‘Jeopardy!’ names hosts to finish ’21
Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will split “Jeopardy!” hosting duties for the remainder of 2021.
Sony Pictures Television announced the plan Thursday, the same week that episodes filmed by ousted host Mike Richards are airing.
Richards, who also lost his role as “Jeopardy!” executive producer, was initially tapped as the late Alex Trebek’s successor but left the show after past misogynistic and disparaging comments surfaced.
Bialik was tapped as interim host, and her episodes will air through Nov. 5. After that, Sony says Jennings and Bialik will share hosting duties based on their schedules through the end of the calendar year. Jennings, the recordholder for longest “Jeopardy!” winning streak, is a consulting producer on the show. Bialik has already been chosen to host “Jeopardy!” prime-time and spinoff series.
“Jeopardy!” used a series of guest hosts, including Richards, for shows filmed after Trebek’s death. The beloved host died last November of cancer.
Morgan to launch new show: British presenter Piers Morgan will join News Corp and Fox News Media and host a TV show that will air in the U.S., Britain and Australia, the company said Thursday.
The show is billed as the prime-time draw on the new channel talkTV, expected to launch in the U.K. in early 2022. It will also air on the video streaming service FOX Nation in the U.S. and on Sky News Australia. Morgan said his new show will be a “fearless forum for lively debate and agenda-setting interviews.”
Morgan left Britain’s ITV in March after making controversial comments about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
John postpones shows: Elton John says he is postponing European dates on his world tour until 2023 so that he can have an operation on an injured hip. The singer-songwriter, 74, said a fall on a hard surface in late summer had left him in pain.
He said in a statement Thursday that “despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving. I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications.”
John said he planned to start the U.S. leg of the tour in January in New Orleans.
Williams show premiere delayed:
Wendy Williams has tested positive for COVID-19, and her eponymous talk show’s season 13 premiere has been delayed.
The Debmar-Mercuryproduced show announced Williams’ diagnosis on its official Instagram account Wednesday.
“While continuing her health evaluations, Wendy has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19,” according to the show’s statement. “… We expect to begin the 13th season of The Wendy Williams Show on Monday, October 4th.”
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