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Mayim Bialik: An Ode to Academia
Mayim Bialik.Mayim Bialik/Instagram
Actress Mayim Bialik, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA,said it was an “immense honor” to hostfrom May 31 to June 11. “Especially for someone who’s dedicated so much of my life to academia to knowing things and to being able to communicate things,” she added.
“Being a woman of science, as I am, is something that I’m obviously very passionate about presenting myself as,” she explained. “I really didn’t grow up with a lot of female role models and I think especially for young people — not just young girls, but for young girls and boys — to see that women can be scientists and can do these types of intellectual things, that feels very important to me.”
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Katie Couric: First Female Guest Host
Katie Couric.Jeopardy/Instagram
Couric took on her duties from March 8 to 19, making her thefirst female guest to ever host the show.
“I love that I’m the first woman!” Couric toldPEOPLEin March. “They framed a little thing for me after I was on. It says, ‘What iconic journalist and Stand Up to Cancer founder is the first female guest host ofJeopardy!?’ And then it says, ‘Who is Katie Couric?’ "
During her time as host, the contestants' cumulative winnings went toStand Up to Cancer, an organization Couric co-founded in 2008 that “funds and develops the newest and most promising cancer treatments to help patients today,” according to its website. Couric’s first husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998.
03of 11Dr. Mehmet Oz: Spurring #BoycottJeopardyJeopardy!Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted from March 22 to April 2, butfans and former contestants were not happy about it. After the casting was announced, a group of former contestantspublished a letter on Mediumto say that Oz’s casting stood “in opposition to everythingJeopardy!stands for” and would celebrate “talking head[s] at the expense of academic rigor and consensus.” (A rep for Oz did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.)The letter called into question several of Oz’s past medical opinions, which he has shared on his own program,The Dr. Oz Show. The backlash, however, was not enough to keep him from his duties.Oz began his gig with a tribute to Trebek, while fans took to social media to say they were going to#BoycottJeopardy. (The show did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.)“Our family are loyal jeopardy fans HOWEVER, we will #BoycottJeopardy while Dr. Oz is the guest host,“a fan wrote.Another quipped, “what is a horrible mistake.”
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Dr. Mehmet Oz: Spurring #BoycottJeopardy
Jeopardy!
Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted from March 22 to April 2, butfans and former contestants were not happy about it. After the casting was announced, a group of former contestantspublished a letter on Mediumto say that Oz’s casting stood “in opposition to everythingJeopardy!stands for” and would celebrate “talking head[s] at the expense of academic rigor and consensus.” (A rep for Oz did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
The letter called into question several of Oz’s past medical opinions, which he has shared on his own program,The Dr. Oz Show. The backlash, however, was not enough to keep him from his duties.
Oz began his gig with a tribute to Trebek, while fans took to social media to say they were going to#BoycottJeopardy. (The show did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
“Our family are loyal jeopardy fans HOWEVER, we will #BoycottJeopardy while Dr. Oz is the guest host,“a fan wrote.
Another quipped, “what is a horrible mistake.”
04of 11Aaron Rodgers: Seeing a Ratings SpikeJeopardy Productions Inc.Green Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgerscalled his time on the show an “honor of a lifetime.” He was on from April 5 to 16, and fiancéeShailene Woodley rooted for her soon-to-be husbandwhile watching from home.Rodgers also brought in a14 percent ratings boost, and had the best ratings performance in a month, following Dr. Oz and Katie Couric’s episodes.
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Aaron Rodgers: Seeing a Ratings Spike
Jeopardy Productions Inc.
Green Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgerscalled his time on the show an “honor of a lifetime.” He was on from April 5 to 16, and fiancéeShailene Woodley rooted for her soon-to-be husbandwhile watching from home.
Rodgers also brought in a14 percent ratings boost, and had the best ratings performance in a month, following Dr. Oz and Katie Couric’s episodes.
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Anderson Cooper: Man with the Cutest Fan
Wyatt Cooper.anderson cooper/instagram
“Wyatt has never watched tv before, and he wont again for a long time, but apparently he caught a bit of me on @Jeopardy!” Cooper captioned the photo.
“It was a dream come true to be guest hosting, and to pay tribute to #AlexTrebek and raise money for @hashaiti.”
During his time, Cooper raised $118,000 forHôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti, an organization that helps residents of Haiti’s Artibonite Valley get the medical care they need.
06of 11Bill Whitaker: A ‘Pinch Myself’ MomentJeopardy Instagram60 Minutes’Bill Whitaker described his experienceas “quite surreal,” during an interview withThe Washington Post. He also said that there were a “couple of times I had to pinch myself to say, ‘Oh my gosh! Look where I am. This is crazy’. It looks just like it looks on television,” before revealing a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.“I work in television news, which is a totally different animal,” he told the outlet. “I’m used to talking to one camera.““Here, you had, I think, four cameras — one swoops in from the side, you talk to that one at the end of one commercial, and then swoops to another one you have to talk to after a commercial, and then the contestants are over on the other side,” he added. “The thing that I was most surprised about was just how fast-paced it is.”
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Bill Whitaker: A ‘Pinch Myself’ Moment
Jeopardy Instagram
60 Minutes’Bill Whitaker described his experienceas “quite surreal,” during an interview withThe Washington Post. He also said that there were a “couple of times I had to pinch myself to say, ‘Oh my gosh! Look where I am. This is crazy’. It looks just like it looks on television,” before revealing a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.
“I work in television news, which is a totally different animal,” he told the outlet. “I’m used to talking to one camera.”
“Here, you had, I think, four cameras — one swoops in from the side, you talk to that one at the end of one commercial, and then swoops to another one you have to talk to after a commercial, and then the contestants are over on the other side,” he added. “The thing that I was most surprised about was just how fast-paced it is.”
07of 11Savannah Guthrie: ‘Relieved Anchors, for 1,000’Jeopardy/InstagramIn order to prepare for her guest spot, theTodayanchor revealed on her showthat she “watched a lot ofJeopardy!” and “made little notes and practiced my pronunciation” to make sure she nailed her duties before her episodes start to air on June 14 through the 25th.Guthrie’s whirlwind experience included taping 10 episodes with 10 outfit changes in just two days.“I’ll take ‘Relieved Anchors,’ for 1,000,” she joked toTodayafter taping her first episode. “The first game is done, only nine more to go. They haven’t kicked me out yet.”
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Savannah Guthrie: ‘Relieved Anchors, for 1,000’
Jeopardy/Instagram
In order to prepare for her guest spot, theTodayanchor revealed on her showthat she “watched a lot ofJeopardy!” and “made little notes and practiced my pronunciation” to make sure she nailed her duties before her episodes start to air on June 14 through the 25th.
Guthrie’s whirlwind experience included taping 10 episodes with 10 outfit changes in just two days.
“I’ll take ‘Relieved Anchors,’ for 1,000,” she joked toTodayafter taping her first episode. “The first game is done, only nine more to go. They haven’t kicked me out yet.”
08of 11George Stephanopoulos: ‘Harder Than It Looks’Jeopardy!The seasoned journalist has seen it all, but George Stephanopoulos admitted that hosting the quiz show was a whole new ball game.“It was so intense, it was so much fun. The crew ofJeopardy!are true professionals, they are amazing at what they do,” theGood Morning Americaanchorsaid on his showof his hosting duties from July 12 through the 16th.“This is a lot harder than it looks, I’m just telling you!” Stephanopoulos laughed in a shot from behind the scenes of the game show. “God bless Alex Trebrek and everybody who has been a guest host.“In a word of advice to futureJeopardy!guest hosts, he added:“Don’t fumble when reading the clues. Stay focused. Keep things moving,” Stephanopoulos saidGMA.“And remember what Alex always said – it’s about the game.”
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George Stephanopoulos: ‘Harder Than It Looks’
The seasoned journalist has seen it all, but George Stephanopoulos admitted that hosting the quiz show was a whole new ball game.
“It was so intense, it was so much fun. The crew ofJeopardy!are true professionals, they are amazing at what they do,” theGood Morning Americaanchorsaid on his showof his hosting duties from July 12 through the 16th.
“This is a lot harder than it looks, I’m just telling you!” Stephanopoulos laughed in a shot from behind the scenes of the game show. “God bless Alex Trebrek and everybody who has been a guest host.”
In a word of advice to futureJeopardy!guest hosts, he added:“Don’t fumble when reading the clues. Stay focused. Keep things moving,” Stephanopoulos saidGMA.“And remember what Alex always said – it’s about the game.”
09of 11Robin Roberts: Making HistoryJeopardy!Stepping up to the lectern from July 19th through the 23rd, Robin Roberts made history as the first Black woman ever to hostJeopardy!“Alex made it look a lot easier – it is not easy!” theGood Morning Americaanchor joked in abehind the scenes clipfrom her guest host spot.Opening up about what she hoped to bring to the program, Roberts teared up as she reflected on the legacy of Alex Trebek in an officialJeopardy! interview.“Just want to bring a little bit of Alex. Can’t be him, no one can be him, but just want to bring a little of the spirit that he brought each and every time he was here in the studio,” the formerCelebrity Jeopardy!contestant said of the late host’s warmth.
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Robin Roberts: Making History
Stepping up to the lectern from July 19th through the 23rd, Robin Roberts made history as the first Black woman ever to hostJeopardy!
“Alex made it look a lot easier – it is not easy!” theGood Morning Americaanchor joked in abehind the scenes clipfrom her guest host spot.
Opening up about what she hoped to bring to the program, Roberts teared up as she reflected on the legacy of Alex Trebek in an officialJeopardy! interview.
“Just want to bring a little bit of Alex. Can’t be him, no one can be him, but just want to bring a little of the spirit that he brought each and every time he was here in the studio,” the formerCelebrity Jeopardy!contestant said of the late host’s warmth.
10of 11LeVar Burton: Hopeful About HostingLeVar Burton.Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy ProductionsLeVar Burton enjoyed every moment of hosting from July 26 through the 30th, and toldThe New York Timesin June his fingers were crossed he’d be offered the full-time gig.“It will hurt. I’m not going to lie,” Burton said at the time of how he’ll feel should it not go his way. “But if that happens, I will get over it. I will be fine. Remember: Everything happens perfectly and for a reason. That is my default. It’s all going to be OK. Because it always is.“With that being said, the formerRainbow Roomhostcited his passion for the program as the fuel for his fire.“I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do,” he said of hosting. “I have been watchingJeopardy!more or less every night of my life since Art Fleming was host.Jeopardy!is a cultural touchstone, and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant.”
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LeVar Burton: Hopeful About Hosting
LeVar Burton.Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy Productions
LeVar Burton enjoyed every moment of hosting from July 26 through the 30th, and toldThe New York Timesin June his fingers were crossed he’d be offered the full-time gig.
“It will hurt. I’m not going to lie,” Burton said at the time of how he’ll feel should it not go his way. “But if that happens, I will get over it. I will be fine. Remember: Everything happens perfectly and for a reason. That is my default. It’s all going to be OK. Because it always is.”
With that being said, the formerRainbow Roomhostcited his passion for the program as the fuel for his fire.
“I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do,” he said of hosting. “I have been watchingJeopardy!more or less every night of my life since Art Fleming was host.Jeopardy!is a cultural touchstone, and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant.”
11of 11Joe BuckJeopardy/Instagram; Eric McCandless via Getty ImagesThe Fox Sports sportscaster stepped up to the podium from Aug. 9 through the 13th, but one prominent viewer seized the moment to throw some shade.“Jeopardy says whoever hosts full time will have to quit their other job, so I’m crossing my fingers it’s Joe Buck,” James Holzhauertweetedon Buck’s first day hosting. Fans many recall Holzhauer currently stands as the game show’ssecond highestall-time winner, having pocketed $2,462,216 in prize money.The drama continued a week later, with Buck taking a moment to fire back at theJeopardy!champ during an Aug. 19 appearance on theSI Media Podcast.“I wouldn’t know James Holzhauer if he was sitting here in my room. I don’t know much about him. I know about his success on the show, but I don’t know what kind of a guy he is,” the broadcaster said. “I couldn’t care less. I’m at the point now where I am so overreacting to Twitter.”
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Joe Buck
Jeopardy/Instagram; Eric McCandless via Getty Images
The Fox Sports sportscaster stepped up to the podium from Aug. 9 through the 13th, but one prominent viewer seized the moment to throw some shade.
“Jeopardy says whoever hosts full time will have to quit their other job, so I’m crossing my fingers it’s Joe Buck,” James Holzhauertweetedon Buck’s first day hosting. Fans many recall Holzhauer currently stands as the game show’ssecond highestall-time winner, having pocketed $2,462,216 in prize money.
The drama continued a week later, with Buck taking a moment to fire back at theJeopardy!champ during an Aug. 19 appearance on theSI Media Podcast.
“I wouldn’t know James Holzhauer if he was sitting here in my room. I don’t know much about him. I know about his success on the show, but I don’t know what kind of a guy he is,” the broadcaster said. “I couldn’t care less. I’m at the point now where I am so overreacting to Twitter.”
source: people.com
