Ken Jennings says “danger” to Mayim Bialik! The exit took him “by surprise.”

CNN
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Ken Jennings opens up about leave For Mayim Bialik as co-host of the long-running game show “Jeopardy!”

“It caught me off guard, because I loved working with Mayhem and I'm going to miss her,” Jennings said in an interview. interview With The Hollywood Reporter published Monday.

“I can't speak to her decision-making process or her opinions on this topic,” he added.

in statement The actress and author posted on Bialik's Instagram page earlier this month that Sony, which produces the show, had informed her that it would no longer host the “syndicated version of Jeopardy!”

“I'm incredibly honored to be there nominated Up for a Primetime Emmy Award for hosting this year, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Jeopardy! “My family,” she wrote, adding her thanks to viewers and the show’s crew for “this amazing journey.”

A Sony spokesperson told CNN in a statement at the time that Jennings would serve as the “sole host” of the game show, attributing the decision to a desire to “maintain continuity for our viewers.”

“We are truly grateful for all of Mayim's contributions to Jeopardy! and hope to continue working with her on prime-time specials,” the statement concluded.

Bialik and Jennings, former “Jeopardy!” contestant, initially began co-hosting the show in 2021 on an interim basis after 2020 death For longtime host Alex Trebek. Producers in July 2022 Announce The duo will be the permanent hosts of the show.

Jennings, who served as full-time host before landing the gig permanently, told THR that he feels “very lucky to even be considered for this job as a non-host.”