‘Jeopardy!’: Savannah Guthrie Is Up at Bat in the Quiz Show’s Latest Revolving Door of Guest Hosts
It’s been another two-week interval so that must mean it’s time for a new guest host on Jeopardy!
The game show has kept things interesting since the death of its beloved late host Alex Trebek in 2020 with a new host at first every few weeks and now every 2 weeks. Beginning with Ken Jennings who kicked things off, the temporary host soon to make her debut is Today anchor Savannah Guthrie.
‘Jeopardy!’s latest guest host
With celebrity guest hosts standing at Trebek’s lectern since the host’s death, viewers have seen the comings and goings of quite a few well-known names.
The show’s most recent guest host, actor and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, shared her absolute disbelief at being invited to host the program that has meant so much to her.
“I lost my mind, and really am still losing my mind,” she told USA Today. “This is one of the most iconic things that I can be part of in my life. Of all the things I’ve done, of all the acting I’ve done, of all the advocacy I’ve done, and all my academic things, this is the most globally understood, absolutely incredible thing to be part of. I was so grateful. To do this also knowing the importance and significance after Alex passed away (and) really honoring this brand and this show was so important to me.”
Guthrie is up for a 2-week stint
Now it’s Savannah Guthrie’s turn and she’s up for the challenge. Hosting the quiz show from June 14 to June 25 , Guthrie stated that, even though she appears on national television conducting intense interviews with world leaders, she was a bit antsy taking on Jeopardy!
“I was so nervous because I really just wanted to show how much respect I have for Jeopardy! and Alex – who is a legend and an icon for a reason,” she told People. “He’s the maestro. And I know those Jeopardy! fans are picky, but I have to say, I’m just the fill-in so don’t worry! I’m doing a couple of weeks. I loved it. I had so much fun, but I have a day job.”
The attorney and television personality shared that she threw herself into the preparation aspect of hosting the show.
“I was a terrible student until much later in life so there’s just so much I don’t know in general,” she said. “But, what I learned was how smart everyone at Jeopardy! is – especially the contestants and the writers. However, I studied really hard. I read everything ahead of time and I hope some of those facts stay in my head so I can impress people at cocktail parties.”
Who’s still to come on the guest hosting roster
So far, the show has seen quite a few celebrities and Jeopardy!-associated individuals filling in since Trebek’s death in November of 2020: the show’s Greatest of All Time player Ken Jennings; its executive producer Mike Richards; journalist Katie Couric; Dr. Mehmet Oz; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers; anchor Anderson Cooper; 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker; another former champ of the show’s Buzzy Cohen; and the aforementioned Mayim Bialik.
After Guthrie’s two-week stay will follow CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta; GMA‘s George Stephanopoulos; another GMA anchor Robin Roberts; actor LeVar Burton; CNBC’s David Faber; and Fox sportscaster Joe Buck.
A new, permanent host will be named for Jeopardy!‘s upcoming new season, an announcement that is highly anticipated.
