Ousted Jeopardy! Host Mayim Bialik Reacts to Show’s Emmy Win

Michael Ausiello

Nearly one month after her very public dismissal from Jeopardy!, Mayim Bialik took to social media on Monday to celebrate the game show’s recent Emmy victory.

“I’m so proud to have been a part of the 2022 season of Jeopardy! that won the primetime Emmy last night for best game show,” Bialik wrote on Instagram.

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The Big Bang Theory alum also offered a “hearty congratulations” to Password emcee Keke Palmer, who was named best game show host, prevailing over a field that included Bialik and her Jeopardy! co-host Ken Jennings. After noting that Palmer was “the first woman in 15 years to win best [game show] host,” Bialik added, “You’re an inspiration to women everywhere and I salute you.”

It was back on Dec. 15 that Bialik broke the internet when she made the following announcement on Instagram: “Sony informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”

Hours after Bialik shared the news, Sony released the following statement: “We made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated Jeopardy!. We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials.”

Bialik had been MIA from her $4 million-a-year Jeopardy! gig since last May, when she abruptly bowed out of Season 39’s final weeks in a public display of solidarity with the show’s striking writers, leading Jennings to step in and close out the season.

As the Big Bang Theory vet’s absence dragged on through the summer, questions began to swirl around her future with the franchise. The speculation intensified on Aug. 18 when Jeopardy! released via its official social handles a new poster celebrating the syndicated show’s 39th season that featured Jennings but not Bialik. At the time, Sony declined to comment on the decision to exclude Bialik from the now-deleted artwork. Days later, ABC announced Jennings as the new primary host of primetime offshoot Celebrity Jeopardy!, replacing Bialik.

For his part, Jennings says he was as surprised as everyone else by Bialik’s ouster, telling The Hollywood Reporter last month, “It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her.”

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