Mayim Bialik’s ‘Distracting’ Pauses on ‘Jeopardy!’ Slammed

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Some Jeopardy! followers have taken photographs at Mayim Bialik, criticizing the distinctive method she has hosted the quiz present.

All-time Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings has hosted the syndicated quiz present since its thirty eighth season, whereas Bialik has introduced the tournaments. On event, they’ve switched locations on the primary present and specials.

They have been formally introduced because the present’s everlasting hosts earlier than the beginning of the present season, No. 39, final yr, following the dying of common long-time presenter Alex Trebek in November 2020.

Jennings’ most up-to-date block of prerecorded reveals got here to an finish in April, with Bialik stepping as much as the lectern from early May onward. It has since been reported that whereas Bialik had supposed to host the rest of Season 39, she has been changed by Jennings after exiting the set in assist of the continued writers’ strike.

Mayim Bialik's "Jeopardy!" hosting style slammed
Mayim Bialik is pictured on May 2, 2022, in Hollywood, California. Her model of internet hosting on “Jeopardy!” has been criticized by the quiz present’s followers, whereas others have supported her.
Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

With Bialik’s prerecorded episodes nonetheless airing, some Jeopardy! viewers have complained on Twitter in regards to the pacing of her responses to contestants.

“Mayim’s tendency to pause when confirming the correct answer drives me nuts,” wrote one viewer after watching the Call Me Kat star host the present.

Also read: Ken Jennings to Host 'Jeopardy!' Sooner Than Expected Amid Mayim Backlash

“Mayim is so awkward and robotic,” one other complained. “Why does she pause so long before every weird ‘…..that’s it!’ or ‘…yes!’ Waiting for producers to give the thumbs up? Especially bad after watching Ken host Jeopardy Masters for the last three weeks. Please just make him the full time host.”

“I think Mayim’s pauses/hesitation makes the contestants feel insecure or like their response is wrong so they try to quickly add onto it,” tweeted one other. “Someone really needs to talk w/her about it. It’s distracting for audience & contestants alike.”

“I wish I could understand WHY she does those awkward pauses,” said one other viewer. “Is she looking to judges for confirmation? Is she waiting to hear from producers? WHAT? We can’t see her face, so it’s hard to know. As much as I LOVE J!, I dread seeing her host. It’s going to be a long summer…”

Tagging the Jeopardy! Twitter account, one other asked: “@Jeopardy Is it just me but does it bother anyone else how long it takes Mayim Bialik to tell contestants if they are correct?”

Another tweeted that Bialik “needs to say if it’s correct faster! Good lord, giving these contestants heart attacks.”

Meanwhile, one commenter really useful that Bialik host one other quiz present. “I think Mayim would be a great host for Wheel of Fortune,” the individual said. “I think her personality would be a better fit for Wheel than Jeopardy!“

But different viewers defended Bialik, saying they have been having fun with her model of internet hosting.

“Mayim is doing a great job,” tweeted one fan. “If the contestants have a problem with her the [powers that be] will get word and find another. I find her just fine. She is one intelligent & educated woman.”

“Love Mayim. She’s sweet and does a great job,” mentioned one viewer, whereas one other wrote that she “is the only choice for permanent host of Jeopardy!“

“I think Mayim is improving,” said one other. “Been watching her TikToks and truly appreciate her. If there were one host only I would pick Ken on pedigree alone, but I can fully accept Mayim as cohost now.”

During an look on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast in August, Bialik and Jennings spoke with fellow host Sarah Whitcomb Foss about how they cope with on-line backlash from followers of the quiz present.

“We’re still people, so I can’t say that when you hear things that are constructive criticism that you don’t start thinking a little bit too much about it,” Bialik mentioned. “But, I don’t know, I kind of take everybody’s opinion both with a grain of salt and also believe everybody has a right to their opinion.”

For Jennings, the adverse response got here early, when he noticed some individuals have been “sick of him” within the earlier phases of his run as a Jeopardy! contestant in 2004. Jennings holds the document for the present’s longest win streak, with 74 video games.

“Even as a contestant, I remember being shocked at how free—it was the early days of the internet, but people were still very much like, ‘Oh, I’m sick of this guy already.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s like three more months [of me]…. This guy’s gonna have a bad summer!’ I just kind of had to dissociate.”

He continued: “You know what? Jeopardy! has got such a big, diverse audience. You’re not going to be able to please everybody every night. But I think that’s the virtue of having a couple hosts. You know, it’s a big, diverse audience, and maybe that helps broaden the tent. It’s a matter of taste hosting style.”

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