Wayne Brady Reveals Whether He Would Host ‘Jeopardy!’
The search for a new Jeopardy! host continues. In the interim, guest hosts are occupying the spot left vacant by Alex Trebek, who died in November 2020 following a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Though an official replacement has yet to be named, many viewers have already thrown their support behind Wayne Brady.
A television star known for hosting shows such as Let’s Make a Deal, Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, and his own self-titled program, Brady definitely has plenty of experience in that arena. But would Wayne Brady actually host Jeopardy!?
Here’s Wayne Brady’s response to whether he would host ‘Jeopardy!’
Brady was in a Fox News interview published over the weekend of Jan. 15, when he was asked about potentially joining the show as its new host.
“Why would I?” he replied, noting that he already has his hands full with other projects, including Let’s Make a Deal, the upcoming Fox show Game of Talents, and a forthcoming blended family comedy on CBS.
“[I’m] already hosting a show and I’m an actor, and that [show has] a wonderful legacy,” he continued. “And whoever hosts it, I’m sure, will be absolutely amazing because that is what they want to do.”
Brady also pointed out, “That’s a very specific type of show. So I would rather watch it than host it. I’ve got my [own] lane.”
When the show does bring on someone, Brady said he hopes that person will honor Trebek, who hosted Jeopardy! for nearly 40 years before his death.
Aside from Wayne Brady, here are some of the other celebrities fans wouldn’t mind seeing on ‘Jeopardy!’
In recent months, fans have floated several other celebrities as possible replacements for Trebek, including Tom Bergeron, Anderson Cooper, and LeVar Burton.
Trebek himself even teased names such as Betty White, Alex Faust, and Laura Coates. But of course, they have to be able to bring a certain flair and flavor to the show to make it work.
“They need to find somebody who isn’t Alex Trebek, who can come in there with their own personality, with their own style, and find that perfect marriage between new host and old brand,” Bob Bergen, the former host of Jeopardy! spinoff Jep!, told The Ringer.
“It’s possible—of course it’s possible,” he continued. “But it can’t be something that is done as a gimmick. It can’t be done as ‘Let’s try somebody so different that we’re taking Alex’s taste out of everybody’s mouth,’ because that’s going to make it all about the host. It’s not all about the host—it’s all about the game.”
Until an official successor is named, special guests will continue to host ‘Jeopardy!’
Former Jeopardy! contestant Ken Jennings was the first to guest host the show after Trebek’s death, making his debut on Jan. 11.
According to the Jeopardy! website, executive producer Mike Richards will take over after Jennings completes his current run of episodes to allow other guest hosts to prepare for the show. So far, they include Katie Couric, Aaron Rodgers, Bill Whitaker, and Mayim Bialik.
“Alex was a legend, revered by all of us,” Richards said in a statement shared on the website. “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.”
You can tune in to new episodes of Jeopardy! now. Just check your local showtimes for listings.
