Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Toldya: Ken Jennings, Greatest Player of All Time, Named Interim Host of “Jeopardy!” When Show Resumes January 11th

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I told you two weeks ago that Ken Jennings was the next host of “Jeopardy!” My inside sources said he was being groomed for th job and was even given a new job on staff there this year.

Now producers have announced as much, saying Jennings– the greatest player of all time– will get his tryout beginning January 11th.

“Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said Executive Producer Mike Richards in a statement. “We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.”

They say they’re going to rotate in a few different hosts in January. But by February sweeps, Jennings– unless he proves to be a dud– should get the permanent nod.

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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