Why Ken Jennings is taking over

The show must go on – but this time, without Mayim Bialik.

The “Jeopardy!” host has exited the show in its final week of filming Season 39 in support of the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, according to Deadline.

Ken Jennings is set to take on hosting duties in her place, according to the outlet, and they will finish out filming for the season at the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, California, wrapping on Friday, May 19.

The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

The Post reached out to Bialik and Sony for further comment.

On May 2, the WGA announced that members were going on strike in an effort to petition for higher wages, a better pay structure to include streaming services, and regulation around article intelligence.

The WGA is made up of an alliance of two labor unions that represent more than 11,000 writers in the entertainment industry, according to “Today.”

As a result, popular shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” have shut down production.

The upcoming Tony Awards on June 11 may also be canceled.

It is the first Hollywood strike that has happened in 15 years – the last one was in 2008 and lasted for 100 days.

Since the walkout kicked off, many writers have spoken up, including “Jeopardy!” writers Michele Loud and Billy Wisse.

“Our words are on the screen every night,” Loud told Variety. “There is no ‘Jeopardy!’ without writers. Without us, it’s just an empty blue screen.” 

During the interview, the writers explained that while they were grateful for their steady, year-round jobs on the game show, they were disappointed with the current state of the television and film industry and the changes that could lie ahead.

“They never tried to make it a gig economy before,” Wisse told the outlet. “There was always some sense that writers were partners in it.”

According to Deadline, the game show is a WGA program, but the questions asked on the popular TV program were written before the season — and the strike — even began.

In August 2021, it was announced that Bialik would take over hosting “Jeopardy!” in tandem with Jennings.

It is the most-watched show in syndication, grabbing an audience of about 9 million people weekly, Deadline reported.

Last January, it was announced that the show had been renewed for another five years, through the 2027 to 2028 season.

Bialik took over hosting after the legendary entertainer, Alex Trebek, died in November 2020 due to a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80.

However, not everyone has been a fan of Bialik since her time on the show.

In February, fans were angry over this season’s hosting schedule, as they had split duties during the season.

“Jeopardy, stop trying to make Mayim happen,” one person raged on Twitter. “It’s not going to happen.”