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Mayim Bialik on 'Jeopardy!' drama: 'Just let me read the clues'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated Sep 29, 2021 6:36 PM ET

Mayim Bialik didn't anticipate people caring this much about her new job as co-host of Jeopardy!

"I was a headline on CNN three days in a row!" the former Big Bang Theory star told James Corden on Tuesday's Late Late Show. "Who knew that people were so passionate about who hosts Jeopardy!? I mean, I'm just trying to read the clues. Just let me read the clues."

"The thing about Jeopardy!, you know, we spend our whole lives wanting to be seen, and this job is, like, people should think the least about me as possible," Bialik continued. "Meaning, it's my job to be the host—just, like, read the clues. There's certainly been a lot in the news that's brought a lot of interest."

Bialik was presumably referring to the hiring and subsequent firing of Mike Richards, who was announced as her co-host in August:

Announcing Mayim Bialik and Mike Richards as our new hosts of Jeopardy! Richards will host the daily syndicated show, while Bialik will host primetime and spinoff series.https://t.co/MVQAqnKgjU pic.twitter.com/itY6fIe5Uv
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) August 11, 2021

That set up lasted nine days before Richards stepped down following resurfaced allegations of harassment and discrimination as well as disparaging women employees. He was eventually fired altogether from his executive producer role at Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

It was then announced earlier this month that Bialik would step into a primary hosting role through Nov. 5, and then she will be paired with Ken Jennings through the rest of the calendar year:

Beginning Monday, September 20, Bialik is hosting several weeks of episodes, which will air through November 5. After that, Bialik and Jennings will split hosting duties as their schedules allow through the end of the calendar year.https://t.co/uGYtm5ppdK
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) September 16, 2021

"It's incredibly enjoyable," Bialik told Corden. "I learn things all day. I meet people who have a kind of knowledge that I do not possess. I would do horrible on Jeopardy! Horrible."

The four-time Emmy nominee previously asserted to Glamour that she "absolutely have never had a better job" and "it's very clear" that she would like to be the permanent Jeopardy! host.

The ongoing search for a consistent face of the iconic trivia show began with the death of Alex Trebek, 80, last November after a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He had hosted Jeopardy! since 1984.

Trebek's final episode aired posthumously in January, and the remainder of Season 37 was handled by rotating guest hosts, including Bialik, Jennings and Richards. Season 38 premiered Sept. 13 using Richards' five pre-recorded episodes.

Watch Bialik's visit with Corden below.

Megan Armstrong

Megan Armstrong (@megankarmstrong) is a writer whose work has appeared in places such as Billboard, GQ, Esquire, Bleacher Report, Uproxx, and others. Megan has also produced various podcasts and hosted a daily radio show at Mizzou. She grew up obsessed with sports — impressing adults by memorizing NFL statistics as a kindergartner — and grew into an obsession with music

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