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Originally Posted by dobbles
So we are 18 months since Trebek last hosted and passed. Do you guys feel the host replacement process has helped or hurt the show in its quality and/or popularity?
For me, I think the fact its dragged on this long is not a good look. I think the initial attention certainly kept some people interested that might not be regular watchers, but at this point, is it now a net negative for the show. I am glad there have been some noteworthy contestants like Mattea to at least generate buzz for the show outside of host drama.
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I don't think it's helped, but the unexpected run of super champions has made it way less of an issue. I think the show is actually more popular now than Trebek's final years after Holzhauer's streak ended.
Reason it's dragged on like this is because of Mike Richards. Used his power as Executive Producer to set up the initial run of guests hosts under the guise of an "audition", when he actually planned to make himself host all along.
Also influenced which guest hosts were screened for focus groups and showed them the worst clips of Ken to hurt his chances of getting the job. And he actually got away with it, since he was named host of the regular Jeopardy and Mayim was named host of primetime version at the start of this season. Thankfully he got axed quickly and there's a new showrunner now. It's probably also why Ken is introduced as "now hosting Jeopardy" instead of Mayim's "the host of Jeopardy", he wasn't signed as an official host and is just a consulting producer who is filling in as host.
I would love it if they named Ken as host of both the regular and primetime versions, but I'll also take Ken and Mayim if it means Ken hosts the regular version. I suspect most of us don't watch the primetime version anyway. I am pretty positive about Ken's chances since he's dropped all his other gameshow commitments and I'd be surprised if he wasn't named an official host for next season.