Dr. Oz a ratings flop as Jeopardy! guest host
If the answer is “Who pulled the lowest numbers as Jeopardy! guest host since the new year's holiday break,” the question must be: “Who is Dr.
Mehmet Oz?”
So far in the U.S., Oz has fared the worst among a series of guest hosts who have filled in behind the lectern after the late Alex Trebek died following a battle with pancreatic cancer last November.
After Trebek's death, the show announced it would continue using a rotating mix of guest hosts, with record-setting former champion Ken Jennings, the show's executive producer Mike Richards, journalist and author Katie Couric and Oz first out of the gate.
Jennings, who won the Greatest of All Time tournament last year, was first up and, drew a 6.2 rating in his first week, according to The Wrap. He was followed by Richards, Couric, Oz and current host Aaron Rodgers.
Under Couric, ratings plunged 5% during her debut week as guest host. After Oz took over, the ratings slipped another 2%.
Jeopardy! finished with a 5.2 household rating, behind Family Feud, with Oz as host, The Wrap added. Trebek's final episode on Jan. 8 drew 14 million viewers.
Oz's spot on the podium
was not without controversy.
In the leadup to his role as question master, fans of the show took to social media to voice their displeasure about his appearance.
“I'm writing, not to be snarky, but to sincerely register my objection to this show associating its long-established identity of factbased knowledge with a man whose stature has become increasingly dependent on dangerous pseudoscience,” one user wrote. Another added, “Does this mean he'll make up the answers like on his show?”