Ken Jennings reveals Mayim Bialik's 'Jeopardy!' exit 'took me off guard'

Ken Jennings reveals Mayim Bialik's "Jeopardy!" exit came as a shock to the quiz show legend, now the show's sole remaining host.

"Jeopardy!" announced that Jennings and Bialik would split hosting duties in July 2022. Amid ongoing Hollywood strikes, Jennings stepped in to host this season of "Celebrity Jeopardy!" that debuted in September. The "Blossom" star announced in a Dec. 15 Instagram post that she would no longer host the syndicated game show.

"It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her," Jennings said in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter published Tuesday. "I can’t speak to her decision-making process or her opinions about it. But on my end, I’m just a fan of 'Jeopardy!' and I’m always delighted to host when they call upon me. I just feel extremely lucky to have even been considered for this job as a non-broadcaster."

Mayim Bialik announces she's 'no longer' hosting 'Jeopardy!'

Bialik, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and Jennings, who tops the game show's leaderboard for consecutive victories and largest regular-season winnings, were among the guest hosts tapped to fill in following Alex Trebek's November 2020 death. Sony Pictures Television eventually selected executive producer Mike Richards as permanent host. But he resigned less than two weeks later due to controversy over past remarks and unrest among the show's staff.

Bialik stepped away from the "Jeopardy!" podium this summer in solidarity with striking Hollywood writers, according to a report from industry outlet Deadline.

At the time, "Jeopardy!" had one week of taping left in Season 39 that was meant to be hosted by Bialik, but Jennings crossed the picket line to finish the series' production before the summer hiatus, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly.

In her Instagram statement, Bialik attributed the decision of her leaving the syndicated show to Sony, which a spokesperson for the show confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY. "We made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated 'Jeopardy!'"

Jennings told "THR" he's "been learning (the hosting ropes) as I go" and acknowledged "it’s impossible to fill (Trebek's) shoes. But it’s such an honor and and hopefully I look forward to 37 more years of doing it, when I’ll be a very, very old man."

Contributing: Kelly Lawler

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mayim Bialik's exit as Jeopardy! host caught Ken Jennings 'off guard'