Bamaman wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 5:33 pm
While Jennings isn’t a game show host, he is certainly familiar with the game and how it works from having been a contestant in over a hundred games. So I wasn’t surprised he was able to handle the hosting duties.
Couric and Whittaker have interviewed hundreds of people in their career but hosting a fast paced game show is a whole new experience for them. I am also interested in how an actress and a pro football player do at this. It probably helps that Bialik is very intelligent. And Rodgers has been on the show and did attend Cal.
I think Jennings is, more than any other host could be, hyperaware of wagering strategy. That's a huge asset - he's given subtle "good for you"-style commentaries on appropriately aggressive DDs, and understood the dilemma of Friday's tie score going into FJ. I also imagine he inwardly groaned at seeing the all-in wager from third place, but that kinda stuff you have to not show on TV.
Given her neuroscience background, I think Bialik would be a quick study in that same game theory category. And I get how it could intimidate non-math people, since game theory isn't quite the kind of math you get in school. Most people probably can get to the "all-in from second, wager to win by 1 from first" logic, but anything beyond that or involving third place will get a blank stare.
And while he hasn't hosted much on TV, someone posted a local quiz bowl he did after his win. And he's on two other shows - Master Minds and The Chance - where his role may not be a host, but isn't 100% contestant, either.
My guess is the four folks coming on (for a week each, I've heard?) and are getting charity money to match aren't really in the running. With the exception of the 60 Minutes anchor, they all have strong, time-consuming interests outside of J!....although Alex did host Classic Concentration along with J! for a few years, so they can adjust things. My impression is they're fillers - not that they won't be very good hosts. They're there to get eyeballs to the screen, though, and may not be in serious contention.
My other feeling is that Mike Richards is the backup to the backup - if Ken had failed abysmally and had no charisma, and the other invitees either had other commitments for S38 or were just as bad, he could pull a Dick Cheney and take the helm after his 2 week run. He has experience (Pyramid and that other cooperative game show), although he may not be a household name. But I don't think that'll happen. Maybe it's just my own bias, but I haven't heard many serious complaints about Ken. He was a little high-pitched and a little speedy with the clues the first show, but I don't see people noting that quite as much now.