‘Jeopardy!’ showrunner reveals why Mayim Bialik was fired

Bye, bye, Blossom.

Mayim Bialik was axed as the co-host of “Jeopardy!” because the show needed more “consistency” with current host Ken Jennings, showrunner Michael Davies revealed to reporters.

“When I took over the show, we were really forced into that situation from everything that happened before, the guest-hosting period,” Davies said at the annual Television Critics Association Press Tour on Saturday.

The ABC game show rotated in hosts following the death of iconic host Alex Trebek in November 2020 at the age of 80 after battling pancreatic cancer.

“Mayim was left hosting the prime-time versions; I brought in Ken to guest-host once Mayim had her schedule on her Fox sitcom,” he said, alluding to Bialik’s Fox series “Call Me Kat,” which premiered in January 2021.

“Over the past two-and-a-half seasons, what we’ve heard from a lot of television stations and other interested parties is that they wanted more consistency,” Davies said.

“They wanted a single host.”

Bialik and Jennings co-hosted “Jeopardy!” through last May, when Bialik, 48, refused to tape the show in sympathy with the writers guild (WGA), which was on strike in Hollywood and would be joined by the actors guild (SAG-AFTRA) in July.

Jennings, 49, has hosted the syndicated version of “Jeopardy!” since the new season premiered in September.

“Mayim is a superb host,” Davies said. “We hope to keep working with her on prime-time versions and other spinoffs.

“Those conversations are ongoing,” he added, “but Ken really won the job.”

Bialik officially announced in December that she was no longer on the show.

“As the holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”

Bialik added that she was “incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy” and was “deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.”

“For all of you who have supported me through this incredible journey and to the fans, contestant, writers, staff and crew of America’s Favorite Quiz Show, thank you,” she concluded.

Jennings, for his part, said he was caught “off guard” by Bialik’s announcement. “I loved working with my Mayim and I’m going to miss her,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.

When Bialik was dismissed from “Jeopardy!,” a spokesperson for the show told People magazine: “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.’

“We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to ‘Jeopardy!,’ and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials.”