There’s one part of hosting “Jeopardy!” that Ken Jennings says he found “so cringey” as a child: the interviews.
Jennings shared how he really felt about the Q&A portion with the show’s contestants while appearing on the Aug. 10 episode of the “Lovett or Leave It” podcast alongside former “Jeopardy!” champ Amy Schneider.
“So, I have to admit, as a kid I found the ‘Jeopardy!’ interviews so cringey that I would leave the room,” Jennings said. “That’s my ‘Jeopardy!’ origin story.
“These people mean well, but you make them stop playing ‘Jeopardy!’ for a second to talk about their cat or their trip to Thailand or something, and they’re not there for that,” he continued. “They just want to answer the little questions!”
Now that Jennings is the host of the game show, he tries his best to make the interviews good, he said.
“I try to make it the least bad it can be, and get out of there,” he said. “My promise to you, the viewer.”
Podcast host Jon Lovett asked how many times Jennings has to tell contestants they can’t talk about trains, which led to a big laugh from Jennings.
“My version of that joke would be cats,” Jennings said. “‘You would not believe the crazy thing my cat does!’ And I’m like, ‘I bet I can. Does it sit on top of the couch? That’s nuts.'”
Schneider, a 40-consecutive-game winner on “Jeopardy!,” then gave some insight into Jennings’ hosting abilities.
“I have to say, as somebody who’s seen Ken work up close, his ability to laugh at the end of any story is remarkable,” she said.
“I’ve spent my whole life trying to get out of conversations in 25 seconds,” Jennings replied. “That’s why ‘Jeopardy!’ host is the job for me.”
Jennings has been the sole host of “Jeopardy!” since 2023 after initially sharing hosting duties alongside Mayim Bialik, following longtime host Alex Trebek’s death in 2020.
Before he became the host of the show, Jennings won 74 consecutive games in 2004, earning $2,520,700 and holding the record for most money won in regular-season play.
Jennings was also crowned the winner of the โGreatest of All Timeโ tournament in 2020.
But “Jeopardy!” isn’t the only game show Jennings has participated in โ he appeared on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” along with actor Matt Damon last month, where they won $1 million to donate to Damon’s nonprofit organization Water.org.
