Contestant interviews on Jeopardy! can range from entertaining to extremely awkward, particularly when it comes to repeat winners who have to present some new fun fact about themselves with each subsequent appearance. But for those who aren’t a fan of that segment, you’re not alone because it’s even host Ken Jennings says it’s his least favorite part of the show.
Jennings recently took part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the platform’s trivia subreddit.
In one comment, a user complimented the 51-year-old for the way he manages to make “even the most mundane, awkward contestant bio story charming and relatable.” As a result of him employing his trademark humor and wit, the user pointed out, the contestants seem to be put more at ease.
However, when asked for techniques for approaching such interactions and making them look easy, Jennings dropped the bombshell that he finds the whole thing to be “cringe.”
“Gonna confess that I never liked the interviews as a viewer,” he explained. “Too cringe too often! We didn’t have DVR so I couldn’t skip them as a kid. Had to go to the kitchen to get a pop instead.”
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Though, as he’s now a former contestant, Jennings says he now has a great feeling of warmth for the contestant interviews.
“It’s not the players’ fault we stop the game and make them chat about nothing!” he reasoned. “They are not experienced talk show guests! So I try to make that part of the show as smooth as I possibly can, for viewers like me who also don’t like it.”
As far as tips to apply his methods into real-life conversations, Jennings said that he doesn’t believe it boils down to social IQ.
“I’m just trying to elicit their story in an economical way, and then get out! That’s the opposite of good conversation!” he continued. “But I do genuinely listen, I try what I think is my most encouraging smile, and I like a little follow-up question that’s not just ‘OK! Love that for you! Next!’”
He added that the problem was that, as a host, you have to avoid asking a follow-up question that might launch the contestant into another long monologue, “because then the producers and people who have to edit the show get mad at me.”
Jennings became the sole permanent host of Jeopardy! in December 2023, following a search that had no shortage of drama after long running host Alex Trebek passed away from stage IV pancreatic cancer in November 2020. Among the frontrunners were Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric, LeVar Burton, and former executive producer Mike Richards, who was appointed host but lasted just a week due to fan outrage.
Jennings initially shared the duties with Mayim Bialik, until she formally withdrew in solidarity with Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA amid the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.
