Jeopardy!

 How do you replace the incomparable Alex Trebek?

Well, it's starting to seem like you can't replace him at all.

A series of guest hosts, lots of speculation.  I liked Ken Jennings, I liked Levar Burton.  I thought Mayim Bialik was OK. Buzzy Cohen was wonderful.  

And then the announcement.  The show's executive producer Mike Richards would become the host.   He filmed a week's worth of episodes before his past caught up to him.  He resigned as host but was going to hang on as executive producer.  Until today's announcement...he's gone from any role at  Jeopardy! and from Wheel of Fortune.

Mayim Bialik, announced as host of tournaments and prime time specials, filmed three weeks of regular episodes.  But she's got a sitcom, she can't devote all her time to hosting a game show.  

So now we are back to guest hosts, at least for the time being.

And we've learned a little something about our so-called "cancel culture".  

Mike Richards was "canceled" for two reasons -- the ugly things he said on his podcast, and his involvement in the sexual harassment suit at another game show, The Price Is Right. 

But calls to dismiss Mayim Bialik as a host went unanswered.  My take?  Her controversial opinions were well known before she ever set foot on the Jeopardy! stage, she's got a very loyal fan base, and most importantly, she didn't give herself the job.

And the biggest irony?

Ken Jennings wasn't even considered for the job.  Never mind that he had the highest ratings of any guest host, never mind that he is the greatest Jeopardy! player of all time, never mind that he's also appearing on another extremely popular game show (The Chase).  Never mind that Trebek chose Jennings to record the audio book version of Trebek's autobiography. Several years ago Jennings tweeted something controversial, for which he has since apologized.  But the Powers That Be thought those mean tweets should exclude Jennings from the job.

Sigh.