DailyMail.com can reveal that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings have been appointed permanent hosts of the syndicated television game show ‘Jeopardy!’
They will rotate hosting duties, so Bialik, 46, can also film the third season of her FOX television sitcom ‘Call Me Kat.’
Bialik will also host ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ to air in primetime on ABC in the Fall.
Sony is expected to make the announcement as early as this Wednesday.
Production sources who have been informed of the decision said, ‘This is fantastic news, our audience love Mayim and Ken and we can’t wait to work with them both.
‘Like our late dear friend Alex Trebek, they love the show and make it special for our viewers at home.
The next new episodes of the game show are scheduled to air on July 29.
DailyMail.com has approached Sony for comment.
Bialik and Jennings will rotate hosting duties with Bialik also hosting ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ in the fall
A source told DailyMail.com that both Jennings and Bialik ‘are extraordinarily smart and have been a dream to work with, so it will be nice to have them take Jeopardy into the future.
‘Both are extraordinarily smart and have been a dream to work with, so it will be nice to have them take Jeopardy into the future.
‘There are also endless spinoff opportunities that they can both be part of, so no one host will feel overwhelmed with the amount of preparation that goes into hosting these shows.’
In June, ‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Michael Davies told Variety, ‘‘We hope to have a hosting announcement very, very soon. But with all of our plans for ‘Jeopardy!’
Speaking backstage at the Emmy awards, Davies added: ‘We’re going to need multiple hosts to represent the entire audience, to represent the entire country, in order to take this franchise forward.’
He also said of the show’s co-hosts: ‘The stars of our show and Mayim [Bialik] and Ken [Jennings] have done incredible job hosting.’
Davies was appointed as the interim show runner of the quiz show in in 2021 and was announced as the full-time executive producer in April 2022.
Back in October, DailyMail.com reported that the production team behind ‘Jeopardy!’ were loving the pairing of Mayim Bialik as host and wanted Sony to make things permanent.
In June, ‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Michael Davies told Variety , ‘‘We hope to have a hosting announcement very, very soon. But with all of our plans for ‘Jeopardy!’
Bialik, who has a doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA, not only has the intellectual chops to host the long running series, but she’s endeared herself to the production staff as well, even bringing in cupcakes this week as a thank you
Mayim, who was described as ‘gracious, warm and smart’, was thought to be a natural fit for the quiz show both on and off camera and is creating a calm environment befitting the legacy of Alex Trebek, according to multiple production insiders.
Following the ‘traumatic’ catastrophe of Mike Richards’ short-lived stint as Alex’s replacement, the crew wapulling for Sony to stop ‘dragging its feet’ and officially lock in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ actress for the coveted gig.
Bialik, who has a doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA, not only has the intellectual chops to host the long running series, but she’s endeared herself to the production staff as well, even bringing in cupcakes this week as a thank you.
‘Mayim is gracious, warm and smart and Michael is a diligent leader who is focused on producing a show for the viewers,’ a source says.
Bialik for her part has been very open wanting to take on the gig full-time. Shortly after Davies became the full-time producer, she told Newsweek: ‘I have very publicly thrown my hat into that ring.’
She continued: ‘I like to say as an actor, and as a potential host, we live season to season so what I know is where I am until May 6.’ May 6th was the day of shooting for the final episode of the season.
While in a separate interview with Entertainment Tonight when asked about whether or not she would like the role of host full time Bialik said: ‘I would love that. I like to say I’ve lived season to season since I was about 13 years old. So what I know is what I’m doing until May 6 and beyond that, hopefully, I’ll know more before May 6.’
During that interview, Bialik said that she received the blessing of Alex Trebek’s family with regards to becoming the show’s first female host.