The Commercial Appeal - Go Memphis
Aaron Rodgers is ready to roll as ‘Jeopardy!’ host
Aaron Rodgers can check “Jeopardy!” host off his personal bucket list.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback and onetime Super Bowl champion is next up as guest host of the quiz show, temporarily filling the wide gap left by the death of Alex Trebek, who died in November of pancreatic cancer, as producers seek a permanent host.
Rodgers, 37, is a longtime fan, and has been on the “Jeopardy!” stage before: He bested Kevin O’leary (“Shark Tank”) and astronaut Mark Kelly as a contestant in 2015 to win $50,000 for charity.
His two-week stint, taped in midFebruary, began Monday, following turns by champion Ken Jennings, executive producer Mike Richards, former news anchor Katie Couric and talkshow doctor Mehmet Oz. (While he’s hosting, the show matches contestants’ winnings in donations to the North Valley Community Foundation in Rodgers’ hometown of Chico, California.) Still to come: Anderson Cooper, Savannah Guthrie, Mayim Bialik, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker.
Rodgers talked to USA TODAY about his “Jeopardy!” fandom, meeting Trebek and his fiancée, actress Shailene Woodley.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Question: It’s fun to see all the guest hosts come in, and you obviously have a history with the show. Why did you want to host it, and how did that came about?
Aaron Rodgers: I’ve been a huge fan of the show forever, as long as I can remember. The show has been something I’ve watched, whether it’s with my grandparents for years – 16 to be exact – in Green Bay at 6:00. “Jeopardy!” airs first and then “Wheel of Fortune” afterwards, and 6-7 is my game-show hour. So I’ve loved the show for a long, long time.
When the opportunity came up in 2015 to go on, it was an absolute nobrainer and super exciting, one of those bucket list-type opportunities. And I always wanted to go back on the show to do another “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Unfortunately, it was Alex’s passing – there was an opportunity that arose to guest host. And I looked at it as a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
Q: Did playing in that celebrity tournament six years ago help you in this hosting stint?
Rodgers: Watching the show definitely gave me the wherewithal to compete in 2015 and understand the game, but I went back and watched loads and loads of episodes over and over again from the host’s perspective. And that’s what gave me the most confidence going in. I wanted to be as prepared as possible. I thought the best way to honor Alex’s legacy was to really understand the game inside out and to do his memory justice by having the same approach to hosting that I would to any game I’ve ever played. And to be super, hyper-prepared and have a really tight focus.
From the first moment I got on set … everybody could feel how special it was to me and how important it was to be prepared. And I felt ready to go right away. I knew the beats of the show, I knew the flow of the show, I knew the different types of affirmatives that Alex used and negative replies, the opener, kick it to the categories, coming out of the first break to interview, and throwing it back to the board.
Q: Even even though you came prepared, was hosting harder than you thought it would be?
Rodgers: Of course. I do appreciate the practice games that we went through with some of the writers and researchers. But once the game started, there were definitely some nerves standing in the side stage and hearing my introduction and knowing I was going to walk from behind the board and have to take control of this game for the entire day. It was pretty special; nervewracking, but it was like an (NFL) game, almost, where you’re just kind of waiting for those introductions to run out of the tunnel.
Q: Well, you looked spiffy in the suit. Did you have any special memory of Alex from the time that you competed on the show?
Rodgers: A lot of memories. The first special one was (when) he walked in the green room, and if you’ve ever been around somebody who has such an incredible charisma, there’s an energetic shift when that person enters the room. I’ve been around a few people over the years who kind of have that special charismatic way about them, and Alex was definitely one of those people. Getting the chance to meet him for the first time was really, really special. Because we did a practice game and Jimmy from the Clue Crew did the guest hosting. But when Alex walked in, you realized, “Man, I’m on ‘Jeopardy!’ right now. This is real.” And it was a really special moment.
When we did our interviews after the first commercial break, he was talking to me about my championship belt celebration that State Farm made famous, the commercials that I did over the years. And I teased him about maybe doing one after doing a good show, and then he did this big belt thrust thing afterwards. I think that’s what made him so endearing was just how much he enjoyed being there. I just really appreciated the chance to get to meet him and talk to him and have the asides during the commercial breaks. Obviously, winning and getting to shake his hand was an all-time moment.
Q: If you had to pick, after you retire, what would be more fun: being an NFL TV analyst or hosting “Jeopardy!”?
Rodgers: Not even close: Hosting “Jeopardy!”
Q: And if they came to you and said, “Would you do this now?” what would you say?
Rodgers: Hell yeah, I would. Look, it’s my second-brain job. I love the show and have a deep, deep affection for it. Not only is it a nostalgic connection to my childhood, but it’s a really special show to me and I had a great time with everybody that works there.
Q: Is Shailene a “Jeopardy!” fan? Rodgers: She will be, for the next two weeks.
Q: Have you guys decided when you’re getting married?
Rodgers: No. No, we haven’t.
Q: You did keep the engagement a secret for a long time. How did you manage that?
Rodgers: Well, COVID was a big help with that, because it just wasn’t the same amount of travel. Wearing a mask all the time gives you just a little bit more anonymity. But we spent a lot of time together during the season, and then she was off doing a movie really shortly after we got engaged.
Decision time is here again.
Major broadcast networks are weighing the fates of 25 endangered sitcoms and dramas, hovering “on the bubble” between renewal and cancellation. USA TODAY’S 24th annual Save Our Shows poll asks you to weigh in on which you’d like saved – and which dropped – as the networks set their 2021-2022 schedules to be unveiled in mid-may.
Many factors go into renewal decisions, including Nielsen ratings, creative quality, profitability, digital viewership and program ownership.
The coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered production of pilot episodes for new series replacements last spring, remains a factor, but network executives say it’s less critical this year.
Instead, it may have an impact on when (not if ) they continue: NBC’S “Brooklyn Nine-nine” was renewed last spring for what was planned as its final season. The pandemic prevented a return to production until this month, so 10 remaining episodes won’t air until fall. And CW’S “Supernatural,” due to end in May 2020, delayed its final episodes until last fall.
Here’s a status update for every current series, based on conversations with top executives. (Shows that haven’t yet premiered are excluded.)
Vote now at usatoday.com/entertainment
ABC: Will ‘For Life,’ ‘ The Rookie’ return?
Renewed, or almost: Big Sky, Blackish, The Conners, The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19
On the bubble: American Housewife, For Life, The Goldbergs, A Million Little Things, Mixed-ish, The Rookie
Canceled, or nearly dead: Call Your Mother
CBS: ‘Macgyver,’ ‘S.W.A.T.’ are at risk
Renewed, or almost: Blue Bloods, Bob Hearts Abishola, Bull, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, Magnum P.I., NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Neighborhood, Young Sheldon
On the bubble: All Rise, B Positive, Clarice, Macgyver, SEAL Team, S.W.A.T., The Unicorn, United States of Al
Canceled, or nearly dead: NCIS: New Orleans
Mom,
Fox: ‘9-1-1’ is a sure bet to return
Renewed, or almost: Bob’s Burgers, Duncanville, Family Guy, The Great North, 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star, The Simpsons
On the bubble: Call Me Kat, The Moodys, Prodigal Son, The Resident
Canceled, or nearly dead: Bless the Harts, Filthy Rich, Last Man Standing, Next
CW: ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Black Lightning’ to end
Renewed, or almost: All American, Batwoman; Charmed; Dynasty; The Flash; In the Dark; Legacies; Legends of Tomorrow; Nancy Drew; Riverdale; Roswell, New Mexico; Superman and Lois; Walker
On the bubble: Stargirl
Canceled, or nearly dead: Black Lightning, Supergirl, Supernatural
NBC: ‘Zoey’s Playlist,’ ‘Kenan’ uncertain
Renewed, or almost: The Blacklist, Brooklyn Nine-nine, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Law & Order: SVU, Mr. Mayor, New Amsterdam, This Is Us
On the bubble: Good Girls, Kenan, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Manifest, Young Rock, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Canceled, or nearly dead:
Nurses, Superstore
Debris,