEN’
A colleague of the big-hearted CBS star said: “At a time when there was an opening and a job open, Drew was fiercely by his friend Mike Richards.
“He felt Mike was better prepared to replace Alex and maintain the franchise.
“But that’s because Drew and Mike were friends.
“Now that Mayim has dropped out, Drew has really accepted Ken, even though they are just acquaintances and colleagues.”
GOAT contestant Ken holds the record for longest winning streak on Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive victories in 2004.
Since becoming the sole host, some fans have questioned his charisma, while others have pointed out instances where he can be too harsh in his decisions.
Meanwhile, veteran artist Drew has hosted The Price Is Right since 2007, after replacing the legendary Bob Barker.
He also worked with Jeopardy!’s parent company, Sony Pictures Television, hosting its game show Power of 10 between 2007 and 2008.
That work prepared him for his longtime role on The Price Is Right, which he has held for nearly two decades.
‘MODEL FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION’
For Sony, Drew is the epitome of a modern game show host who replaced an iconic host and has since won over the masses.
Longevity is what Ken wants to do on Jeopardy!, and that’s why he wants Drew’s approval.
“The perception within Jeopardy! bubble right now is that Ken needs all the help he can get,” the US Sun source said.
“Drew sees Ken as a guy who fought for the job, proved himself and deserves a fair shot from the public.
“What’s important about Drew’s endorsement is that it really resonates with Sony executives.
“He’s taken incredibly seriously there, and his acquisition of The Price is Right is the model for a smooth transition from game show host.”
Despite Drew’s weight in the entertainment world, the source believes Ken still has a battle on his hands, with or without his support.
The source said: “Is Drew’s endorsement enough to give Ken the kind of lifetime tenure that Alex enjoyed on the job?
“Not exactly, because Ken still has a balancing act to perform when it comes to keeping the ratings stable while dealing with the vocal army of fans obsessed with Jeopardy!
“Sony listens to Drew, but also monitors the fan community closely.
“Ken has to keep fans hooked without outraging them, and that’s not easy.”
Danger! fans are openly protective of the show’s legacy, regularly reporting the smallest mistakes online.
But most think it wasn’t a mistake to hire Ken as host, and the consensus is that he’s making Alex and the quiz show proud.
HOST DAMAGE
Ken’s vision of capturing Alex’s longevity on Jeopardy! comes after a notoriously scandalous transition period to replace him.
Alex hosted the modern iteration of the show from 1984 until November 2020, after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.
After his death, things got a little chaotic, as viewers know all too well.
After a series of guest hosts, officials announced that producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim would take over as co-hosts.
However, in August 2021, Richards resigned due to resurfaced sexist comments and Ken stepped in to share hosting duties with Mayim.
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim and Ken would continue to host the 39th season together, leaving.
However, following the show’s hiatus in the summer of 2023, it was revealed that Jennings would take over as permanent host for season 40.
Mayim announced in a personal Instagram message in late December 2023 that she would “no longer host” the show.
Danger! Host timeline
Danger! has had a tumultuous history regarding hosts following the death of the iconic Alex Trebek in 2020. Here are every host since the game show’s inception in 1964.
Art Fleming – from 1964 to 1975, he was the original host of the daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.
Alex Trebek – From 1984 to 2020, the late, great Alex hosted the modern iteration of Jeopardy! for 36 years until his death from pancreatic cancer.
Guest Hosts – 2020 to 2021, Jeopardy! tested a series of guest hosts for one- or two-week stints, including Anderson Cooper, LaVar Burton and Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Richards – 2021, he was named host for a week before resigning amid controversy. He was the show’s executive producer at the time.
Mayim Bialik – 2021 to 2023, when Mike was announced as the show’s new host, Mayim was chosen to host tournaments and primetime specials.
Mayim and Ken Jennings – 2022 to 2023, 74-time champion Ken (the winningest contestant of all time) joined Mayim as guest host and they shared hosting duties.
Ken Jennings – 2023 to present. Last December, Mayim announced on Instagram that she would “no longer” host Jeopardy! after a long hiatus, having defended the writers’ strike, and Ken was named sole host.
Ken now runs all editions of Jeopardy! including Celebrity Jeopardy!, the late night show and other primetime specials such as Masters.
“As the Hollywood holidays begin, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she began her post.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”
Danger! cobbled together a similar message on Instagram an hour later, and it has since been reported that Mayim broke the news without consulting the show first.
Ken later said he “understood” the decision, as the shows “don’t have two hosts”.
HAPPY WITH ‘LESS MONEY’
Ken is reportedly tied to a $4 million contract now that he is the sole host of the series.
The US Sun previously reported that his contract is not yet long-term.
“He doesn’t have a Trebek-style long-term contract yet, and the Sony TV president could replace him at any time on a whim,” a source previously shared.
However, Ken is happy to take a pay cut to ensure he remains a host for decades to come.
“Danger! is Ken’s religion; he lives it, breathes it, and despite all the outside pressures, he’s not going to screw it up,” the source revealed.
“What he really wants more than anything is to stay and make this position work long term.
“And if that means making less money to ensure his longevity, you can bet your life he would be in the game.”
Ken earned $2.5 million from his record 74 games as a competitor and $4.3 million including tournaments.
Alex reportedly earned $10 million a year at the end of his 36-year tenure.
‘KEN KNOWS HIS PROBLEMS’
As Ken grows into his seemingly permanent role, he is also aware that his biggest pitfall is not being a natural TV host.
Ken has never had another major TV role to his name, but he’s not letting that stop him as he grows into his role in the long run.
“Ken is self-aware and knows his issues will always be how his personality appears on camera,” a source previously said.
“And not your proven experience with trivia or the game Jeopardy! itself.
“Ken knows this, Sony knows this and everyone knows this is the reason he was never the first choice to replace Alex Trebek,” they stated.
“He got this job because the other candidates didn’t work out, and Ken is at peace with that.”
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