Mayim Bialik on hosting ‘Jeopardy!’: ‘People should think the least about me as possible’

On Tuesday’s The Late Late Show With James Corden, Mayim Bialik talked about what it has been like being a major part of the Jeopardy! hosting search.

“I was the headline on CNN three days in a row,” Bialik said. “Who knew people were so passionate about who hosts Jeopardy?”

Bialik was part of a months-long carousel of guest hosts over the spring and summer months of this year, after the passing of host Alex Trebek left the need for a new host. Executive producer Mike Richards was finally named host, but quickly stepped down after past comments he made about women and others came to light. That put Bialik right back in the hosting seat, along with Ken Jennings, through the end of the year. And all she wants to do is not be noticed.

“I mean, I'm just trying to read the clues. You know, just let me read the clues,” Bialik said. “The thing about Jeopardy, we spend our whole lives wanting to be seen, you know, and this job is like -- people should think the least about me as possible. Meaning, it's my job to be the host, just like read the clues.”

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

JAMES CORDEN: Now, Mayim, we have to congratulate you. There's a lot-- you have a new gig. You're the host of "Jeopardy!"

MAYIM BIALIK: I am.

- Standing ovation.

[APPLAUSE]

KYLIE MAR: On "The Late Late Show with James Corden" Tuesday, the current host of "Jeopardy!" Mayim Bialik talked about what it has been like having a front-row seat on the roller coaster that is the "Jeopardy!" hosting search.

MAYIM BIALIK: I was a headline on CNN three days in a row.

JAMES CORDEN: Yeah.

MAYIM BIALIK: It's like, who knew that people were so passionate--

JAMES CORDEN: Yeah, how-- what do you think of all this attention?

MAYIM BIALIK: --about who will host "Jeopardy!." I mean, I'm just trying to read the clues, you know.

[LAUGHTER]

Just let me read the clues.

KYLIE MAR: Bialik was part of a month's long carousel of guest hosts before Executive Producer Mike Richards was finally named host. He later stepped down after revelations of comments about women and others from his past came to light, which put Bialik right back into the hosting seat through the end of the year.

MAYIM BIALIK: The thing about "Jeopardy!," you know, we spend our whole lives like wanting to be seen and like, you know, and this job is like people should think the least about me as possible. Meaning, it's my job to be the host, just like read the clues.

JAMES CORDEN: Mhm.

MAYIM BIALIK: There's certainly been a lot in the news that's brought a lot of interest.

KYLIE MAR: Luckily, Bialik has been a fan-favorite all along and continues to draw support from viewers with comments like, "I hope they keep Mayim Bialik as the Jeopardy! host. She does such a good job." And, "Mayim is the best host for the show." And perhaps most importantly, she likes hosting the show as well.

JAMES CORDEN: Are you enjoying doing it?

MAYIM BIALIK: Oh, it's incredibly enjoyable. I learn things all day. I meet people who have a kind of knowledge that I do not possess. Like, I would do horrible on "Jeopardy!" Horrible.

[MUSIC PLAYING]