'Jeopardy!': Hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik demand major pay increase amid spotlight feud
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Jeopardy!' co-hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik are demanding a salary increase while also fighting for the spotlight on the show behind the curtains. Jennings, 48, and Bialik, 47, previously worked toward a deal to split up hosting duties for the trivia show's upcoming 39th season with the participants set to experience a double set of hosts. The game show formerly had crowd favorite late Alex Trebek as the host.
“They’re griping that they’re ONLY getting about $1 million to host the whole season while Trebek pulled in $10 million a year, and they don’t think it’s fair!" a source dished to RadarOnline. While both the TV hosts are requesting a pay increase, it appears the 'Big Bang Theory' alum is more desperate. The source further claimed that Bialik is attempting to push Jennings out of the hosting gig by "kissing up to TV bosses." However, her latest tactics are not working in her favor and instead they might "tick off" the bosses.
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'Their antics are getting tiresome'
“She wants the show all to herself and she was actually making some headway and impressing her bosses, but she’s totally shown herself in the foot now with all her money demands,” dished the insider before adding, “Ken’s got it into his head that he should get more money too, and their loud and obnoxious wheeling and dealing isn’t getting them far!” One of the longest-running shows 'Jeopardy!' was recently renewed through season 2028. However, this does not guarantee job security for the current hosts. “Their antics are getting tiresome. The way they’re going, they could tick off bosses and find themselves both canned!” shared the source.
Bialik 'feels she's better qualified than Ken'
Earlier in April, it was revealed that Bialik is persistent on taking full control of the game show. “Mayim's determined to get the prime-time show all to herself and feels she's better qualified than Ken ever was. Her Celebrity Jeopardy is doing well, and she's buoyed by the fact she got those great ratings," spilled an insider. "Mayim's kissing up to bosses and even the lowliest production assistants to win favor. She has a compliment for everyone these days. She's also doing other things, like changing up her hairdo and adding brighter, peppier wardrobes. She just has to win over Ken's fans, but they're a tough bunch," the source added, as per RadarOnline.