Ken Jennings seeks approval from host Drew Carey as show mistakes could prevent ‘long-term’ contract with Jeopardy!

KEN Jennings is counting on the approval of fellow game show host Drew Carey to bolster his reputation at Jeopardy!, The U.S. Sun has been told.

Former champion Ken, 50, took on sole hosting duties after co-host Mayim Bialik was let go in December.

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Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings sees Drew Carey’s approval as ‘important,’ a source sharedCredit: Jeopardy!

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Drew Carey’s takeover of The Price Is Right ‘is the model for a smooth game show host transition’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Initially, then-executive producer Mike Richards was named the new Jeopardy! host in 2021.

He was forced to resign after a mere week when sexist comments he had previously made on a podcast resurfaced.

Now, Ken has ambitions to replicate his hero, Alex Trebek, and his decades-long run on the beloved quiz show.

It appears he has a supporter in his corner in The Price Is Right presenter Drew, 66, which is crucial as Ken looks to do what Drew has done.

‘DREW HAS COME AROUND TO KEN’

A colleague of the big-hearted CBS star said, “Back when it was an open seat and an open job, Drew was fiercely in his friend Mike Richards’ corner.

“He felt that Mike was the best prepared to replace Alex and keep the franchise going.

“But that’s because Drew and Mike were friends.

“Now that Mayim has bowed out, Drew has really come around to Ken, even though they are merely acquaintances and colleagues.”

GOAT contestant Ken holds the record for the longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive wins in 2004.

Since becoming sole host, some fans have questioned his charisma, while others have called out instances where he can be too harsh in his rulings.

Ken Jennings called out for denying partial answer about famous film as Jeopardy! fans question if game rules are ‘real’
Meanwhile, veteran entertainer Drew has been hosting The Price Is Right since 2007 after taking over from the legendary Bob Barker.

He’s also worked with Jeopardy!’s parent company, Sony Pictures Television, presenting their game show Power of 10 between 2007 and 2008.

That gig set him up for his now-long-running role at The Price Is Right, which he’s held for nearly two decades.

‘MODEL FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION’

Ken wants longevity on Jeopardy!, and it’s why he wants Drew’s approval- that, and Drew has sway at Sony.

To Sony, Drew epitomizes a modern-day game show host who took over for an iconic previous host and has since won over audiences.

“The perception inside the Jeopardy! bubble right now is that Ken needs all the help he can get,” The U.S. Sun’s source said.

“Drew does see Ken as a guy who fought for the job, proved his worthiness, and deserves a fair shot from audiences.

“What’s important about Drew’s approval is that it really does resonate with the executives at Sony.

“He is taken incredibly seriously at that place, and his takeover of The Price is Right is the model for a smooth game show host transition.”

Despite Drew’s weight in the entertainment world, the insider believes Ken still has a battle on his hands, with or without his backing.

The source said, “Is an endorsement from Drew enough to give Ken the kind of lifetime tenure that Alex enjoyed in the job?

“Not quite, because Ken still has a balancing act to perform when it comes to keeping the ratings steady while dealing with the vocal army of Jeopardy!-obsessed fans on the internet who pick over his every syllable looking for mistakes.

“Sony listens to Drew, but they’re also monitoring the fan community incredibly closely.

“Ken has to keep the fans hooked without outraging them, and it’s not easy.”

Jeopardy! fans are vocally protective of the show’s legacy, regularly calling out the smallest of mistakes online.

But most feel it wasn’t a mistake to hire Ken as host, and the consensus is that he’s doing Alex and the trivia show proud.

HOST HAVOC

Ken’s vision to capture Alex’s longevity on Jeopardy! comes after a scandalous transitional period to replace him.

Alex hosted the show’s modern iteration from 1984 until November 2020 after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.

After his death, things got a bit chaotic, as viewers know all too well.

After a series of guest hosts, officials announced that producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim would be taking over as co-hosts.

However, in August 2021, Richards resigned over sexist resurfaced comments and Ken stepped in to split hosting duties with Mayim.

In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim and Ken would continue to host together for Season 39 by switching off.

However, after the show’s summer 2023 hiatus, it was revealed that Jennings would take over as the permanent host for Season 40.

Mayim announced in a personal Instagram message in late December 2023 that she would “no longer be hosting” the show.

Jeopardy! Host Timeline

Jeopardy! has had a tumultuous history regarding hosts after the death of the iconic Alex Trebek in 2020. Here are all of the hosts since the game show’s inception in 1964.

Art Fleming – 1964 to 1975, he was the original host of the daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.

Alex Trebek – 1984 to 2020, the late, great Alex hosted Jeopardy!’s modern iteration for 36 years until his death from pancreatic cancer.

Guest hosts – 2020 to 2021, Jeopardy! tested out a series of guest hosts for week or two-week stints, including Anderson Cooper, LaVar Burton, and Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Richards – 2021, he was named host for one week before resigning amid controversy. He was the show’s executive producer at the time.

Mayim Bialik – 2021 to 2023, when Mike was announced as the show’s new host, Mayim was chosen to host tournaments and primetime specials.

Mayim and Ken Jennings – 2022 to 2023, 74-time champion Ken (the longest-winning contestant ever) joined Mayim as a guest host and they split hosting duties.

Ken Jennings – 2023 to present. Last December, Mayim announced on Instagram that she would “no longer” host Jeopardy! after a lengthy hiatus, having stood with the writer’s strike, and Ken was named sole host.

Ken now helms all editions of Jeopardy! including Celebrity Jeopardy!, the nightly show, and other primetime specials like Masters.

“As the Holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she began her post.

“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”

Jeopardy! cobbled together a similar-looking Instagram message an hour later, and it has since been reported that Mayim broke the news without consulting the show first.

Ken later said he “understood” the decision as shows “don’t have two hosts.”

HAPPY WITH ‘LESS MONEY’

Ken is reportedly tied to a $4 million contract now that he’s the singular host of the series.

The U.S. Sun previously reported that his contract isn’t long-term just yet.

“He still has no long-term Trebek-style contract, and the President of Sony TV can replace him at any time, on a whim,” a source previously shared.

However, Ken is happy to take a pay cut to ensure he remains a host for decades to come.

“Jeopardy! is Ken’s religion; he lives it, and he breathes it, and despite all the outside pressures, he’s not going to mess this up,” the source revealed.

“What he really wants more than anything is to stick around and make this position work for the long run.

“And if that means making less money to ensure his longevity, you can bet your life he’d be game.”

Ken made $2.5 million from his record 74-game run as a contestant and $4.3 million including tournaments.

Alex reportedly made $10 million a year by the end of his 36-year tenure.

‘KEN KNOWS HIS ISSUES’

As Ken grows into his seemingly permanent role, he’s also well aware that his biggest pitfall is not being a natural-born TV presenter.

Ken never had another major TV role to his name, but he’s not letting that stop him as he grows into his role for the long haul.

“Ken is self-aware and knows his issues are always going to be how his personality reads on camera,” a source also previously claimed.

“And not his proven expertise with trivia or with the Jeopardy! game itself.

“Ken knows this, Sony knows this, and everybody knows this is the reason he was never the first choice to replace Alex Trebek,” they claimed.

“He got this job because the other candidates didn’t work out, and Ken is at peace with that.”

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Ken Jennings is determined to host for the long haul much like Alex Trebek, and like Drew has done with Price is RightCredit: Getty

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Ken Jennings reportedly makes $4 million as host and is growing into one of TV’s biggest rolesCredit: Getty