The future of your weeknight television might hang in the balance as we speak. Ken Jennings works hard to keep the balance on ‘Jeopardy!’ now that he’s the sole host. They let go of Mayim Bialik and let Jennings rule as captain of the ship. So far, he’s thriving. However, now he faces a fresh set of challenges.
Recently, Pat Sajak ends his tenure as the host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’. The show swiftly replaces him with Ryan Seacrest, one of Hollywood’s strongest, most reliable hosts in the industry. He proves he can steady the ship for his radio show and American Idol. Now, he has the reins of another massive popular TV show. According to an insider, this could cause frictions between ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and Ken Jennings’ ‘Jeopardy!’
TV Insider Warns Ken Jennings of a Worrying Ratings Battle With Ryan Seacrest
In an article on The Sun, a Sony Television insider forecasts some turbulence on the horizon for Ken Jennings and ‘Jeopardy!’ Moreover, the shows didn’t always go back and forth. Usually, they’d attract different kinds of people. Sajak introduces a more casual setting, whereas Ken’s Jeopardy thrives as a headier quiz game. “For decades, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have been very evenly matched when it comes to ratings and popularity, but they actually draw two different audiences. The U.S. Jeopardy! fans typically come from bigger cities, while Wheel pulls more from middle America,” they explain.
Additionally, they emphasize Seacrest’s expertise and fresh face gives him a distinct advantage over Ken Jennings. Consequently, this could see the tides shift. “Now that both shows are going into this fall with their new hosts in place, that equilibrium is poised to be disrupted, and at Sony Television, you can feel the excitement as Ryan settles in and starts getting his first episodes as host. He’s bringing a sense of youth and urgency to the job that is a lot harder to pull off than it looks, and Wheel is bound to get a bump in the numbers once his episodes start running in September.”
The insider’s advice for Ken Jennings? It’s quite simple. Don’t get comfortable. “…just because Mayim [Bialik] is out of the picture doesn’t mean he shouldn’t watch his back.”
