JEOPARDY! fans did not sing one contestant’s praises after he made an “offensive” mistake about a famous rapper.
Mayim Bialik hosted Wednesday’s show and seemed unphased, per fans, when it happened.
2
2
Mayim, 46, is hosting Jeopardy! this week, returning after fan-favorite Ken Jennings’ three weeks at the helm and shocking announcement he’d be leaving for “MONTHS.”
The prominent hosting slot, is for lack of better word, still in Jeopardy, and will be decided in July at the end of Season 38.
May 11th’s episode also saw Mallory Kass, a Brooklyn, New York editor – who previously inked out the contestant who defeated Canadian tutor Mattea Roach after her massive 23 games – lose.
Hundreds of fans were stunned last night to discover Mallory wrote the bestselling book series The 100 under a pen name Kass Morgan – which was even turned into a CW series.
Most read in TV
But tonight, fans were stunned by something else – the way new winner Daniel Nguyen responded to a clue.
The California math teacher was the first to buzz in on a clue in the Jeopardy round.
The correct response was the acclaimed rapper 50 Cent, who recently performed at the Super Bowl.
Daniel replied: “Who is: 50 Cents?”
‘WHAT DID HE SAY?’
Fans were pretty surprised the response, which was not accepted, even happened.
“Good call on not taking ’50 Cents,'” one wrote on Twitter, complimenting Mayim for her judgment.
“50 Cents??? #Jeopardy,” wrote another.
“50 Cent is singular and his pronoun isn’t plural,” added a third.
A fourth fumed with less-than-gameshow-ready language: “motherf****ker on Jeopardy called the rapper ’50 cents'”
A fifth summarized on the response in which Daniele lost $800 before winning the game by default: “Mans just lost $800 on jeopardy bc he called him ’50 Cents’ instead of ’50 Cent.’ You hate to see it.”
However, when none of the contestants got Final Jeopardy correct, Daniel ended up the victor with the highest earnings – which also frustrated fans.
“What an odd final Jeopardy,” one wrote as another fumed on Mayim’s banter: “KEN PLEASE COME BACK ASAP the other ‘host’ makes idiotic remarks.”
KEN HE COME BACK
Ken – whom many wanted to take over hosting for good – announced on Twitter this week: “I’m handing the keys back to the talented actor-producer-writer-director (!) Mayim Bialik for a few months.”
“We are lucky to have her! Thanks for watching, and I’ll be back before the end of the season.”
Ken currently shares hosting duties with the Blossom actress and an official replacement for the legendary Alex Trebek will be announced this July at the end of Season 38.
However, fans were stunned by the sudden news, especially after Ken navigated the “wild” streak from Mattea who became an internet sensation and half-millionaire (pre-tax), mostly on his watch.
One wrote: “For a few months? Guess I won’t be watching for that long, then.”
Another added: “You will be so missed, Ken! You just need to be the permanent host! Why is this not obvious to the powers that be?”
RATINGS BOOST
The show’s ratings nearly doubled as Ken, 47, made his first appearance and also hosted through contestant Amy Schneider‘s two-month winning streak.
Amy and Mattea will both be in the Tournament of Champions in November.
Ken’s view count dropped in January after Amy left, but he still averaged a commendable 9.2 million views, surpassing Wheel of Fortune and other competing game show ratings.
However, when Mayim took over her hosting duties the headcount dropped to 5.5 million viewers and many generally wish Ken could have the job.
Mayim was first named the new Jeopardy! host, along with former Jeopardy! producer Mike Richards, following Alex’s death in 2020.
But after Mike landed in scalding water for comments he had made on an old podcast and during other shows he had produced, he stepped down.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
