Names and faces
■ Sony Pictures Television has unveiled its guest host plans for “Jeopardy” while the search continues for a successor to Alex Trebek. The lineup includes actress Mayim Bialik, veteran network news anchor Katie Couric, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker and “Jeopardy” executive producer Mike Richards. Ken Jennings, the all-time champion, is the guest host this week. Jennings is a consulting producer on the program and is a candidate for the full-time hosting job. Richards, who will fill in for two weeks before the other guest hosts appear, is also getting consideration. The bookings announced Wednesday likely will heighten the speculation on a permanent host to fill the role handled for 37 years by Trebek, who died in November from pancreatic cancer. The show has opted to use a series of interim hosts rather than immediately find permanent replacements. Couric, 64, a journalist and former “Today” show host, will become the first woman ever to host the show. Bialik, 45, former star of CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and current star of Fox’s “Call Me Kat,” is also a neuroscientist. Rodgers, 37, the quarterback currently leading the Green Bay Packers through the NFL playoffs, is a former “Celebrity Jeopardy” champion. Whitaker, 69, a veteran CBS News correspondent, has been with “60 Minutes” since 2014. The show will make a donation to the guest hosts’ charity of choice that matches the total dollar amount won by contestants during their run.
■ A statue of country music icon Dolly Parton could be added to the Capitol grounds in Nashville, Tenn., if one state lawmaker gets his way. Democratic Rep. John Mark Windle introduced legislation this week that aims to honor Parton “for all that she has contributed to this state,” news outlets reported. Aside from her status as a music icon, Parton is a lifelong philanthropist. She founded the Imagination Library, which mails books to children under the age of 5 across the world to improve child literacy, and her million-dollar donation to Vanderbilt University helped develop the highly effective Moderna coronavirus vaccine. “At this point in history, is there a better example, not just in America but in the world, of a leader that is [a] kind, decent, passionate human being?” Windle said Wednesday. “[She’s] a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her.” Windle said the state Capitol commission would develop a plan and design for the statue, which he said should face toward Ryman Auditorium, where she sometimes performs. No taxpayer dollars would be spent according to the bill, which would create a fund for private gifts, grants and donations to pay for the statue.