2004-2013
Ken Jennings has already proved himself more than competent as a game show host. That said, I think there are a couple of other players from his era who are more than worthy to take the job.
Larissa Kelly: First female contestant to win more than five games. Initial appearance: 2008. Won six games and $222,597. Second place in 2009 Tournament of Champions: $100,000. Participant in the Battle of the Decades: 2000s. Member of Jeopardy All Star Tournament Winning Team: (Team Brad) shared in $1,000,000 grand prize.
Why She is Qualified: In addition to being a trailblazer on Jeopardy (she had the all time money record for a female contestant until 2014), Larissa also has a history in working in quiz shows. She and her husband run an academic quiz show tournament that, as of 2019, was still active. Has a cheerful demeanor that belies a fierce competitor, which is why she probably understands very well how many Jeopardy contestants feel behind the podium. Could probably explain strategy very well (as we saw in many of her behind the scenes moments in the All Star Tournament). Of course, considering that her records on the show currently have her as the greatest female champion history, she has every reason to turn it down. She might very well want to defend that title.
David Madden: Winner of 19 games in 2005 (at the time, the second longest winning streak in the show’s history) Won over $430,000 in regular competition, which until James Holzhauer came along was the second highest amount of won by a contestant in regular competition. Semi-Finalist in 2005 Tournament of Champions. Member of Winning Team in Jeopardy All-Star Tournament (Team Brad). Shared in $1,000,000 grand prize.
Why He is Qualified: Has as much experience on Jeopardy as nearly any other contestant, and holds himself to a higher ethical standard than you’d think. David works for a couple of major academic competition, one of which used the same fact checking service Jeopardy used in 2014. Because of a potential contracting conflict, he didn’t think it would be ethical for him to appear in the Battle Of The Decades, a fact that Alex mentioned in passing, adding: “That’s too bad, because he will be missed.” Even given the level of competitiveness in that tournament, it’s hard to imagine David not doing well, so he really gave up a lot. (Circumstances had changed in 2018, when the All-Star Tournament took place.) In addition to having a very good personality, David’s willingness to put the integrity of Jeopardy before his own financial gain is exactly the kind of thing Alex would be proud of, which is another major reason the show could use him.
2014-Present
I fully admit that this group might be the least likely to jump at the chance to host, given that they – like Buzzy – are the most likely to be asked back for a future tournament. That being said, if they wanted the job…
Julia Collins: Winner of 20 Games in 2014. Won $428,100 which was the third highest money total in the show’s history in regular play. (It’s still in the top ten.) Finalist in 2014 Tournament of Champions: $50,000. Captain in Jeopardy All-Star Tournament (Team Julia) Eliminated after initial round: Shared in $50,000 cash prize.
Why She is Qualified: I’ve seen more than my share of Jeopardy Champions over the years, and often when they return they’ve changed their job title. But in all that time, I’ve never seen a contestant change their job description to reflect their success in the show. Yet when Julia returned for her Tournament of Champions appearance, she described herself as ‘a 20-Game Jeopardy Winner’. That reflects pride, not arrogance because she has always approached the game with kindness even towards her fellow competitors. Never was this clearer in the fact that when Ben Ingram defeated her in that same Tournament, she reached out to him not long after and they have become very close friends. When it came time to make her picks for the All-Star Tournament, she picked Ben first. Now whether that level of devotion to the series would be enough for her to surrender the possibility of playing in future tournaments and hosting, I don’t know. But she clearly has Jeopardy in her bones.
Austin Rogers: Appeared in 2017, winning 12 Games and $413,000. (Both marks are in the ten greatest Jeopardy winning-streaks and money won). Finalist in the 2018 Tournament of Champions: $50,000. Captain of Team Austin in Jeopardy All-Star Tournament. Shared in a $75,000 prize for competing in Wild Card Match.
Why He Is Qualified: Even among the greatest of Jeopardy champions, there are very few with genuine performance skills. Austin happens to have that in spades. In his initial run, the whole world went wild over his hand gestures that he would make at the beginning of every introduction. (I already mentioned how that played off Buzzy and Alan when they faced off in the Tournament of Champions.) He also has a very ribald wit that actually had him get bleeped once. What is forgotten amidst the theatrics was how superb a player he was, and that sometimes those same gestures helped him. I remember once he hit a Daily Double in the category PRESIDENTS BORN WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI and he used his gestures to work it out in his head. In addition to being a great player, Austin is witty, gregarious and charming – everything you need to be a perfect game show host. Would he be a real contrast to Alex Trebek? I don’t deny that. But Alex had a lot of respect for his skills and appreciated his humor. That should count for something.
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