Since its 1964 debut, Jeopardy! has gained the hearts of trivia fans worldwide as its popularity and offbeat programming echoed around the globe. Decade after decade, the show has had a few main people who have hosted the show from its OG days on NBC to the present syndicated version.
How many official hosts have there been on the quiz show Jeopardy? Five. Art Fleming spearheaded the show back in the 1960s. Then there's Alex Trebek, the face of the show who translated it to today. And then there are Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik, whose stints are short but never forgotten.
Its history and association with viewers have given the show a past beyond merely a game. Now with a background being established, let's know a little better who the current hosts of the game show are, which among them has held the position for the longest time, and how this quiz show phenomenon originated.
Who hosts Jeopardy now?
Presently, Ken Jennings is hosting Jeopardy! His career can be described by his 74-game winning streak on the show. After Alex Trebek passed on in 2020, he entered the list of hosts. No one was surprised when, with his knowledge of the game and quick thinking, he became a permanent co-host in July 2022.
Bialik, who with Jennings, cohosted the syndicated edition, comes to the hosting stage with her fame both as an actor and a neuroscientist after guest hosting the special episodes, then cohosting the lead series. In December 2023, Bialik's cohosting stint ended, and Jennings now exclusively hosts the syndicated version.
He quipped to Variety in 2022,
“I’m just trying to do Alex [Trebek] proud. He set the standard, and all I can do is be true to that legacy while bringing my own personality.”
Who is the longest host of Jeopardy?
Longevity does not bring anyone one step closer to Alex Trebek. Trebek hosted Jeopardy! for 36 years, from the show's revival in syndication in 1984 until he passed away in 2020. Over that period, he received great recognition during the mainstream run of the program and became an icon on television.
Trebek's calming authority and quick wit, as he engaged contestants with real interest, were admired by fans. Trebek held the Guinness World Record for most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter, an accolade he attained in 2014 as he overtook Bob Barker of The Price is Right.
The massive proportion of Trebek's sway over the show and popular culture was attributed to his hosting style, which balanced professionalism and dry humor. His interactions during the short segment on interviews with contestants during the middle game made every episode worth watching.
A 2013 Reader's Digest vote even placed him among the most trusted in America, evidence of the influence he had on those watching around the country. Trebek's final episodes were broadcast after his passing late in 2020.
Read more: All about the longest winning streaks on the show
Who is the original host of Jeopardy?
The original host of Jeopardy!, before Trebek's historic run, was Art Fleming. Fleming hosted the show during its first iteration on NBC between 1964 and 1979.
Although the format of the game remains essentially the same, Fleming's Jeopardy! is markedly different from the modern version in several respects, not least the set design and the nature of the clues.
Fleming, an actor with a deep voice, helped set the tone for the program with his strong presence. His style as quizmaster was evocative of '60s TV, and he helped establish the foundation for what it would become.
As Britannica noted,
"Fleming’s impact on the early success of Jeopardy! cannot be overstated, as he helped build the show's reputation for challenging yet entertaining trivia."
He left the show when it was canceled in 1979 but continued to make guest appearances on the new version in 1984 and gave the reins to Alex Trebek, who took the program to further heights.
Watch new episodes of the show in syndication on local stations across the U.S. For streaming, episodes are also available the next day on platforms such as Hulu.
Older episodes and specials are available on Pluto TV or Sony's Crackle.
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