Ken Jennings replaces Mayim Bialik on ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’

There’s no question about it.

Ken Jennings, 49, has officially replaced Mayim Bialik, 47, on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” per a dramatic new statement from the show’s network.

Jennings appears solo on an official promotional poster shared to the show’s Instagram page Tuesday.

The art features a smiling Jennings as he walks among lighted signs that read, “Celebrity Jeopardy!”

“The stars shine the brightest in PRIMETIME!” the caption reads. “Get ready for the return of #CelebrityJeopardy! on September 27 at 8/7c. Watch it on @abcnetwork and stream on Hulu!“

Bialik previously hosted the series, but took a step back to support striking Hollywood writers.
AP

It was recently confirmed that Bialik would not be returning to host the speciality spinoff, as she did last year — instead, Jennings would be stepping in.

Bialik declined the role to support Hollywood writers in their ongoing strike, which began May 2, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Bialik — a member of the striking actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA — exited “Jeopardy!” in its final week of filming Season 39 in solidarity with the writers, leaving Jennings to take over, The Post confirmed in the spring.

While both are still slated to co-host “Jeopardy!,” Bialik had been hosting the celebrity version by herself.

The first season premiered last September on ABC, with famous contestants such as “Crazy Rich Asians” actress Constance Wu, “Juno” star Michael Cera and Wil Wheaton, who appeared on the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.”


Photo of Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik.
Bialik and Jennings are still slated to host the regular season of “Jeopardy!”
Jeopardy/Youtube

Photo of Ken Jennings on "Jeopardy!"
Jennings is famously a champion of the game show.
ABC via Getty Images

The change to the A-list edition comes after “Jeopardy!” producers shared their plans for the original series, which will continue despite the strikes.

Showrunner Michael Davies revealed on an Aug. 7 episode of the “Inside Jeopardy!” podcast that they would be using recycled material and featuring former contestants on the upcoming Season 40.

Davies explained that it “wouldn’t be fair to have new contestants making their first appearance” on the show with material that isn’t original or that was written pre-strike.

“The material that we’re gonna be using is a combination of material that our [Writers Guild of America] writers wrote before the strike, which is still in the database and material that is being redeployed from multiple, multiple seasons of the show,” Davies said during the episode.

The showrunner added that he “admires” and “misses” the show’s “beloved” writers, who are petitioning for higher wages, regulation surrounding artificial intelligence, and better pay from streaming services.

The Post has reached out to reps for “Jeopardy!,” Jennings and Bialik for comment.



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