The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: BrandonFG on November 23, 2020, 05:21:11 PM
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The show's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Jeopardy/posts/3804739019576986) says production resumes on November 30, with rotating interim guest hosts. First guest host: Ken Jennings.
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I sort of figured they’d go this way- have the rest of this season be on-air tryouts with guest hosts going a couple of weeks apiece, then announce a permanent new host starting September 2021...
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Also, per Variety, Trebek's final episode will now air on Jan. 8. The weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28 will be encores of what the show calls "Alex Trebek's 10 best episodes" to honor him.
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/ken-jennings-guest-host-first-jeopardy-episodes-death-alex-trebek-1234838535/
JD
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Also worth noting, per the shows Twitter feed, that Alex‘s last week has been delayed until the week of January 4, with “best of” episodes scheduled for the weeks of December 21 and 28.
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Here's the full press release: https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/jeopardy-returns-studio-nov-30-interim-host
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I think this is exactly the right way to honor Alex. First, the changing of the dates of his last episodes to reduce pre-emptions is a great idea. Second, I think we all knew that they would probably do try-outs of guest hosts, so that comes as no surprise. Starting with Ken, who is the closest to the show itself of any of the names bounced around (sans perhaps Mike Richards) and is probably the most recognized face associated with Jeopardy! that isn't Alex is also a good way to ease fans into the transition.
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Have they chosen the rest of the interim guest hosts? If he weren't in retirement from his age, I would have suggested Vin Scully as a temporary fill-in. He's had game show experience and is well educated.
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From press release...
Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards.
What an odd comment. The show was going to go on no matter what.
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These might not be try-outs. They may know exactly who will be the next permanent host, or they may yet be looking; we have no way of knowing and they’re not gonna tell.
But I am reminded of churches I’ve worked for whose regulations state that when a minister leaves the congregation may *not* call a new permanent minister; they are *required* to have an interim period, such that whoever ends up being their next permanent person doesn’t suffer unduly from comparison to the departing one.
Whoever hosts the next newly-aired episode is gonna get creamed by at least half of the fandom, so why not make that person an interim. In this case we already know it’s Ken, but it takes the pressure off him to not be The Next Host, just the guy who’s holding down the fort.
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Would have made more sense to finish the new episodes as planned on Christmas Day since he usually acknowledges
holidays and may even have holiday themed categories. Run the "Best Of" the last week of December and come back with
guest hosts on January 4.
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Would have made more sense to finish the new episodes as planned on Christmas Day since he usually acknowledges
holidays and may even have holiday themed categories.
It would not make sense, for the very reasoning behind the decision not to do it.
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Somebody who might be interested and I think would have the name recognition and gravitas would be George Clooney, since movie making is uncertain right now.
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Would have made more sense to finish the new episodes as planned on Christmas Day since he usually acknowledges
holidays and may even have holiday themed categories. Run the "Best Of" the last week of December and come back with
guest hosts on January 4.
It would have and I wish they could. The poignancy of the timing sinking in with the comfort of it being Christmas. Having Christmas themed categories isn't a hard and fast tradition, but has been done in the past five years. And while Jeopardy isn't always topical, Alex does the occasional mention of significant days, of which Christmas will qualify. Mike Richards has stated that the first show of Alex's final week starts with a powerful message about togetherness and family, that I wouldn't be surprised ties into the holiday season.
But as someone alluded to, ABC accounts for over half the stations J! is aired on and, unfortunately, the NBA has had a lockdown on Christmas Day for a few years now. And with something as complex and profitable as NBA's scheduling, it's not surprising that things can't be worked around just because of a game show. While I would've liked a YT/streaming service upload or primetime airing on Boxing Day for those in affected markets, I don't think it would have the same impact as it would airing in its normal timeslot. So. I agree with and understand the decision (like my opinion matters). Perhaps air the shows with an on-air mention of their intended airdates.
From press release...
Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards.
What an odd comment. The show was going to go on no matter what.
Is it? Sounds like a stock comment that I've heard many directors and producers use in light of the death of a cast member in the middle of a production. Of course the show was going to go on, but after how much time off? Turns out the answer is not much and I think that's what partially inspired the comments.
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From press release...
Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards.
What an odd comment. The show was going to go on no matter what.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that whoever does Jeopardy!'s PR simply wrote a nice, professional enough quote that sounds like something a person of Mike's stature would say. Like Jason said, it's a typical stock quote.
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All of this is great...I just want LeVar Burton or Laura Coates to get a week of shows doing this.
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Eventually Mike Richards will get his week of hosting the show.
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
Doesn't he still live on the East Coast? IIRC, CBS really wanted him for TPIR after Barker retired, but he didn't want to do the commute (and they even offered to move the show to NYC, but he wouldn't commit long term and that's why they ultimately passed). He's also 65- maybe he wants to semi-retire (if the right show for him comes up, he'll do it) and doesn't think J! fits his hosting style really well.
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
Doesn't he still live on the East Coast? I
He splits his time but , yes.
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
Danica McKellar? Why, of course, she's the FIRST person I'd think of to inherit Trebek's podium!
**eyes rolling back so hard, I can see muh brain**
JakeT
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
Doesn't he still live on the East Coast? IIRC, CBS really wanted him for TPIR after Barker retired, but he didn't want to do the commute (and they even offered to move the show to NYC, but he wouldn't commit long term and that's why they ultimately passed). He's also 65- maybe he wants to semi-retire (if the right show for him comes up, he'll do it) and doesn't think J! fits his hosting style really well.
While still stinging from being bounced from DWTS, he's probably not eager to take a job where he'd be scrutinzed at a much higher level than normal and crucified by the "no one but Trebek" fanbois...
JakeT
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Danica McKellar? Why, of course, she's the FIRST person I'd think of to inherit Trebek's podium!
**eyes rolling back so hard, I can see muh brain**
She's known for being smart -- she's famous for having coauthored a paper in mathematics as an undergraduate at UCLA, and she's written several books about math aimed at a popular audience.
Obviously, that doesn't make her a good choice for J! host in and of itself, but I certainly don't see it as an eye-rollingly stupid name for Tom Bergeron to throw out.
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Danica McKellar? Why, of course, she's the FIRST person I'd think of to inherit Trebek's podium!
**eyes rolling back so hard, I can see muh brain**
She's known for being smart -- she's famous for having coauthored a paper in mathematics as an undergraduate at UCLA, and she's written several books about math aimed at a popular audience.
Obviously, that doesn't make her a good choice for J! host in and of itself, but I certainly don't see it as an eye-rollingly stupid name for Tom Bergeron to throw out.
At least if she's picked, she can say she was alive during the Fleming era. (albeit the last day of the original run) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danica_McKellar)
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Danica McKellar? Why, of course, she's the FIRST person I'd think of to inherit Trebek's podium!
**eyes rolling back so hard, I can see muh brain**
She's known for being smart -- she's famous for having coauthored a paper in mathematics as an undergraduate at UCLA, and she's written several books about math aimed at a popular audience.
Obviously, that doesn't make her a good choice for J! host in and of itself, but I certainly don't see it as an eye-rollingly stupid name for Tom Bergeron to throw out.
She’s actually a well-known science and mathematics communicator now. Given that, plus her background in acting, she seems like an exceptional choice. I don’t know why she would an eye roll-inducing choice.
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Bergeron's 65 years old. Until recent years, that was pretty much a "you're done" age in game shows. Barker, Sajak, and Trebek all stretched that out, but they were all on long-running shows at the time.
Also, Bergeron has experience with replacing the "definitive" host (on Hollywood Squares), and he did quite well. Would he really want to go through that again, with far more scrutiny?
I get the sense that Bergeron doesn't feel the need to get back in the game.
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Tom Bergeron is a great host, but Jeopardy! doesn't play to his strengths. He's best suited to a lighthearted environment that offers opportunities to go off-script and find a fun moment -- Breakfast Time was his ideal vehicle.
P.S.: Networks, please give Tom Bergeron another show like Breakfast Time.
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Tom Bergeron is a great host, but Jeopardy! doesn't play to his strengths. He's best suited to a lighthearted environment that offers opportunities to go off-script and find a fun moment -- Breakfast Time was his ideal vehicle.
Bud Collyer comes to mind as an emcee who could deftly swing between the lighthearted Beat the Clock and To Tell the Truth which called for gravitas. I can't think of another emcee like that.
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If anyone happens to be in the studio for one of Ken's tapings, let us know what you think.
I thought he came across as a bit smug when he was a contestant.
Consider who the E.P. of the show is. He's not known for high standards when it comes to emcees and would probably like to have the job himself.
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Surprised to see Tom Bergeron publicly take himself out of the running via tweet today:
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521 (https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1335267731885547521)
Doesn't he still live on the East Coast? IIRC, CBS really wanted him for TPIR after Barker retired, but he didn't want to do the commute (and they even offered to move the show to NYC, but he wouldn't commit long term and that's why they ultimately passed).
That's right. I got the impression at the time that Tom was more or less done with game shows after Squares ended and nothing I've seen since has indicated otherwise.
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She's known for being smart -- she's famous for having coauthored a paper in mathematics as an undergraduate at UCLA, and she's written several books about math aimed at a popular audience.
More to the point, I think I'm going to trust Tom Farking Bergeron's expertise on the subject more than Random Fan's.
/and I speak as a Random Fan as well
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I may regret asking this later...but if Mike Richards does indeed put himself in the running for the position and gets it, would it really be the worst thing in the world? He may not be Alex but from what I’ve watched he seems like he could handle Jeopardy.
Not that he would be my first choice, but still.
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I think it would be a bad look in terms of self-dealing, but I can think of far worse people for the job.
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If anyone happens to be in the studio for one of Ken's tapings, let us know what you think.
Not sure how any of the denizens of this board would get in, since they're still operating under coronavirus protocols -- unless someone happens to have been called as a contestant.
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Are we to assume that Ken is doing multiple weeks? I was expecting news on another guest host to have filtered out by now.
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Are we to assume that Ken is doing multiple weeks? I was expecting news on another guest host to have filtered out by now.
I'd assume that he does at least two, just based on their normal taping schedule. If that's the case, then they're set through January 22, so they may be waiting to pick taping back up after the holidays.