Jeopardy! hosts: Who are the guest hosts for 2021?
SINCE Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek passed away in November 2020, the beloved game show has continued with various guest hosts.
Although some people may feel like no one will ever measure up to Trebek, the show has booked several guest hosts for 2021.
Who are the Jeopardy guest hosts for 2021?
In a post on Jeopardy!’s website in January, Mike Richards’, the show’s executive producer, said, “Alex was a legend, revered by all of us. I want to thank our guest hosts, who will not only help all of us celebrate his great legacy, but also bring their own touch to the show.”
The post also noted a donation totaling the cumulative winnings of the contestants that compete during each guest host’s week will be made to a charity of their choice.
Here’s the full list of 2021 Jeopardy! guest judges so far.
Ken Jennings
Ken Jennings is the highest-earning American game show contestant of all time. He holds the record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! with 74 consecutive wins.
The now-consulting producer of Jeopardy! acted as guest host for the game show from January 4 to February 19.
In his first hosting episode, he said of the show’s former host, “You know, sharing the stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life. Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex did this job pretty much perfectly for more than 36 years and it was even better up close.”
Katie Couric
Katie Couric was the guest host for Jeopardy! from March 8 to March 19. Her run made her the first woman to host the game show.
But when asked if she’d want the job full-time, Katie said, “I don’t think so…It was a really fun thing to do. I love what I’m doing now. I have tremendous flexibility.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz
Dr. Oz hosted Jeopardy! as a guest host from March 22 to April 2.
But a lot of fans of the show were not pleased with him taking the gig. One person tweeted in March that he was “the most disgraceful disrespect to Alex’s legacy.
Another person wrote, “I feel so let down by the producers. I am a long-time viewer and really resent their screwing around with the tone by allowing yahoos to host.”
Aaron Rodgers
Next up to host was Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers quarterback. He hosted the show from April 5 to April 16.
During his sign-off on his last episode, the football player said, “You have made me feel so welcome. This has been a surreal experience and so very special to me. Have a great weekend and in the words of the great Alex Trebek, ‘So long.’”
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper stepped into the role as guest host of Jeopardy! on April 19. He is set to host until April 30.
In a promo for his stint, the CNN anchor admitted he was “kind of nervous” to do the job, having been such a big fan of the show for so long. (Cooper also previously competed on Jeopardy! four times.)
Bill Whitaker
60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker is taking the reins after Anderson is through.
The TV journalist is scheduled to appear as a Jeopardy! guest host from May 3 to May 14.
Mayim Bialik
Actress Mayim Bialik will take on the job after Bill.
The Big Bang Theory thespian is supposed to act as guest host from May 31 to June 11.
Savannah Guthrie
Co-anchor of the Today show Savannah Guthrie is also going to be a guest host on Jeopardy! this summer.
She is set to host very briefly, from June 14 to June 25.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is scheduled to be a Jeopardy! guest host sometime this summer.
The neurosurgeon and medical reporter is among those set to take on the role, but the dates of his hosting gig have not been announced.
On February 2, he tweeted, “I used to watch @Jeopardy with my parents and now with my own kids. The thing is: there is just something so beautiful and reassuring about facts, simple straightforward facts. I cherish that. An honor to be an upcoming guest host, but seriously miss the great Alex Trebek.”
Joe Buck
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Finally, Fox Sports sportscaster Joe Buck will take over the role of Jeopardy! guest host sometime in 2021 as well.
The commentator is supposed to step into the role this summer, and he’s another choice that not all fans of the game show are very happy about.
Many would rather see actor Levar Burton do the gig, and one person tweeted, “Is it really gonna need to take Alex Trebek’s ghost to come and haunt TF out of the Jeopardy producers to have them give LeVar Burton a chance?? Joe Buck? C’mon.”