‘Jeopardy!’ Guest Hosts Ranked by Ratings: From Ken Jennings to LeVar Burton (Photos)
“Jeopardy!” just hasn’t been the same since Alex Trebek’s final episodes — and neither have its ratings.
OK, so that’s a little unfair. The “Jeopardy!” ratings were of course boosted by interest in seeing Trebek off. And they stayed high due to the intrigue of seeing someone other than Trebek — initially, legendary champion Ken Jennings — host the popular quiz program.
While the Nielsen numbers for the Sony Television game show have since tapered off a bit from there, “Jeopardy!” has still topped all other syndicated series most weeks since Trebek’s final bow.
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TheWrap has ranked all the “Jeopardy!” guest hosts by their average rating. This, too, is a bit unfair, as the highest ratings of 2021 were all pretty frontloaded for the first guys. Again, that’s just the nature of public fascination after Trebek iconically hosted the show for 36 years.
See the rankings below.
Rank: 15Host: LeVar BurtonDates: July 26, 2021 – July 30, 2021Average Rating: 4.6**Show was re-titled “Jeopardy-Olym” to reflect the extra layer of competition from the Tokyo Olympics.
Rank: 14Host: David FaberDates: Aug. 2, 2021 – Aug. 6, 2021Average Rating: 4.5**Show was re-titled “Jeopardy-Olym” to reflect the extra layer of competition from the Tokyo Olympics.
Rank: 13Host: Robin RobertsDates: July 19, 2021 – July 23, 2021Average Rating: 4.7
Rank: 10 (tie)Host: George StephanopoulosDates: July 12, 2021 – July 16, 2021Average Rating: 4.8
Rank: 10 (tie)Host: Savannah GuthrieDates: June 14, 2021 – June 25, 2021Average Rating: 4.8
Rank: 10 (tie)Host: Dr. Sanjay GuptaDates: June 28, 2021 – July 9, 2021Average Rating: 4.8
Rank: 9Host: Anderson CooperDates: April 19, 2021 – April 30, 2021Average Rating: 5.0
Rank: 6 (tie) Host: Mayim BialikDates: May 31, 2021 – June 11, 2021Average Rating: 5.1
Rank: 6 (tie)Host: Dr. OzDates: March 22, 2021 – April 2, 2021Average Rating: 5.1
Rank: 6 (tie)Host: Buzzy CohenDates: May 17, 2021 – May 28, 2021 (2021 Tournament of Champions)Average Rating: 5.1
Rank: 5Host: Bill WhitakerDates: May 3, 2021 – May 7, 2021Average Rating: 5.2
Rank: 4Host: Katie CouricDates: March 8, 2021 – March 19, 2021Average Rating: 5.5
Rank: 3Host: Aaron RodgersDates: April 5, 2021 – April 16, 2021Average Rating: 5.6
Rank: 2Host: Mike RichardsDates: Feb. 22, 2021 – March 5, 2021Average Rating: 5.9
Rank: 1Host: Ken JenningsDates: Jan. 11, 2021 – Feb. 19, 2021Average Rating: 6
It’s important to point out here that David Faber, LeVar Burton, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos only did the gig for one week apiece. Ken Jennings had more than a month behind the podium, while all the others each got two weeks.
Joe Buck is up next as “Jeopardy!” guest host.
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Alex Trebek died in November following a long and very public battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.
News of Trebek’s diagnosis came just months after the beloved Canadian renewed his contract with Sony Pictures Television to stay on as host of “Jeopardy!” through 2022. After undergoing treatment, Trebek announced in May 2020 that he was in “near remission.”
He returned to hosting “Jeopardy!” that August, but announced in September that he was undergoing chemotherapy again after revealing that he lost a large amount of weight and his “numbers went sky high.”
Mike Richards has been named permanent host of the daily syndicated “Jeopardy!” program. Mayim Bialik will host spinoffs and specials.Related stories from TheWrap:’Jeopardy!’ Loses Top Ratings Spot for the First Time Since Alex Trebek’s Final EpisodesAlex Trebek’s Final ‘Jeopardy!’ Week Soars to Season-High RatingsAlex Trebek Honored With a Moment of Silence From the Ottawa Senators (Video)
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