Additional Coverage:
- ‘Jeopardy!’ host Ken Jennings finally addresses the hardest part about his job: ‘They make you…’ (marketrealist.com)
“Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings recently sat down with Mental Floss to discuss his new book, “The Complete Kennections,” and his experiences on the iconic game show.
While acknowledging the immense legacy of the late Alex Trebek, Jennings shared his own unique perspective as a former contestant. “I remember the panic,” he confessed, emphasizing his efforts to reassure current players.
“I try to convey that I’m on their side…we just want to see three people play well.”
Despite his extensive knowledge, Jennings humbly praised the show’s Emmy-winning writers and researchers, stating that he doesn’t contribute to the clue-writing process. “They do not need my help,” he admitted, highlighting the rigorous fact-checking that goes into each episode.
However, Jennings revealed the most challenging aspect of hosting: coming up with anecdotes. “They make you have a funny story every half an hour,” he quipped.
“Nobody has 75 funny stories!” He jokingly admitted to occasionally fabricating tales, adding with a wink, “we do not fact-check the stories.”
Finally, Jennings reflected on his historic 74-game win streak, admitting that the one wrong answer still haunts him. “For me, that was H&R Block,” he said, adding with self-deprecating humor, “pretty much every time I drive past a strip mall, I get to remember my failure.”