Ken Jennings becoming J! Consulting Producer...

[weaklink75]

https://tvline.com/2020/09/03/jeopardy-returns-new-episodes-alex-trebek-ken-jennings/

He'll be making video categories, work on show-related projects, and be a general ambassador for the show....(and maybe eventually transition to host? Anyway, this probably takes him out of The Chase I would think....)

[jage]

Good for him. I guess he's done with tournaments, but you can only go to that well so many times and he's the GOAT, so what else is there to prove.

[Joe Mello]

I guess he's done with tournaments

Now I want them to shoot a silly wrestling-style promo about Ken un-retiring for some super mega tournament some 5-10 years from now.

[Jeremy Nelson]

Good for him. I guess he's done with tournaments, but you can only go to that well so many times and he's the GOAT, so what else is there to prove.

Alex alluded to the super tournaments being done for a while during the GOAT tourney, and with Ken winning the big one, it seems at least HE'S done for now. Brad and James are a different story.

With him featuring so prominently, I wonder if that means the Clue Crew is done- they still have a page on the site for now, but that's the only part of the show I felt got long in the tooth- this helps with that.

Obviously it's hard not to wonder if this is part of the succession plan- if so, I just hope it doesn't include Alex starting a game of Boar on the Floor. IYKYK.

[Casey Buck]

Picture of the set

The podiums are now individual, and they brought back the globe to the logo!

[Clay Zambo]

Picture of the set

The podiums are now individual, and they brought back the globe to the logo!

GORGEOUS. I'm glad for the individual lecterns. I've missed them.

[Chief-O]

Picture of the set

The podiums are now individual

That is quite nice. I wonder if it's the lighting or the exposure setting of the photo, but it does look a little more like the GOAT set. I do prefer the separate lecterns over the relative monolith of recent times; hopefully they'll stay once social distancing is no longer necessary.

and they brought back the globe to the logo!

Certainly a nice nod to the old days.

With (Ken) featuring so prominently, I wonder if that means the Clue Crew is done- they still have a page on the site for now, but that's the only part of the show I felt got long in the tooth- this helps with that.

I also wonder if the Clue Crew is on the way out. It sounds like Ken will be quite busy in fulfilling the roles of the whole crew with some of these shows*/categories.

And I do wonder if he'll be top candidate once Alex decides to call it a career.

(*=Edited way after the fact. I'm not Ed Sullivan.)

[DoItRockapella]

Somewhat related - the full credit roll on wheeloffortune.com now lists PAT SAJAK as a Consulting Producer.

https://www.wheeloffortune.com/more/the-show

As for Ken, I'm definitely interested in seeing what happens here. If he really is being groomed as the new host, I personally would be fine with that.

[MSTieScott]

and maybe eventually transition to host?

Obviously it's hard not to wonder if this is part of the succession plan

And I do wonder if he'll be top candidate once Alex decides to call it a career.

In the teaser video posted by the show, at the 15-second mark, Alex specifically says, "Don't worry -- I'll still be the host."

Whether it's addressing the question that naturally springs to everybody's mind or it's protesting a little too much is left to the viewer's interpretation.

[TimK2003]

Ken's CP title likely includes the duties of being the unofficial "Emergency Host" should Alex suddenly not be able to perform his hosting duties.

To some extent, this could play out like how the final few years of The Jokers Wild (1980s) did:  Ken could be playing the role of Jim Peck as the "fill in" host (if/when needed) until Sony finds their "Bill Cullen" to become the new permanent host.

[JakeT]

As much as Ken is beloved as a player and a personality, I just don't think he has the gravitas to host J!  He still has a bit too much of that "aw shucks" and less of a stage command about him...

JakeT

[Kevin Prather]

I always figured that Brad Rutter would get offered the job before Ken, since Brad has actually hosted a quiz show before.

[tvwxman]

And I do wonder if he'll be top candidate once Alex decides to call it a career.

I absolutely think this is a succession plan. And even if Trebek needs to take a few weeks off, you have a  sub-host right there.

This is a good move. Much better than Anderson Cooper.

[tvwxman]

I always figured that Brad Rutter would get offered the job before Ken, since Brad has actually hosted a quiz show before.

What show was that?

Sorry, but outside of the Jeopardy world, no one has heard of Brad Rutter. Ken Jennings' Q score is much higher. Heck, even Jeopardy James registers more than Brad. Nothing against Brad, but, no.

[Chief-O]

I always figured that Brad Rutter would get offered the job before Ken, since Brad has actually hosted a quiz show before.

What show was that?

"Inquizitive", a high school quiz show in PA.