Following the heartbreaking loss of longtime host Alex Trebek in November 2020, network executives faced the daunting task of finding a new star to fill the late legend’s shoes. They ultimately selected two hosts: Jennings, 50, who transitioned from a computer programmer to a television star with a staggering 74-game winning streak that earned him $2,522,700 in 2004 and Mayim Bialik, the neuroscience expert and Big Bang Theory alum.
Tensions ran high between the cohosts. After a rocky start, Sony Pictures Television announced in December 2023 that Jennings would take the reins as the sole host, showing Bialik, 49, the exit. Given his performance on the show, his growing fanbase, and a noticeable improvement in his hosting skills over time, executives remain confident that Jennings can drive up Jeopardy! numbers despite some recent setbacks.