Mayim Bialik Fans Are Going to Freak Out Over This Huge 'Jeopardy!' Announcement

Jeopardy! fans, Mayim Bialik is returning to the show sooner than you think.

After officially being named an interim host of the beloved quiz show on September 20 following a successful run as a guest host, her time reading clues to Jeopardy! contestants came to an end on November 5. But only days after handing over temporary hosting duties to Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings, the game show made an exciting announcement about Mayim coming back to the lectern before the end of the year.

On November 11, Jeopardy! revealed the show is airing a new special called Professors Tournament, which will be hosted by The Big Bang Theory actress starting on December 6. The first of its kind, the Professors Tournament will feature 15 instructors from colleges and universities from across the U.S. The contestants will go head-to-head to compete for the grand prize of $10,000 and a spot in the upcoming Tournament of Champions.

The winner of the Professors Tournament will be crowned on December 17 after a total of 10 games are played. The educator will then join the likes of Jeopardy! champions Matt Amodio and Jonathan Fisher, who are also taking part in the next ToC.

Mayim, of course, is excited for the tournament episodes, which she already taped, to air next month. “It was an unbelievable thrill to see so many brilliant professors from all kinds of schools and backgrounds come together on the Jeopardy! stage,” Mayim said in a statement, per Deadline. “There was a sense of kinship and academic camaraderie among the group, along with a healthy dose of competitiveness. That energy made this inaugural Professors Tournament incredibly special.”

Folks who've tuned in to Jeopardy! over the years may have noticed that the Professors Tournament is a version of the annual Teachers Tournament, which has aired every year since 2011 except for this year. In any case, we're excited to see the first special of the year — and something tells us Mayim will receive a warm welcome back from fans.

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