Mayim Bialik dropped a great throwback from her days on The Big Bang Theory, and it's tied to one of Sheldon and Amy's greatest moments. She's got me in my feels today after sharing a shot of her and co-star Jim Parsons hanging out behind the scenes of their characters' big cameo-filled wedding day.

Weeks after Wil Wheaton shared his own fond memory of filming that episode, it's now Bialik's turn to remember just how great TBBT was in its prime as we await the Stuart-led spinoff hitting the 2026 TV schedule. Check out her picture below, along with the tiara the actress is wearing on her head:

Hilariously enough, CinemaBlend was able to dig up some additional context on this exact photo thanks to a post dating back to 2018. This was a photo Mayim Bialik posted on X specifically to show off the tiara from the set of The Big Bang Theory. Responses from fans at the time all chimed in about how they hoped Amy would wear a tiara on her wedding day, and as we now know, she did!

I love being reminded of Sheldon and Amy's wedding, so much so that I'm almost wanting to watch the episode later with my HBO Max subscription. That wedding was such a long time coming, and it was fantastic that The Big Bang Theory's team was able to get Star Wars actor Mark Hamill as a guest star to officiate the characters' big day. The Force was with them that week for sure.

It gives me warm and fuzzy feelings, and has me all the more worried about what The Big Bang Theory fans will think of the upcoming spinoff, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. It's a big swing to take the next entry in the franchise and make it about one of the supporting characters, and I wonder if it'll be embraced by the fans.

Granted, other spinoffs of The Big Bang Theory have done well enough, with Young Sheldon having a great run on television, despite Jim Parsons (who narrated the series) and Mayim Bialik not appearing in person until almost at the very end. Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage is also doing well over on CBS, and it hasn't even featured a single version of Sheldon yet!

All this to say, I do wonder if we'll ever see a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory that brings the original cast back together. My guess is no, considering other iconic successful sitcoms have struggled to do the same with their cast. Honestly, I'm fine if it never happens, but I can't express how excited I'd be if we learned Parsons, Bialik, and others were all getting back together.

The Big Bang Theory is available to stream right now on HBO Max. Revisit Sheldon and Amy's wedding, as well as all the other fantastic moments from the series in its long run on television.

You may know Mayim Bialik as a big TV star from The Big Bang Theory and as a guest host on Jeopardy!, but her breakthrough came from playing the title character on Blossom. The ‘90s network TV show lasted multiple seasons, but was canceled in 1995. Following years of attempts to launch a Blossom reboot, Bialik got real about how those efforts being doomed, and that “Disney got this wrong” in choosing to pass on the revival project.

Mayim Bialik may have had a successful TV career after Blossom’s Season 5 ending, but it doesn’t mean the beloved ‘90s sitcom has left her heart. The show's star wrote on Substack about how Blossom's creator, Don Reo, came up with a script that would bring the iconic characters into today’s day, which Bialik found “beautiful.” Back in 2023, the American neuroscientist was hoping to take cues from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot of a darker, deeper take on the sitcom. The two told their idea to former execs at Disney, which owns the rights, and they “seemed” to love it.

However, the forward momentum came to a sudden halt after job titles changed and new execs were put in charge of series development. Bialik revealed those new execs were far less welcoming to the new idea, shooting it down the plans before anything could happen with them. In her words:

I can understand the Emmy nominee’s disappointment in not receiving an extensive and logical response from Disney on why a Blossom reboot wouldn’t work for them. Especially when one minute, a network is sold on an idea, only for new executives to provide a different answer later.

After Bialik and Don Reo’s Blossom idea was shut down by Disney, the talented actress expressed sadness over what the television industry has become:

With all of the talent that Mayim Bialik has as an actress, it would be a real shame for her to stop pursuing on-camera projects. She does make a great point, however, in saying the industry continues to change compared to her time as a child star. The Young Sheldon actress previously spoke about how thankful she was that the Blossom set wasn’t a toxic environment, and how it was a “simpler” time without social media. Even though the industry is evolving, I’m still hoping Bialik can find a platform to bring her ideas to fruition.

Because shows like Saved By the Bell, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Punky Brewster were still talked about and streamed decades later, their nostalgia and fanbase made them a cinch for reboots that would capture longtime viewers and a new generation. But, it’s possible Disney didn’t see Blossom having the same impact for a new revival, as reruns haven’t been airing on TV and have been unavailable as part of your streaming schedule.

However, the California native continued to hold her stance about Disney being “wrong” that a revival series of the five-season run sitcom isn’t needed:

I truly feel for Mayim Bialik that a Blossom revival didn’t happen like she hoped. It sounds like there was a lot of passion and dedication behind the project. But at the end of the day, ideas coming to life will ultimately fall into the hands of the network that owns the rights.

A Blossom reboot may never see the light of day, but that doesn’t diminish the impact the series had on Mayim Bialik or longtime fans who loved the show. Maybe one of these days, we’ll find out the fates of Blossom, Joey, Tony, Six, and more. Until then, its legacy will continue through the fond memories that each episode brought to fans of the ‘90s.

Considering how many child stars have walked away from Hollywood, it is always so inspiring to see an actor who started early and continues to act to this day. Of course, some of them would walk away from the spotlight or experience a bit of a career hiccup before making an impressive return, either with more acting roles or in a new medium altogether. See for yourself by taking a look at these former child actors who went on to impress us as adults.

Mayim Bialik

After hitting it big as the title character of the hit '90s sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik lived a normal life that included earning a neuroscience degree and starting a family. She made her major industry return by joining the Big Bang Theory cast as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, which led her to lead another sitcom called Call Me Kat and host Jeopardy! for a short time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After getting his start in movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It and playing an alien posing as a human teen on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never really went away from Hollywood. However, he did experience a moment of relative obscurity before roles in the likes of (500) Days of Summer, a few great Christopher Nolan movies, and his many collaborations with Rian Johnson put him on the A-List.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett made a grand impression in her youth with a recurring stint on Full House and as the title role of the acclaimed Black horror movie, 1997's Eve’s Bayou. Her career would take an astonishing turn toward A-list success in 2020 after her Emmy-nominated turn in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was followed by her role as Black Canary in DC’s Birds of Prey, her great performance in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, and more.

Jason Bateman

Following his debut appearance on Little House on the Prairie, his roles on sitcoms like Valerie (later called The Hogan Family after some major casting shake-ups), and his lead part in Teen Wolf Too made Jason Bateman an '80s heartthrob. Years later, playing Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development cast made him a comedy icon before his Emmy-nominated turn as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark cast further proved his remarkable versatility.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer – who proved she was an acting powerhouse at 9 years old with her debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business before scoring her first lead role in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee – never needed a comeback moment because her notoriety never really stopped. However, it is clear that the multi-talented Emmy winner was never more popular before her scene-stealing performance in Jordan Peele’s 2022 alien invasion movie, Nope.

Josh Brolin

After making his acting debut at 17 in 1985's The Goonies cast, Josh Brolin rarely had another role quite as successful until, at 39, he was cast in 2007's instant classic Western movie, No Country for Old Men, as Llewellyn Moss. The son of James Brolin went on to receive an Oscar nomination for 2008's Milk, was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big bad, Thanos, and has given commanding performances in various other acclaimed films.

Drew Barrymore

Many forget that, years after 1982's E.T. the Extra-terrestrial made her a sensation at just 7 years old, Drew Barrymore had a few career shake-ups due to personal drama including addiction. Yet, her astonishing performance in the opening scene of 1996’s Scream brought her back to the A-List and earned her roles in blockbusters like Charlie's Angels and TV shows like Santa Clarita Diet before she found later success as a daytime talk show host.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing the prodigious title role of Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, at least for a while. His popularity would skyrocket, however, when he played Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother cast, which opened up many avenues for the now multi-Emmy-winning performer, from working with David Fincher on Gone Girl to hosting award shows and taking the stage on Broadway.

Gaby Hoffman

Gaby Hoffman had an amazing run as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s with roles in movies like Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Sleepless in Seattle. After stepping away to focus on her education, she resurfaced as a sought-after talent with her Emmy-nominated starring role in the Amazon Prime original TV show, Transparent.

Ke Huy Quan

Following his iconic roles in classic '80s movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Short Round, and The Goonies, as Data, Ke Huy Quan’s role offers began to disappear. That would change decades later when he won an Academy Award for his uplifting performance in A24's acclaimed multiverse movie, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Anna Chlumsky

For years, Anna Chlumsky was best known for her heartbreaking performance as 11-year-old Vada in 1991's My Girl. Years later, she significantly increased her star power with her multi-Emmy-nominated role in the hit HBO series, Veep, as Amy Brookheimer.

Macaulay Culkin

One of the most essential examples of a “former child star” is Macaulay Culkin, who had Hollywood in the palm of his young hands after leading the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. He still acts from time to time, having shown up in the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, is in a power couple with Brenda Song, and finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci would continue to find notable acting roles beyond her star-making turn as Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's Addams Family Values. However, starring in Showtime’s Yellowjackets cast did wonders for her modern notoriety before she revisited her breakout role with a fun part in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale owes his fame to starring in Steven Spielberg's 1987 period drama Empire of the Sun and the cult-favorite 1992 musical Newsies but his menacing turn in 2000's American Psycho earned him wide respect as an adult. However, leading Christopher Nolan's live-action Batman movies as Bruce Wayne made him one of the top actors of his generation, leading to his Oscar win for 2011’s The Fighter.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar embodied the ultimate girl next door when she was cast in the original Wonder Years as Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. Much later in her career, she would acquire a much different fanbase when she became one of the most prolific stars on the Hallmark Channel with roles in movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse had already acted alongside his sibling, his identical twin brother Dylan, numerous times (such as in Big Daddy) before Disney Channel’s The Suite Life franchise made them teen idols. However, you could argue that Cole was never more popular after he joined the Riverdale cast as Jughead Jones.

Hilary Duff

There were few teen Disney Channel stars who became quite as iconic and as quickly as Hilary Duff after she starred in the title role of Lizzie McGuire. She would find later success in the scene-stealing supporting role of Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger and as the lead protagonist of Hulu's short-lived but well-liked How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Josh Peck

Josh Peck first rose to fame on Nickelodeon by scoring major roles in kid-friendly comedies like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He would later prove his worth as a versatile actor with more mature roles, such as on Fox's Grandfathered or in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Oppenheimer.

Vincent Kartheiser

Vincent Kartheiser first made a name for himself by appearing in ‘90s teen movies like Alaska and Masterminds. However, he would find later and greater success after starring in AMC's Mad Men cast as Pete Campbell.

Kurt Russell

Following his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell continued to have success as the star of light and funny Disney movies like The Strongest Man in the World. In 1981, he reinvented himself as an action movie icon after playing Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which led to plenty more awesome movie roles, such as R.J. MacReady in The Thing and Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle.

Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin was previously best known as Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, who also showed up in the Home Alone movies and played Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. However, he would become one of the more prolific Culkin siblings following his Emmy-winning turn in the Succession cast as Roman Roy and other widely acclaimed performances.

Johnny Galecki

For years, Johnny Galecki was best known for playing the third Rusty Griswold in 1989's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and David Healy on Roseanne. He would later reprise the latter role on The Conners years after experiencing a career resurgence by playing Leonard Hofstadter on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster made an impressive feature film debut as Liam Neeson’s onscreen stepson in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. The British actor would later surprise audiences with his role as Jojen Reed in the Game of Thrones cast, leading to parts in the Maze Runner movies and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams became a bonafide sitcom star by playing a young Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, which led to more interesting roles, such as Lionel in the acclaimed 2014 indie comedy, Dear White People. However, his recurring role on the Walking Dead cast and multi-Emmy-nominated turn as Gregory Eddie on the Abbott Elementary cast earned him wide respect as an adult actor.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter only appeared in a handful of movies, including Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role, before she walked away from acting when she was still very young. She would later reinvent herself as a talented musician when she competed in and won the tenth season of NBC's hit singing competition show, The Voice.

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson broke into the business when she joined the Growing Pains cast as the Severs' youngest child, Chrissy. She is best known these days as a prolific voice actor who has breathed life into iconic roles such as Gretchen on Recess and Ellie in the hit post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into an HBO series that she cameoed on.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became one of the most promising young talents to break through on Nickelodeon, having been cast on iCarly as the charmingly bullish Sam Puckett. However, she became better known and even better respected years later for her acclaimed, revealing 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which focuses on her life as a reluctant child actor.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne began her career early in life – notably appearing on Pee-wee's Playhouse – and seemingly hit her peak in her late teens and early 20s with the American Pie movies and But I'm a Cheerleader before substance abuse caused her career to slow down. Years later, Emmy-nominated turns on TV shows like Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll (which she co-created), and Poker Face and a few acclaimed movie roles reignited her wonderfully versatile career.

Mara Wilson

Following her star-making roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda, Mara Wilson walked away from the spotlight soon after starring in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. She would later take up minor, infrequent parts after becoming better known for writing about her experiences as a top child actor.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment would never go on to play a role quite as iconic as young medium Cole Sear in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Sixth Sense (which earned him an Oscar nomination) at 11 years old. However, his work as an adult – such as recurring roles on hit series like Silicon Valley and The Boys and memorable parts in movies like Kevin Smith’s Tusk – has been nothing short of exciting.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen made a charming debut as Cindy Lou Who in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and, in her teens, made an impression on the Gossip Girl cast as Jenny Humphrey. She would later reinvent herself as the frontwoman of a successful rock group called The Pretty Reckless.

Lukas Haas

Following an acclaimed run as one of the most revered child actors of the 1980s for his roles in Witness and Lady in White, Lukas Haas went on to take progressively smaller roles as he grew up. However, much of the projects he has taken in his adulthood – including movies like Inception and Babylon and TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds – have been met with great receptions.

Max’s upcoming Big Bang Theory follow-up is building up fandom buzz as the sitcom continues coming together behind the scenes, and while it can be assumed that most fans are 100% in on seeing more from Kevin Sussman’s Comic Center owner Stuart, the same expectations can’t be had regarding the mothership’s former leads. Because while Jim Parsons previously expressed his disinterest in reprising Sheldon Cooper, Mayim Bialik has made it clear she’s on the opposing side.

To be sure, Bialik previously addressed her willingness to portray Amy Farrah Fowler again, which was fittingly timed with her throwback-filled guest spot on Night Court opposite fellow TBBT vet Melissa Rauch. At that time, she was only speaking to the general idea of returning in the new streaming show, but she’s since addressed Jim Parson’s comments specifically when talking to Yahoo Entertainment, saying:

Considering Bialik broke out her Blossom hats and dance moves to play herself for Night Court, after having previously attempted to produce a revival of the NBC sitcom, it’s perhaps no surprise that she’s down to give audiences as much or as little of her past roles as they desire. WIth her previous Fox comedy Call Me Kat getting axed in 2023, Bialik doesn’t appear to be anchoring any other in-development projects, so the iron does seem hot for striking.

As she mentioned with her response, Bialik did reteam with Parson in live-action as their Big Bang characters for Young Sheldon, which the latter actor provided voiceover narration for during all seven seasons. So it’s not as if he completely shed himself of his breakout role immediately after the series’ star-filled finale in 2019, even as he took on a variety of roles that were nothing like Sheldon Cooper.

When he’d previously addressed the idea of presumably rocking another DC superhero shirt as Sheldon for the impending spinoff, Parsons seemed to be tying his hesitance to the idea that audiences wouldn’t be interested in catching up with Big Bang Theory’s core characters years after the fact. As he put it:

Now, does that 100% mean audiences will never ever see Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik reprising their beloved roles in Chuck Lorre & Co.’s follow-up project alongside Brian Posehn’s Bert Kibbler and Lauren Lapkus’ Denise? Of course not. High-end financial offers won’t hurt those chances, either.

It’s unclear whether or not the new comedy set in The Big Bang Theory’s universe will be crafted in time to join the end of the 2025 TV schedule, but the only way to watch it will be with a Max subscription, which is also where to stream all twelve seasons of the CBS sitcom’s initial run.

The 2025 TV schedule is jam-packed full of fun, and Mayim Bialik joining ex-costar Melissa Rauch on an episode of Night Court was one of the many highlights so far. The former game show host shares the behind-the-scenes story about the mini Big Bang Theory reunion and reveals that she was anticipating it happening sooner or later.

Bialik was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter about making a cameo on the NBC reboot as herself opposite Melissa Rauch and what’s in store for the future reboot of her own series, Blossom. The actress and author said this of waiting to make an appearance on Night Court:

It’s been great to see these former costars get a chance to work together again in a new and entertaining setting. And with Rauch essentially announcing an open invite to any of her former brainy sitcom peers, it makes sense that Bialik predicted getting the call.

Bialik then went on to share how excited she was at the opportunity and was down for anything:

The episode aired this past Tuesday, so I won’t say much, but it was as wholesome as the conversation sounds. Seeing the two of them together again just felt right to me. The Call Me Kat actress then shared her love of the 2023 series and the other sweet reunions she had with John Larroquette and Nyambi Nyambi:

I love all the reconnecting the former child star did during her guest spot on Night Court. I know that not all former peers love to return to working with one another but I’m glad Bialik had a positive experience with Rauch and company. Finally, the 49-year-old explained how she felt playing a version of herself, and having fun with it, saying this:

It’s been great to hear about all the enjoyment behind guest spots and see all the on-screen reunions for the Big Bang Theory crew. It does make me start thinking about where that much-anticipated spinoff is. While it did make some news recently for being in the early stages of development at Max, its focus won’t center on the main cast. And as much as I would prefer to see Sheldon and company, it still sounds entertaining.

For now, I’ll take as many Big Bang Theory reunions on Night Court as Melissa Rauch can wrangle. I’m glad that Mayim Bialik didn’t have to wait too long for her turn but here’s to hoping that another is waiting around the bend not too far from now.

Watch Big Bang Theory with a Max subscription and catch new episodes of Night Court on NBC Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET. Stream them the following day with a Peacock subscription.

Hollywood lost a true legend today, as it was announced that David Lynch had died at the age of 78. The experimental and incredibly creative filmmaker was deeply beloved, and his films and shows have influenced so many over the decades. Now, as we mourn this loss, Steven Spielberg, Kyle MacLachlan, Nicolas Cage and more are posting their tributes to the director and honoring the impact he left on film and television.

Both Steven Spielberg and David Lynch are legendary filmmakers, and the Jaws director admires the Twin Peaks creator greatly. In fact, he cast Lynch as John Ford in The Fabelmans back in 2022. In a statement published Variety, Spielberg noted that role and his relationship with the director, saying:

Like Spielberg, Nicolas Cage honored the late filmmaker with a statement about how brilliant he was. The actor worked with Lynch on the 1990 movie Wild at Heart, and in a statement published by Deadline, he called the director a “singular genius in cinema.” Also referring to Lynch as “one of the greatest artists of this or any time,” Cage explained:

Along with Cage, Kyle MacLachlan shared kind words about his frequent collaborator. Posting a series of images that seemingly span across decades, the actor reflected on his decades-long relationship with Lynch in a long Instagram post. The two worked together on the 1984 underappreciated adaptation of Dune, one of the best movies of the ‘80s, Blue Velvet, and one of the best sci-fi shows ever, Twin Peaks.

To commemorate all of that and what the director meant to him, MacLachlan wrote, in part:

Overall, the outpouring of love for Lynch and his filmography has been immense. He made such a big impact and influenced so many filmmakers, and his legacy will live on forever through his work.

An example of that work is Blue Velvet, which James Gunn posted a photo of as he wrote the following tribute to the Eraserhead director on Instagram:

Iconic director and actor Ron Howard noted his love for Lynch too. The Apollo 13 director specifically mentioned the Mulholland Drive director’s love for experimentation, writing the following in a tribute on X:

Ocean’s Eleven director Steven Soderbergh also paid tribute to Lynch by focusing on his “influential but impossible to imitate” work. In an interview with The AP, he complimented the director’s brilliant mind and filmography, writing:

The tributes aren’t even close to stopping there either. Many actors, performers, directors and more took to social media to share their love for David Lynch while grieving his death. Here are some of them:

• "David Lynch, RIP. At least that’s what the horse wearing a fez just told me* in a dream. (*Backwards and in Swedish)" - Patton Oswalt via X
• "This is a monumental loss. One of the most influential artists of all time. Nobody ever did it like David Lynch and nobody ever will again." -Kat Dennings via Instagram
• "Never been so sad about someone I never met I really loved him" -Colin Jost via Instagram
• "Visionary rebel David Lynch died today. His films changed the way many of us see the world. His lens, his choices, and the groundbreaking way he approached film have left an indelible imprint on this world." -Mayim Bialik via Instagram

Overall, the outpouring of love for David Lynch is immense, and there’s no denying just how big of an impact he left on the world of film, television and those who worked with him and loved his work.

We here at CinemaBlend send our condolences and thoughts to Lynch’s loved ones during this difficult time.

Night Court has been the place to be on the small screen for Big Bang Theory reunions, and the next one in the 2025 TV schedule is wild enough to even eclipse Kunal Nayyar playing Melissa Rauch's love interest in Season 2. Mayim Bialik debuts in the new Season 3 episode on January 14, and she'll be playing... Mayim Bialik! This also marks her first sitcom appearance since she played Amy Farrah Fowler in the series finale of Young Sheldon, and she opened up about potentially reprising her most famous role again in the next Big Bang spinoff.

Bialik appears a highly fictionalized version of herself on Night Court, appearing as Abby's (Melissa Rauch) stalker and packing in some Blossom references. There will be some Big Bang nods as well when the episode airs on NBC (and streams with a Peacock subscription), so it's only natural that the actress would be reflecting on her time as Amy Farrah Fowler. Speaking with TVLine about appearing in the developing Max spinoff starring Kevin Sussman, Bialik said:

Bialik was clear that she had no more inside information than anybody else who found out about the next Big Bang Theory project by reading about it online, but fans can be encouraged that she's so willing to play Amy again. In fact, other than her controversial stint as a Jeopardy host, she has stayed within the sitcom sphere for the most part since the end of Big Bang. She starred in three seasons of Fox's Call Me Kat before the comedy was cancelled in 2023, and contributed to a few different episodes of Young Sheldon.

That's not to say that Mayim Bialik is exclusively sticking with traditional sitcoms for the foreseeable future, as she also teased to TVLine that she's working on a Blossom reboot that they're "trying to get produced possibly not in a formal sitcom format, which is kind of interesting." She also shared one element of Night Court that was particularly fun for her after Call Me Kat and Young Sheldon, saying:

Neither Call Me Kat nor Young Sheldon filmed in front of a live studio audience like The Big Bang Theory did, so Night Court was a return to that format for Mayim Bialik as well as a reunion with Melissa Rauch. The Blossom alum also isn't the only guest star to speak about the perks of working in front of a Night Court audience, including Paul Scheer's "dream come true" and Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet Joe Lo Truglio.

Whatever the future holds for Amy Farrah Fowler, you can find Mayim Bialik back in primetime for Night Court's winter premiere on Tuesday, January 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. You can also find both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon streaming with a Max subscription now.

Regular Jeopardy! viewers like myself are all too ready to forget the hosting drama that befell the show following the death of one of the best game show hosts ever, Alex Trebek. While things have certainly changed in Ken Jennings’ era of Jeopardy!, the new host has really come into his own, enduring a revolving door of guest hosts and a co-hosting stint with Mayim Bialik before earning the full-time job. Now, as some familiar faces are welcomed back for tournament season on the 2025 TV schedule, one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners admitted one thing he found “a little frustrating” about Bialik during that time.

Matt Amodio holds the distinction of competing under seven different Jeopardy! hosts during his 38-game win streak in 2021, including Mayim Bialik, and he candidly revealed to Rolling Stone one reason he was glad to see Ken Jennings take over hosting duties on a permanent basis. Amodio said of Bialik:

During the time when Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik were co-hosting, Jeopardy! fans were not shy about picking favorites. The debate over who should win the permanent gig continued until the 2023 WGA strike, when Bialik chose to skip the final week of Jeopardy! tapings to stand in solidarity with the writers.

Ken Jennings stepped in for that final week, and by the time new episodes resumed after the strikes, it was announced that Mayim Bialik would not return. Executive producer Michael Davies explained how Ken Jennings ultimately won the job, saying:

It is quite impressive when Ken Jennings throws out little tidbits of extra information, and he even admits to the contestants when he gets stumped by a particular clue. That’s a pretty unique skill that likely no actor or athlete would surpass Jennings in.

Jeopardy! is currently airing its Second Chance Tournament daily in syndication, so check your local listings, and catch Ken Jennings hosting Celebrity Jeopardy! at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC. Fans with an Amazon Prime subscription can also catch Pop Culture Jeopardy!, where host Colin Jost is absolutely crushing it, even if he doesn’t know all the answers.

Night Court returns in the 2025 TV schedule to follow up on the holiday episode that featured a Brooklyn Nine-Nine reunion, and the winter premiere will deliver an even bigger reunion with Big Bang Theory alum Mayim Bialik joining Melissa Rauch. Not only will there be Easter eggs for their mutual CBS show, but also for Blossom, a.k.a. the classic '90s sitcom that was Bialik's big break into television. First looks at her episode reveal that some of those Easter eggs will be pretty obvious, and I'm already excited for what appears to be Mayim Bialik and Abby doing the Blossom dance!

And when I say that the first looks seemingly show Mayim Bialik and Abby doing the Blossom dance instead of Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, I mean that literally. Instead of playing a new character like what Kunal Nayyar did in his Night Court debut, the Call Me Kat vet will play a fictionalized version of herself who may be as obsessed with Melissa Rauch's character as Abby is with Blossom. It may just be a dream come true for Abby that Bialik seems to be teaching her the iconic Blossom dance in the first look below:

Bialik's version of herself may be stalking Abby on Night Court, but that doesn't mean they can't dance their way through a sitcom homage by the time the final credits roll! The episode, called "Mayim Worst Enemy," will include a moment that is straight out of the Blossom opening with a recreation of Bialik's pose with co-star Jenna von Oÿ back in the day:

Something tells me that we won't be getting too many nods to Bialik's Jeopardy hosting gig in her Night Court episode when there's Blossom and Big Bang Theory in her background! I just want to know if Bialik was able to teach Melissa Rauch the dance from memory, or if she needed a refresher too... assuming that we really are getting the Blossom dance. Another photo proves which of Bialik's projects Abby is a diehard fan of:

That's a Blossom hat like what Mayim Bialik regularly wore if ever I saw one! She may not have sported one from start to finish in every episode of the sitcom's five seasons on NBC, but I can easily believe that Abby could have already had that hat in her closet as a Blossom superfan. Another first look at the episode reveals that Bialik will come before Abby after (allegedly?) committing a crime, with John Larroquette's Dan Fielding as her defense:

And if none of these first looks really seem to hint at the plot of Mayim Bialik stalking Abby, this last one below may do the trick! Check out the actress sporting a blonde wig opposite Melissa Rauch:

Tune in to NBC on Tuesday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET for the winter premiere of Night Court, featuring Mayim Bialik as a stalker version of herself! This won't be the show's first Big Bang Theory reunion, and Melissa Rauch told us that everybody from her old show is welcome on Night Court, but it certainly seems like one that fans of both shows won't want to miss.

Night Court returned to NBC in the 2024 TV schedule with a two-parter that settled the question of whether Dan is Jake's dad. The hit comedy is already airing its fall finale on December 3, but there's plenty to look forward to in the 2025 TV schedule even beyond having Wendie Malick around full time as Julianne. Mayim Bialik is coming on board for a Big Bang Theory reunion with Night Court leading lady Melissa Rauch, who opened up about how all of her former cast mates are welcome.

Melissa Rauch spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets during NBC's press junket for Night Court Season 3 earlier this year, and Kunal Nayyar's guest-starring stint from Season 2 was still fresh in the memory and Mayim Bialik's arrival had not yet been announced. When asked if there were any other Big Bang cast members she'd like to see come on board, the actress shared:

While Bialik's arrival has since been confirmed – complete with sweet posts from both Big Bang Theory alums – it's worth noting that Melissa Rauch said that Season 3 will feature "some Big Bang faces," which is plural! It remains to be seen who else may arrive when Night Court gets back in business in the new year, but it's nice to know that Rauch is so welcoming to the people she worked with on the show that made her into a modern sitcom icon.

Of course, Kunal Nayyar's arrival proved that teaming up on Night Court didn't mean falling back into their old habits as Raj and Bernadette, and that certainly will be true this season with Mayim Bialik playing a fictionalized version of herself. Melissa Rauch's Abby and Nayyar's Martini – yes, like the drink – made a love connection in his episode of Night Court back in February. (You can stream that episode with a Peacock subscription now.)

I asked Rauch to look back at what it was like to film a very different dynamic as Abby and Martini than as Bernadette and Raj on Big Bang Theory during NBC's event, and she shared:

No, Big Bang fans, you're not forgetting Raj and Bernadette starting a relationship during the course of the long-running series! Melissa Rauch and Kunal Nayyar did film a kissing scene, though, and undoubtedly could not have imagined that their next kissing scene would be on a totally different show as very different characters. And as it turns out, there was no awkwardness even with Melissa Rauch's husband on set. She went on:

At the time of writing, no major Big Bang Theory reunions beyond Mayim Bialik joining Melissa Rauch have been announced for Season 3, but we're only three episodes in by this point, so there's plenty of time for more good news if that's in the cards for the new year. For now, check out Kunal Nayyar and Rauch as Martini and Abby locking lips last season:

The fall finale of Night Court airs on Tuesday, December 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC following St. Denis Medical, but NBC has already confirmed when to expect Abby and Co. back. The winter premiere will air on Tuesday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET. In the meantime, you can always revisit earlier episodes of the first two seasons on Peacock and/or all twelve seasons of The Big Bang Theory streaming with a Max subscription.

Night Court fans will be happy to know that Melissa Rauch will see you in court now for season three of the hit sitcom. However, it's Big Bang Theory lovers who are extra excited about this return, because it was also announced that Amy actress Mayim Bialik will reunite with her former co-star for the NBC comedy. Now, after fans found out these two talented actresses would share the screen again, the Big Bang Theory alums shared sweet posts about their upcoming reunion.

Even though The Big Bang Theory’s series finale was back in 2019, and Rauch moved on to playing Judge Abby Stone on Night Court, she's stayed connected to her BBT family through the NBC show. For example, last season, she reunited with Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj on Big Bang, in a very steamy episode. Now, Mayim Bialik will enter the courtroom, and fans of both shows are so excited to see her back on screen with Rauch.

Speaking of Night Court's lead, she posted on Instagram about how happy she was to get to work with her former co-star, writing:

I don’t think any Big Bang Theory fans will want to miss the opportunity to see Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik make audiences laugh again. While they did reunite on Celebrity Jeopardy when Rauch competed two years ago, it'll be fun to see these two in character on Night Court.

On Big Bang, their characters Amy and Bernadette were the ultimate friend goals. Not only did the two have great "chemistry" being women of science, but they also had strong bonding moments -- like when Bernadette asked Amy to be her maid of honor. Even when they’d get into heated arguments about their husbands, you still felt the love. Seeing female friendships like that on television was truly lovely, so you bet I'm excited to see them together again.

Plus, along with Rauch, Mayim Bialik shared her enthusiasm on IG about joining Night Court. And in the most perfect way, she used a Big Bang Theory reference to describe their upcoming TV moment together:

Not that I’m complaining, but now I have the Big Bang Theory theme song stuck in my head!

Now, when it comes to the character Mayim Bialik will play, she told EW that she is “a really funny, evil version of myself.” Basically, her character will be a defendant and become friends with Judge Abby, who’s a big fan of Bialik’s ‘90s sitcom Blossom. Although, things will take a shocking turn when the TV star actually starts stalking her new friend!

The former Jeopardy! host also said to expect some “meta references” to The Big Bang Theory which, of course, this reunion episode can’t be without. Even on Kunal Nayyar’s guest-star episode, Judge Abby asked him “Have we met before?” So, yeah, I’m so ready for the clever BBT puns.

Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik’s friendship may have “started with a big bang,” but it certainly didn’t end during their time playing Amy and Bernadette. Now, I can't wait to see them back on screen together once Night Court makes its return to the 2024 TV schedule and NBC on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

While not every TV reboot and revival has the goods to survive beyond that all-important first season, Melissa Rauch's NBC sitcom Night Court will be kicking off its third season when it hits the 2024 TV schedule in November. And beyond all the sweet reunions and returns from past cast members of the '90s hit, it'll bring the latest and potentially greatest Big Bang Theory reunion opportunity yet, with Mayim Bialik set to join in as a guest star.

Not only will she be guest-starring in Night Court, but it'll actually be Mayim Bialik heading to Judge Abby Stone's corner of the legal-verse, as she'll be playing herself for an upcoming episode that doesn't yet have a premiere date announced. But here's what fans should know.

Bialik Is Playing Herself, And Abby Is Apparently A Fan

I can't quite tell if this is fully meta, or if it's somehow anti-meta, but when Mayim Bialik enters the Night Court-verse, it doesn't sound like the show will lean into her latter-day sitcom successes with Big Bang, and will instead play up her child-actor era as the lead on Blossom. (No huge surprise there, since Blossom is NBC and Big Bang is WB/CBS.)

When the actress enters Abby's courtroom as a defendant, it's initially a good time for the judge, as she was a huge Blossom fan as a kid. We don't yet know exactly why Bialik is being taken to court, but it may have something to do with the episode's big reveal.

As it turns out...Mayim Bialik is stalking Abby Stone! Dun-dun-DUN! I gotta think that stalking a judge makes for a pretty lofty offense, so it's bonkers that the actress is playing herself instead of a fictional identity. I mean, I assume it'll all get swept away comedically and without any real threats forming, but still. I really hope this means Jenna von Oÿ or Joey Lawrence will also be popping in.

Or, considering this is the second major Big Bang Theory reunion to happen on Night Court — Kunal Nayyar appeared in Season 2 — maybe the show will surprise audiences by bringing Jim Parsons out as well. Which probably seems more likely than him reprising Sheldon in another TBBT spinoff.

It Won't Just Be A Big Bang Theory Reunion For Mayim Bialik

While the majority of TV viewers will most easily recognize Mayim Bialik's time on Night Court as a Big Bang Theory meet-up, she actually worked with someone else in the cast far earlier, though not as early as Blossom. She'll also be reuniting with John Larroquette, who portrayed her character's father in his post-Court sitcom The John Larroquette Show.

The series ran for four seasons, from 1993-1996, with Bialik serving in a recurring role as the titular recovering alcoholic character's teen offspring Rachel. Amusingly enough, Joey Lawrence did guest-star on that sitcom, which only adds fuel to my hopes that he shows up in Night Court for no good reason. Also among my bigger hopes for this episode: Dan Fielding doesn't try to hit on Rachel.

Both Night Court and The Big Bang Theory are among CinemaBlend's ranking of the 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time, and it's always fun to watch reunions like this, since they tend to go a little over the top. Here's hoping Bialik's stalking skills aren't as top notch as Amy Farrah Fowler's physics smarts.

Night Court Season 3 will premiere on NBC on Thursday, November 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET, and will be available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Who is “pleased as punch that TV’s best game shows are back for the Fall TV schedule?” That’s right, I’m talking about Jeopardy! fans, as Season 41 kicked off in earnest on September 9, and without any of the set alteration complaints made by Wheel of Fortune viewers. It’s the first full season that’ll feature Ken Jennings pulling solo hosting duties, or at least it seemed that way until former alt-host Mayim Bialik’s latest comments went public.

Having served as Jeopardy!’s second semi-permanent host throughout Season 39 and part of Season 40, Bialik was let go from those duties in December of last year, prior to the series taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Game Show. The decision was a boon for fans who weren’t so pleased with the way the Big Bang Theory vet handled things compared to Jennings and Alex Trebek, while others were more taken aback by the decision to boot her.

Now, the latter group of fans may have reason to celebrate, as Mayim Bialik stoked a bit of hopeful speculation when talking to Fox News Digital about the potential to jump back behind the Jeopardy! lectern in Season 41 or beyond. In her words:

Obviously not a contract signed in blood or anything, but the Call Me Kat vet’s comments are among the first she’s made that hint at a potential future. But it’s unclear when we might learn more.

To be sure, it doesn’t appear as if Ken Jennings will be going anywhere anytime soon, as he appears to be settled in as comfortably as can be, quips and all. But he told CinemaBlend last year that he had a great time working with her, and was surprised when he learned the decision to let her go. Still, I can’t imagine Jeopardy!’s producers would shake up the status quo on the syndicated version without a major scheduling snafu in play.

Could Mayim Bialik Return To Host Primetime Tournaments?

Jeopardy! has expanded its programming plans beyond the syndicated iteration, with Pop Culture Jeopardy! bringing team-play to Prime Video, as hosted by Colin Jost. But the linear version will no doubt dig into primetime tournaments later in the season, with Jeopardy! Masters as arguably the biggest hook for viewers at home. And it's here where we're most likely to see Mayim Bialik make her game show return.

The show's big boss, executive producer Michael Davies, spoke in February 2024 about the decision to cut Bialik from the core series, explaining that enough TV stations requested the consistency of a single host that the decision was made to stick with Ken Jennings. However, he explained at the time that the door was still open to bring her back in some way, saying:

Given Bialik's answers, it's clear that there aren't any burned bridges here, and that she will presumably be good to return if there's an open spot. We'll just have to wait and see where things go, and whether she'll be suddenly filming a secret project in the weeks and months to come.

Regardless of what happens there, I'm already hoping she pops up instead of Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune's April Fool's episode next year, too.

Over the more than half century of Bob Newhart's career in showbiz, he became a sitcom legend and movie scene-stealer. It's therefore not surprising that many stars of the small and large screen wasted no time in paying tribute to the actor following his death at the age of 94. Nothing could be more appropriate for the man who was the lead of more than one of the best sitcoms of all time!

Mark Hamill may be best known for his work on the big screen as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, but like Newhart, the majority of his credits are actually television, mostly for voice work on projects like Batman: The Animated Series. With the hashtag #RIP, the actor nodded to Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show when he posted this on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Mayim Bialik certainly knows her way around a sitcom after Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, with Bob Newhart guest-starring on the latter across six episodes. There's a reason why he ranks among that show's greatest guest stars and earned a spot in the final season! In a statement to People about the late actor, Bialik said:

Mayim Bialik wasn't the only Big Bang Theory alum to open up in the wake of Bob Newhart's death. Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on all twelve seasons of the sitcom, wrote in an Instagram Story:

While Bob Newhart earned legend status largely due to all of his success on television, one of his most beloved projects has to be as part of Elf cast. Christmas movie co-star Zooey Deschanel said in a statement:

Filmmaker Judd Apatow also had a lot to say in tribute of Newhart. On X, he posted "Bob Newhart made the world a better place for a really long time," and went further in a statement to People:

Comedian and politician Al Franken shared his own perspective on working with Newhart, citing when the actor hosted Saturday Night Live during his tenure on the NBC sketch comedy show. Franken wrote on X:

Jamie Lee Curtis, who has been working on Freaky Friday 2 this summer, perhaps summed up what so many people seem to be feeling when she shared this sentiment on Instagram:

While the loss of Bob Newhart is certainly sad, it's also heartwarming to see so many stars come out to share stories of what he meant to them, whether they worked with him or not. His death at the age of 94 was first reported on July 18.

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Young Sheldon’s series finale on CBS or with a Paramount+ subscription, so be warned!

For seven memorable years, Young Sheldon’s creative team filled out the backstory of The Big Bang Theory’s resident genius Sheldon Cooper, and the tragi-comic culmination was reached in the CBS show’s two-part series finale. The first part followed up on George Cooper’s long-anticipated death with his funeral proceedings, while the second part featured the heavily hyped on-screen reunion between former co-stars Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik. But it’s what the prequel series didn’t show that has sparked curiosity, specifically when it comes to the fate of Johnny Galecki’s Leonard Hofstadter.

Understandably, a series devoted so largely to Sheldon’s life doesn’t necessarily owe fans any updates for other Big Bang Theory characters, but co-creators Steve Molaro and Chuck Lorre definitely knew that fans of the flagship sitcom have always pored over the follow-up show for connective tissue. And I know I'm not the only one who was hoping for a Leonard-flavored breadcrumb in the final episode.

While nothing in the installment “Memoir” directly revealed anything doom-laden about Leonard, a few clues indicate that the beloved character is out of the picture, whether it be due to death or perhaps a divorce from Kaley Cuoco's Penny. Let’s go over what we know to try and figure things out, since I doubt any kind of confirmation will come up in Georgie and Mandy’s upcoming spinoff.

Penny Was Namechecked, But No Mention Of Leonard

When it comes right down to it, the biggest piece of evidence pointing to Leonard’s current whereabouts is arguably the lack of evidence within not just the finale, but all of Young Sheldon’s run. Even though Leonard and Sheldon’s friendship developed after his coming-of-age teen years depicted in the dramedy prequel, it’s always been just a little odd that Jim Parsons’ Sheldon never once name-dropped his brainy bestie in any narration.

It might not be as odd if Young Sheldon was completely bereft of Big Bang Theory references and returns on the whole, but the show had already featured Mayim Bialik’s voiceover in the past, and also brought Simon Helberg’s Howard back in the middle of its run. But the kicker here is that Penny’s name does come up in the series finale, so the writers could have easily worked in a nod to Leonard’s current situation within that same line of dialogue.

When Amy mentions that their daughter, who curiously isn’t named, has developed an interest in becoming an actress, Sheldon responds by saying:

Was the implication there that Penny is perhaps more inclined to take on babysitting duties herself, due to whatever natural matronly vibes she exudes, as opposed to sharing those duties with Leonard? Or is the idea that Penny is now a single woman, either due to a divorce or something far more depressing? The third option would be that Sheldon merely named Penny instead of Leonard due to the context of acting being discussed. Whatever the reason, Cuoco’s character was the only TBBT fave referenced, and that seemed to be quite intentional.

Sheldon And Amy Named Their Son Leonard

To be sure, the name Leonard definitely did come up during Young Sheldon’s flash-forward segments, just not in direct reference to Johnny Galecki’s physicist. Rather, that’s the name that Sheldon and Amy named their son, who is already showing signs of branching away from science as an obsession through participating in youth hockey games.

Now, it’s a well-known fact that Sheldon’s idol is the late, great Star Trek vet Leonard Nimoy, so on the one hand, it’s perfectly logical that he and Amy would go that route in naming their first-born son. But on the other hand, that specific bit of nomenclature would likely present some unnecessary confusion amidst the friend group, at least assuming adult Leonard is still around.

It’s obviously not unlawful or extremely rare for parents to name a child after a friend or loved one who’s still alive, but that kind of tribute is far more common after someone has passed away, or is at least no longer around in a regular capacity. Which speaks more to the idea that he died at some point, possibly due to the various health issues that he brought up in the 12 years The Big Bang Theory aired, as opposed to Leonard and Penny splitting up.

If this were a situation where a difficult divorce came into play before Amy and Sheldon had their son, then I seriously doubt they would have gone forward with naming the kid Leonard, knowing that they’d be asking Penny to babysit down the line. But that’s more of a socially awkward choice than anything else, so I guess I wouldn’t totally put it past Sheldon.

Johnny Galecki Previously Hit Pause On His Entertainment Career

Let’s step outside the narrative box for a second to pose a different reason for Young Sheldon seemingly avoiding any updates about Leonard: former Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki hit pause on his entertainment career to focus on his growing family in their gorgeous Tennessee home. So it’s likely that Steve Molaro and Chuck Lorre were all too aware that the Roseanne vet wouldn’t be up for reprising the role on Young Sheldon at any point.

To that end, it’s possible they chose not to offer any specific updates about Leonard without having Galecki’s input and blessing about where the character ended up. It’s also plausible that they assumed invoking Leonard’s current whereabouts would lead to an unwanted rise in fans trying to contact Galecki privately.

With any number of reasons behind the creative team’s choice to leave Leonard references by the wayside, Young Sheldon has now completely wrapped up its seven-season run, with only George and Mandy’s impending spinoff to potentially provide further insights into Sheldon, Amy, Penny and Leonard’s lives in the post-Big Bang era. Maybe if that Max spinoff ever makes it through the development process, it’ll offer its own clues into these characters' lives.

Until we know more, Young Sheldon's easter egg-filled finale can be streamed along with all the other episodes on Paramount+, while all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory are available with a Max subscription.

Yesterday, Sam Rubin, an incredible entertainment journalist who was a staple of KTLA 5 News in Los Angeles, died of a heart attack at the age of 64. He had been with the news channel since 1991, and he was beloved by viewers, journalists and the artists he interviewed. Now, as we mourn the death of the beloved reporter, many have taken to social media to pay tribute to him, including Ryan Reynolds, Hannah Waddingham, Ryan Seacrest and more. 

As a staple in Los Angeles and the world of entertainment journalism, Rubin had interviewed so many celebrities across his decades-long career, and he was adored by many. For example, Ted Lasso cast member and Emmy-winner Hannah Waddingham took to X to share her tribute for the reporter, noting how much she loved chatting with him during interviews:

Ryan Reynolds shared a similar sentiment on X. Actors participate in an intense number of interviews to promote their projects – which is something Reynolds is about to do for his upcoming project Deadpool and Wolverine – and it can be really difficult and repetitive. However, as the actor pointed out, chatting with Rubin was always a delight:

Ryan Seacrest, a great interviewer himself and the incoming Wheel of Fortune host, posted a sweet and personal tribute for Rubin on Instagram, noting the impact the reporter had on his life and career, he wrote: 

Tom Hanks, posted a photo of him on Instagram with a simple and sweet tribute, writing:

Director and actor Ron Howard reposted an obituary about Rubin on X, and he shared his own tribute for the reporter. The A Beautiful Mind director made sure to note the impact the journalist left on Los Angeles, writing:

Known for his interviews on red carpets, sets, junkets and in-studio, most of the actors noted how much they appreciated Rubin’s work. Mayim Bialik did too, as someone who was part of  Blossom and The Big Bang Theory casts, she’s been interviewed by him many times. However, as an LA local, she also explained that she loved that her mom could tune into the local news to watch his interviews, posting on X:

More celebrities took to Twitter too to share their tributes for and stories about Sam Rubin. From TV stars to comedians to film legends, the outpouring of love is overwhelming in the best way. Here are a few of them:

• @ktlaENT omg this is a terrible loss .. for Sam’s family , his co workers , friends and his fans . IT WAS ALWAYS a pleasure to be on set with Sam . He will be Sorely missed . We winklers are so saddened by this horrible news . THANK YOU for your constant support ! Love, Henry -Henry Winkler
• Today we lost LA legend Sam Rubin from @KTLAMorningNews I had the privilege of doing countless segments with him over the last 15+ years. In studio or on the streets it was always a pleasure. I will miss you Sam. Thank you 😥 -Gabriel Iglesias
• EVERYONE loved Sam Rubin. He has supported my career and countless others since day one. And he had the best sense of humor about life, and we would make each other laugh all the time. But most of all, he was a loving father and husband and just a good person. Sending all my love to Sam’s family and everyone whose lives have been blessed by him. Love you @SamOnTV. -Ken Jeong
• I last talked to Sam Rubin at the Critics Choice Awards this year. His smile and his genuine excitement for all things Hollywood ever present. In nervous situations he was a buoy of kindness. I will miss him. -Kiefer Sutherland

Overall, this outpouring of love simply confirms what we already knew: Sam Rubin is and always will be a legend, and he will be dearly missed. It’s a true tragedy that he won’t appear on KTLA 5 as it continues to air on the 2024 TV schedule, however, his legacy will live on forever.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences and love to Sam Rubin’s family, friends and colleagues during this tragic time.   

One of the many shows ending or canceled in 2024, Young Sheldon is swiftly coming up on its series finale. It was in 2023 that the Big Bang Theory prequel was confirmed to be ending after Season 7 and would mark the moment with a big one-hour finale. Details surrounding the final episode have been mostly kept under wraps, with the exception of one very big detail. Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will be reuniting for appearances in the closing installment. And, now, CBS has finally dropped a first look at their highly-anticipated return.

At this point, it's hard to say just what will be bringing back adult Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler into the picture. But a new first look at the finale shows the couple in what looks to be Sheldon’s office, with the genius looking at something on his laptop. What exactly that is, of course, is unknown, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it were to tie back into the past storyline present in Young Sheldon:

It’s been five years since The Big Bang Theory ended and, since then, fans have been hearing Jim Parsons' version of Cooper narrate every episode of Young Sheldon. Nevertheless, it’s still as exciting as ever to actually see adult Sheldon again. This will be his first time appearing on the prequel on-screen, and the same is true for Mayim Bialik's Amy. It's bittersweet, but fitting, that they'd return for the final episode. It looks like the crew had fun with that, too. Parsons and series star Iain Armitage were taking advantage of having two Sheldons on set as evidenced by a fun TikTok post. Check out another look at Dr. Cooper's return:

On top of a Big Bang reunion, something else that the finale will more than likely include is the death of George Sr. Young Sheldon has more or less been building up to his tragic fate, and a recent BTS photo even had all key family members dressed in black, possibly foreshadowing his death. Perhaps that’s what will bring Amy and adult Sheldon into the picture. Sheldon may be looking at old family photos or telling Amy a story about his past. Regardless, I expect that the finale will be an emotional send-off that fans won’t want to miss.

Even though I’m hyped for Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik’s appearance on Young Sheldon, though I'm feeling a way. That's because Parsons comments about it makes it feel like the end of an era. (Even though the Georgie & Mandy spinoff is coming.) The actor reflected on how beautiful, weird and sweet the experience was and the fact that he was asked back in the first place. It’s going to be odd to see it all come to an end, but I'm also excited to check out exactly how Parsons and Bialik fit into the picture!

Fans will be able to see the Big Bang Theory alums reprise their famous roles when Young Sheldon's series finale airs on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS as part of the 2024 TV schedule. In the meantime, catch up on episodes using a Paramount+ subscription, and Max subscribers can stream the parent show as well.

When Investigation Discovery’s headline-making docuseries Quiet on Set debuted, audiences were shocked to discover many of the unsavory and traumatic incidents that occurred between the cast and crew of some of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows. Waves of conversations have been had in the aftermath, with a wide variety of former child stars like Melissa Joan Hart speaking out about their experiences, usually to point out how unhinged things were during that era compared to other times. But Blossom and Big Bang Theory vet Mayim Bialik said it stemmed from the kinds of behavior that were commonplace, and it wasn’t just a Nickelodeon thing.

For her hit podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, the host and former co-star Jenna Von Oy welcomed guest Christy Carlson Romano, the Even Stevens vet and fellow podcasting advocate, for a discussion that hewed closely to Quiet on Set and where child actors fit into the industry as a whole. And even though not that many years have passed since the time period central to the docuseries, Bialik addressed how it was still a world away from where things are currently, saying:

The fact that actors were taken advantage of, yelled at, and abused was bad enough in standalone circumstances, but it being an industry-wide issue is a difficult idea to reckon with. Bialik reluctantly addressed the idea that this was also a time when females in the writers room were exceedingly rare, and that they tended to get yelled at in cases where they were part of the staff. She also acknowledged that as teens, even they made jokes that would be considered horrifying by today’s standards.

But it was a worse situation for the children working on sets who didn’t have anyone in place to advocate for their safety and comfort. And not even parents were necessarily the key safety net, as All That vet Bryan Hearne talked about being fired after his mom raised a fuss about how he was being treated by producers. (For example, he was forced to let a dog lick peanut butter off of him for one of Nickelodeon’s stunt specials, and says he was called insulting nicknames for being Black.)

On the flip side, some parents apparently turned a blind eye to such things, which Bialik also addressed:

One of the most disturbing things about the docuseries to Mayim Bialik was the revelation of how many actors and crew members went to bat for convicted sexual abuser Brian Peck after he'd legitimately recorded a confession regarding his actions with Amanda Show vet Drake Bell, who spoke out about his trauma for the first time. She talked about trying to wrap her brain around that idea, saying:

While some of the people who wrote complimentary letters have come out to apologetically denounce their past actions, many others have stayed mum on the subject.

And while much of the conversation was angled positively, in terms of the awareness that was raised by the docuseries and the steps being taken to make sure Hollywood never slides back into that rut, Christy Carlson Romano still took issue with the producers and directors involved, decrying them as "trauma tourists" and saying she turned down the offer to appear.

It's unclear whether or not any further actions will be taken, but audiences can still stream Quiet on Set with a Max subscription, complete with the additional fifth episode that contained follow-up interviews.

Young Sheldon has strapped on its Flash ring and is zooming straight ahead for its series finale, as the CBS dramedy is one of many shows ending in 2024, though thankfully with the caveat that a George and Mandy spinoff is coming to continue to Cooper family’s TV journey. Even more exciting for Big Bang Theory fans is the impending series finale reunion between Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik. Although I must say, the elder Sheldon actor’s latest comments about his character’s return really do make this feel like the last time we’ll see him.

Young Sheldon’s series finale airdate is currently set as May 16, but don’t expect to go crashing the set to catch a glimpse of Parsons and Bialik’s respective returns, because it sounds like they were already filmed. The former appeared on NBC’s Today along with his co-stars in the Broadway drama Mother, Jessica Lange and Celia Keenan-Bolger, and when he was asked about jumping back into the Big Bang-verse, he first echoed previous thoughts about it being a weird, but still positive, experience portraying Sheldon in a single-camera production. In his words:

I can now too easily picture a nightmare situation where Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik walk onto a soundstage with a studio audience full of characters from the horror movie Smile. That would probably slot under the classification of “very weird.” Especially if they all happened to look like Kevn Sussman’s Stuart.

In any case, it was Parsons’ next thought that really drove home the idea that this could truly be the final time audiences get to see the actor embodying the role of Sheldon Cooper. Here’s how he put it:

I think it's the use of the words "nice little coda" that do it. Because nobody says the word "coda" to imply that there's more of something on the way. It exclusively implies an ending, a finality, a swan song for this oddball duckling. I can't imagine he would have called it that had he been in early talks to possibly bring Sheldon back for the George and Mandy spinoff, or any other potential avenues within this world.

Had Parsons worded things more open-endedly or vaguely — in the sense of "It was great to get back into the role, " or "I always enjoy dusting off the old Sheldon vibes" or whatever — it could have left a mental door open for fans to consider a future in which CBS orders up Old Man Sheldon, where he and Hugh Jackman's Logan...wait, no, that wouldn't work.

Though Jim Parsons has lent his vocal talents to Young Sheldon since the spinoff began, with Mayim Bialik also teaming up for a past voiceover cameo, this will be the first time the two actors will appear in person on the series. We're also hoping to see some Reba McEntire, a dream guest star for executive producer Steve Holland, but that may not be so likely.

Will Young Sheldon give Sheldon and Amy a good ending, or will it end things in a somewhat open way that actually could allow for Jim Parsons to return? We'll have to wait and see how the creative team plays it when the CBS dramedy wraps up its six-season run.

Young Sheldon airs Thursday nights on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET. Check out the 2024 TV schedule to see what summer hits will be around after Sheldon bows out.

Young Sheldon Season 7 premiered a few weeks back on the 2024 TV schedule, and it marked the beginning of the end of a nearly-decade-long journey. The spinoff of The Big Bang Theory is wrapping up, with the series finale set to air in mid-May. But one big aspect of this final episode has already been unveiled, as viewers can look forward to Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik respectively reprising Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah-Fowler, which I think we can all agree is the Big Bang Theory reunion we need for an occasion like this.

Now granted, Parson’s presence has always been felt on Young Sheldon (which Paramount+ subscribers can stream and has also been crushing on Netflix) since he narrates it and is an executive producer, but for this last hurrah, he’ll be appearing on camera with Bialik. This is the first time this has happened since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019, though Bialik also provided voiceover work for two previous episodes. But because they’re back together, this will be our first opportunity to fully check in on the adult Sheldon and Amy following The Big Bang Theory coming to a close after 12 seasons.

It is worth pointing out that the Young Sheldon series finale technically won’t be the first time we’ve seen Amy Farrah-Fowler on camera during the show. The Season 2 finale depicted her, Leonard Hofstadter, Penny, Raj Koothrappali, Howard Wolowitz and Bernadette  Rostenkowski as children, at the same time that Iain Armitage’s Sheldon was listening to the Nobel Prize announcements. Still, learning that Jim Parsons’ Sheldon and Mayim Bialik’s Amy will be back together should be most welcomed by Big Bang Theory fans, and hopefully we can also officially meet their son, Leonard Cooper, whose existence was revealed back in 2020.

This is the latest bit of Young Sheldon-related news that’s trickled in over the last few days. First, it was revealed that Sheldon’s older best friend Tam, who was appeared throughout Seasons 1-4, will return during Season 7, likely to establish something viewers learned during The Big Bang Theory Season 12. Then it was officially announced that a spinoff focused on Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister has been greenlit. And, of course, before Young Sheldon’s final season is over, we’ll also witness the death of George Sr., Sheldon, Georgie and Missy’s father.

Catch new episodes of Young Sheldon Thursdays at 8 pm ET on CBS. If you’re now in the mood to revisit The Big Bang Theory, that can be streamed with a Max subscription.

Ken Jennings may understand why the Jeopardy! brass made the choice to move forward with just one host, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to hear out any criticism about his former co-host. Mayim Bialik announced her exit from the classic quiz show in December, putting an end to years of debate over who was the best choice to follow in the footsteps of Alex Trebek. The Jeopardy! GOAT didn’t pull his punches when sounding off on the “clearly misogynistic” faction of fans who couldn’t accept a woman behind the lectern.

The “Ken Jennings vs. Mayim Bialik” debate was passionately fought by Jeopardy! fans and contestants for the past couple of years, with executive producer Michael Davies even discussing it in terms of who earned better ratings. None of that tension ever was present between the hosts themselves, which became even more apparent when Jennings was asked about diversifying hosts for future tournaments. The host told USA TODAY that he agreed “100%” with the EP’s stance that “we will fail” if a straight, white man is the only person who can host Jeopardy!. Jennings said: 

Ken Jennings seemingly doesn’t think all of The Big Bang Theory star's detractors were being intentionally misogynistic, but he said some of the critiques could definitely be boiled down to people's issues with having a woman run the show after decades of one of the best game show hosts ever in Alex Trebek.

The role gender played in the Jeopardy! host debate came up a few times during Mayim Bialik’s run. The actress discussed getting feedback on her outfits, which she said her male counterparts didn’t have to deal with. Her tone was another big change, as producers gave Bialik the “great note” to tone down her excitement when a contestant got a clue right, which she said caused her to realize the difference in the way her voice is interpreted as compared to Alex Trebek’s.

That being said, Ken Jennings — one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners — agreed with Michael Davies’ reasoning for switching to one host, saying consistency is important not just for the contestants but for the home audience as well. Jennings said: 

Many Jeopardy! fans were happy to see that it was Ken Jennings who won the job, fulfilling what many thought was the move that Alex Trebek had wanted all along. You can tune in to see Jennings do his thing, as the Tournament of Champions has kicked off on the show’s syndicated episodes. Check your local listings to see when the game show plays in your area, and see what other premieres are headed our way with our 2024 TV schedule. 

For the first time since Alex Trebek’s death in November 2020, Jeopardy! has one definitive host, and that is Ken Jennings. The announcement that Mayim Bialik would not return to her co-hosting duties in 2024 came in December, with Sony saying at the time that the decision was made in an effort to “maintain continuity for viewers,” and now executive producer Michael Davies has broken his silence on The Big Bang Theory star’s exit, saying that the Jeopardy! GOAT “won the job.”

Michael Davies addressed the recent hosting announcement for the first time February 10 during the Television Critics Association winter tour. He had nothing but good things to say about Mayim Bialik, who was originally brought onto Jeopardy! to host primetime specials and tournaments, but the ousting of former EP Mike Richards necessitated her move to the syndicated episodes and the hiring of another host due to her other commitments. Davies recalled (via TVLine): 

The interim situation, with Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik handing the show back and forth to each other, became permanent in 2022 ahead of Season 39, but many viewers and even some contestants on the beloved quiz show still felt some instability in the format. Michael Davies continued: 

Michael Davies has always shown support for both of Jeopardy!’s hosts, and despite Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik each having their fans and detractors on social media, the EP has insisted that there was “zero difference” in the ratings when one or the other was the host. However, his admission that Jennings — one of the biggest winners in Jeopardy! history — “won the job” falls in line with the opinions of many fans, who reacted to Jennings’ effectual promotion by saying the position should have been his all along.

Ken Jennings told CinemaBlend that he was surprised to hear that Mayim Bialik was leaving the show, and although conversations with the Call Me Kat alum are “ongoing,” according to Michael Davies, about a possible return in spinoffs, a different host was chosen to help Jennings with the upcoming Champions Wildcard Competition. Former champ and Jeopardy! podcaster Buzzy Cohen hosted three play-in games — available in audio only through TuneIn Radio — to determine the final contestants to participate in the CWC, which will be hosted by Jennings.

We’ll have to see what the future holds for Mayim Bialik and the classic game show, but for now Ken Jennings has earned his place as the face of the franchise. Check your local listings to see when Jeopardy! airs in syndication in your area, and stay up to date on all of the upcoming premieres with our 2024 TV schedule. 

Jeopardy! fans were surprised when it was announced that Mayim Bialik would not be returning to the iconic quiz show after her early exit from Season 39. However, just when we thought that Ken Jennings finally had the Alex Trebek Stage all to himself, another co-host has made a comeback. Buzzy Cohen has returned, apparently to take some of the work off of Jennings’ hands, but fans of the impeccably dressed former champion shouldn’t expect to see him on their screens anytime soon.

Buzzy Cohen will serve as the host for three play-in games for Jeopardy!’s Champions Wildcard Competition; however, those episodes will be available in audio only at TuneIn Radio. The first two games are already available to stream, with a third coming February 2. The former Jeopardy! champ announced his return to the lectern on Instagram, writing: 

It’s strange to see a new host coming in so soon after Mayim Bialik’s exit, but one of the reasons Jeopardy! parted ways with The Big Bang Theory alum was allegdly because of her schedule, so it’s possible that also precluded her from helping out with the Champions Wildcard play-in games. Whether or not Bialik was ever considered to take these games off Ken Jennings’ plate, Buzzy Cohen’s name has always been a part of the hosting conversation. 

Buzzy Cohen has become a prominent figure in the Jeopardy! world since he competed on the show in 2016. After accruing $164,603 over nine games, he went on to win the 2017 Tournament of Champions, adding $250,000 to his earnings. He guest-hosted the 2021 TOC following Alex Trebek’s death and now is featured on two official Jeopardy! podcasts, Inside Jeopardy! and This Is Jeopardy!

So what are these play-in games exactly? One user on Reddit attempted to clear up the somewhat-confusing situation. The Champions Wildcard Tournament features former one- and two-day champions returning to compete for a spot in the Tournament of Champions. Because Season 39 featured more than the 27 contestants allowed in the Champions Wildcard bracket, nine players will compete in the play-in games hosted by Buzzy Cohen. The winners of those games will advance to compete in the tournament, which will be hosted by Ken Jennings.

Fans had seemed excited about Ken Jennings finally being named Jeopardy!’s one true host — and former champ Austin Rogers was among those saying Jennings has earned the job — but Redditors seemed to be OK with Buzzy Cohen stepping in with the assist. One commenter wrote: 

Others had similar reactions, commenting: 

• I love Buzzy..he is awesome on the Jeopardy Podcast. Would like to see him more involved; but not replacing Ken. – disneyjetsfan
• I would LOVE if Buzzy was host again sometimes – Ann2040
• I got so excited for a moment, then realized it was audio only. I really hope we get to see him host a full tournament again. He was amazing! – evila_elf

Mayim Bialik still apparently might appear to host Jeopardy! primetime tournaments, but could this be a sign that we might also see some more of Buzzy Cohen as the need arises in the future? We’ll have to wait and see. For now, check your local listings to see Ken Jennings on Jeopardy! in syndication, and take a look at our 2024 TV schedule for what’s coming up. 

The end of 2023 marked the end of an era for Jeopardy! when it was confirmed in December that Mayim Bialik would not return to host the show after sharing hosting duties with Ken Jennings since mid 2021. Even so, The Big Bang Theory star and game show host now can say she ended her run on the series on a high note considering her season of the show just won an Emmy. 

Over the weekend, at the Television Academy’s 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Jeopardy! took home the prize for “Outstanding Game Show.” The series won over Family Feud, That’s My Jam, The Price Is Right, and Wheel of Fortune. Here’s what Bialik said in response to the big win on her Instagram: 

Despite Mayim Bialik recently parting ways with the game show, she still took some time to share her gratitude for her work on the series, especially considering its big Emmy win over the weekend. Bialik and Ken Jennings were also up for “Outstanding Host For A Game Show” alongside Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak, Family Feud’s Steve Harvey, and Password’s Keke Palmer, but the latter host nabbed the award. Bialik humbly congratulated her fellow host and shared support for Palmer becoming the first woman in over a decade to win in the category. 

Of course, if Bialik had won the prize instead, she would be the first woman to win “Outstanding Host For A Game Show” in 15 years, but the former Jeopardy! host happily supported the big win going to Keke Palmer. This was Palmer’s first season hosting Password after NBC revived the game show for the first time in decades alongside Jimmy Fallon. 

Since Mayim Bialik was let go from Jeopardy! In December, there were a slew of questions regarding why Sony parted ways with the host. The decision was made months after Bialik decided to skip out on the final week of the spring season to stand in solidarity with professionals on strike during the 2023 WGA writers strike. Reports have alleged that Sony did not let her go based on this, but rather either because the strikes had somewhat disconnected her from the production or due to her own busy schedule, where she starred in Call Me Kat. The Fox sitcom has since been cancelled.

While Bialik is no longer a host on Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings continues to host the show, now on his own, despite his apparent surprise at Sony’s decision. You can catch Jennings as the host of the 40th season of Jeopardy! as it continues on weeknights this winter. 

Jeopardy! fans got a bit of shocking news a couple of weeks ago, when it was confirmed that Mayim Bialik would not be returning as host of the game show’s syndicated episodes. Apparently even Ken Jennings was surprised by the development that would make him Jeopardy!’s sole host going forward. However, if the powers that be were still interested in a dual-hosting situation, one fan voiced their support for Robin Roberts to return to the lectern, and the longtime Good Morning America anchor responded.

Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik had been sharing emcee duties on Jeopardy! for the past couple of seasons following Alex Trebek’s death in 2020 and a slew of guest hosts who took over in the immediate aftermath. Robin Roberts was among the celebrities who stepped in during the search for a new permanent host, and one viewer thinks The Big Bang Theory star’s exit is the opportunity to bring Roberts back. In a post to Sony Pictures TV, the fan wrote: 

Indeed, Robin Roberts was well-received when she served as Jeopardy!’s guest host for five episodes in July 2021. She was even one of the seven hosts to witness Matt Amodio’s 38-game win streak that made him one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners. The GMA host posted a response to the fan’s kind request, commenting: 

The simple emoji response doesn’t give any indication whether or not the Jeopardy! hosting gig was something she’d be interested in returning to, but the fact that she responded at all is a pretty good indication that she at least appreciated the sentiment. Robin Roberts has spoken highly of her time on the show, and she was humbled by the opportunity to follow in Alex Trebek’s footsteps, she said in an interview with Jeopardy!: 

While the fan seemed to be lobbying for Robin Roberts to take over the Jeopardy! specials and tournaments, it’s worth noting that Mayim Bialik may still hold that position. In her exit announcement, Bialik specified that she would not be returning for the syndicated episodes, and Sony also released a statement that said they “hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials.”

While Mayim Bialik skipped the final week of the quiz show’s 39th season to stand in solidarity with the striking WGA writers, that decision was reportedly not why executives chose to move forward without her. However, having just Ken Jennings behind the lectern for that time reportedly showed them that a one-host system would be most ideal going forward in order to “maintain continuity for viewers.”

Check your local listings to see when to catch Ken Jennings as the host of Jeopardy!, and also be sure to see what shows are premiering soon with our 2024 TV schedule. 

Jeopardy! hasn’t been the same since longtime host Alex Trebek passed away in late 2020 from pancreatic cancer. After short-lived host Mike Richards resigned due to past offensive comments he made resurfaced, a new hosting plan was in place for Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners, to fill in Trebek’s big shoes. With Bialik not returning to the iconic game show and Jennings as the new sole host, former champion Austin Rogers weighs in on how he feels about all of this.

TVLine said that Sony let go of Mayim Bialik as host to “maintain continuity for our viewers,” meaning they didn’t think having two hosts was a good idea. 2017’s 12-time champion Austin Rogers gave his opinion to TMZ at his Gaf East bar on how he felt about the Blossom actress being dropped and having Ken Jennings be the new sole host:

When Mayim Bialik skipped the final week of Jeopardy! to stand in solidarity with the Writer’s Strike, Ken Jennings stepping in as the only host made Sony realize co-hosts weren’t necessary for the show. Plus, it doesn’t mean that audiences will be without Bialik’s hosting duties completely as she could still host Celebrity Jeopardy! and other primetime tournaments. According to Rogers, he thinks audiences will enjoy themselves having the highest-earning game show contestant there as a regular with the Beaches actress still drawing viewers in her hosting appearances.

It was easy for fans to battle it out online on whether Mayim Bialik or Ken Jennings was a better Jeopardy! host instead of accepting both of them for who they were. While there’ve been some haters being critical of Bialik’s performance as host, the game show GOAT had some fans unhappy too. An insider claimed Jeopardy! viewers weren’t happy Jennings stepped in for Bialik while she was on the picket line, being described as an “opportunist” and showing “his true colors.” Austin Rogers gave his honest opinion on Jennings being the Merv Griffin-created show’s new host. 

It looks like Ken Jennings has Austin Rogers’ vote. Former Jeopardy! champs and celebrities may go back and forth on who the better host for the long-running game show should be. But at the end of the day, there’s luckily no personal war between Jennings and Mayim Bialik. In fact, the sitcom actress has joked before that she preferred Jennings as host with respect to everyone’s opinions. When hearing about the news of Bialik no longer on the daytime show, the 74-time winning contestant expressed he enjoyed his time working with his former co-host and is looking forward to his new hosting duties. 

Austin Rogers appears to be happy seeing Ken Jennings as Jeopardy!’s new host and Mayim Bialik still return for specials. When it comes to examining which host gives better ratings for the show, there was previously a draw with there being zero difference between the two. You’ll have people who prefer one over the other, those who love both, and those who don’t like either. In the end, I’ll be curious to see how Jennings will fare as solo host. You can watch Jeopardy! in what remains of the 2023 TV schedule by checking your local listings. 

Following its holiday break, Celebrity Jeopardy! will return with a trio of semifinal games that will then lead into the big Season 2 finale on January 23, 2024, with nine famous contestants like Steven Weber still vying for the grand prize. During that hiatus, the syndicated version of the vaunted game show dropped  the bombshell that Mayim Bialik isn’t returning as co-host, with Ken Jennings set to continue on as the trivia ship’s sole skipper.

CinemaBlend chatted up Jeopardy! champ-turned-emcee Ken Jennings about the back half of Celebrity Jeopardy!’s second season — as seen above —- but I was first able to get his thoughts on the big promotion. When I asked if the public announcement about his and Bialik’s respective futures regarding the show came as a surprise at all, Jennings confirmed it was all indeed unexpected, saying:

As Jeopardy!'s public-facing side, Ken Jennings isn't as involved behind the scenes on that level as fans might think, with hosting decisions falling on the shoulders of the show's producers and studio execs. So while he's obviously as hopeful as anyone that his tenure as host continues long into the future, it's not exactly his call. 

So whatever the alleged reasons for Mayim Bialik leaving Jeopardy! may be, Jennings still has only good things to say about her and their unprecedented stint as dual hosts. For all that they shared the title for more than a year, their paths rarely crossed behind the scenes, though they did compete against each other on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. 

In any case, Ken Jennings is definitely grateful to continue leading one of his lifelong pop culture loves, and he's currently in no danger of losing his #2 spot on the list of Jeopardy!'s biggest winners of all time. Much to the presumed chagrin of Jennings'  "villainous" rival James Holzhauer.

Ken Jennings On Possibility Of Seeing James Holzhauer On Celebrity Jeopardy 

Speaking of The Chase co-genius James Holzhauer (who is #3 on the aforementioned list of former champions), I'd previously wondered if the Las Vegas millionaire's current zeitgeist status might ever land him on a future season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, assuming executive producer Michael Davies would be sneaky enough to invite him. So since I was already talking to Ken Jennings, I got his take on whether that could ever be a reality, and his answer convinced me it should never happen. In his words:

It's the kind of idea that I'll admit sounded way more practical in my head before I said it out loud. Of course it would be a ridiculous idea to invite one of Jeopardy!'s least incorrect players onto the celebrity-fueled spinoff. Barring some highly unexpected situations, his games would be too easily predictable, without many go-to options who may feasibly best him.

Maybe the better idea would be to have Holzhauer return to face off against the first two Celebrity Jeopardy! winners, as opposed to having him go through the tournament himself. But even that might be too one-sided. 

Jennings offered another analogy - one involving sports, which can often be Kryptonite for players - before summing things up in a complimentary way:

I do still wonder if it's possible we'll see any other former Jeoaprdy! champs popping up on the celebrity version, even if they're not quite as seasoned as James Holzhauer. It's all about the charities!

Celebrity Jeopardy! will return for an exciting round of semifinals on Tuesday, January 2, with episodes available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

It goes without saying that Jeopardy! has gone through a considerable amount of changes over the past few years, in great part due to the death of longtime host Alex Trebek in 2020. For some time, the game show utilized two hosts – Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings. Days ago, however, Bialik confirmed that she wouldn’t be returning to the show, effectively making Jennings’ the program’s sole host. The rumor mill has since been churning in regards to why exactly the actress was let go. While some have speculated that her actions during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes factored in, there’s allegedly more to it than that. 

This past May, Mayim Bialik skipped the final week of Jeopardy! as a sign of solidarity amid the writers’ strike. That move left Ken Jennings as the sole host of the program, which continued production throughout the strikes. While some may have the impression that Bialik’s exit is what contributed to her parting ways with the show, TMZ claims other factors were involved. The outlet spoke to sources at Sony Pictures Television, who say that execs were not upset with Bialik’s decision. What her choice did purportedly do, however, was show them that the one-host system would be most ideal for the show moving forward. Insiders also say Bialik became somewhat disconnected from the production while she was away amid the strikes.

Another reported factor in the Big Bang Theory alum’s exit is her schedule. Apparently, Sony TV went to great lengths to accommodate the star’s workload, which, for a while, included the sitcom Call Me Kat, which was canceled this year. It’s also been said that she took issue with some of the decisions made by the producers. One supposed instance of that was the choice to bring on Michael Davies as an executive producer. 

The Blossom icon confirmed her departure from Jeopardy! on Friday, December 15 via a message she shared on social media. Having received a Primetime Emmy nomination for her work on the game show this year, the media personality expressed gratitude for her time on the series. A statement was later shared by the show itself, which explained that the move was made in order to “maintain continuity for viewers” by having one host. (That seems to line up with TMZ’s report.) The TV institution also thanked the actress for her contributions.

Reactions to Mayim Bialik’s exit poured in after she made the announcement, and a lot of fans seemed to be saying the same thing about the turn of events. Based on a number of social media posts, many seemed pleased that Ken Jennings will now be the sole host moving forward. Bialik previously received backlash from fans and was candid about feeling “useless” and “irrelevant.”

As for Ken Jennings himself, he seems to be further settling into the hosting gig, and fan approval of his work seems to be holding steady. Rumors did swirl around him, however, during the time that his former hosting counterpart stepped away due to the strikes. Insiders said crew members weren’t happy that Jennings chose to continue working amid the strikes. One person even claimed that some of his colleagues viewed him as an “opportunist.” In TMZ’s latest report, sources say that Jennings saw an opportunity to improve his skills as a host amid the strikes and took it. 

It remains to be seen just what lies ahead for Mayim Bialik from a professional standpoint. She has spoken about potential projects, including a theoretical Blossom reboot, which could take cues from Peacock’s Bel-Air. Nothing seems set in stone at that point, but what does appear to be evident is that Bialik is looking to move towards the next chapter of her career.

As we get closer to the start of the 2024 TV schedule, just know that Jeopardy! will still be airing in syndication as a part of it.

Just over three years after Alex Trebek passed away, Jeopardy! has returned to having just one permanent host. Mayim Bialik skipped the final week of Season 39 to stand in solidarity with the striking writers, and it was announced last week that she will not be returning to Jeopardy! Continuity is the reason Sony gave for making the decision to move forward with Ken Jennings as the sole host of the syndicated episodes, and it looks like a lot of the game show’s fans are having the same response.

Ken Jennings and The Big Bang Theory alum shared hosting duties in Seasons 38 and 39, and while we suspected it might be longer than we thought before Bialik was able to return to the Alex Trebek Stage after the strikes, it turns out she has already seen her final game as a permanent host. Many have thought that the position always belonged to the former champ, and one fan had the following reaction on X: 

Other fans seemed to have the same “What took you so long?” attitude, as Alex Trebek himself had predicted Ken Jennings would eventually replace him as far back as 2014. There’s also the fact that Jennings was already set to fill in for Trebek ahead of his death — which was the topic of the past and present Jeopardy! hosts’ final conversation. With this most recent decision, Jeopardy! finally enacted the plan that should have been in place all along, this viewer said: 

Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik have been pitted against each other since the beginning by a passionate fanbase that has collectively voiced their opinions for years about which of them should be the one true permanent host. Although executive producer Michael Davies stepped in to clarify that the hosts earned similar ratings, Team Ken is claiming the victory, with one fan writing: 

Another viewer channeled Barbie in regards to one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners, writing: 

Mayim Bialik released a statement on December 15 notifying her followers that “Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!” She said she was honored and grateful to have been part of the quiz show for the past few years. Sony followed that up with a statement of their own, thanking the actress and saying that they hope to be able to continue to work with her on primetime tournaments. 

Another fan posted on social media that they think this was the right move, pointing to some of the critiques fans and players have had regarding Mayim Bialik, saying: 

We’ll have to see if Mayim Bialik does, in fact, return to host any primetime tournaments — which was the original position she’d been hired to fill — but until then, you can see Ken Jennings in action by checking your local listings to find out when syndicated Jeopardy! episodes air in your area. 

UPDATE: the studio behind Jeopardy! has released a statement saying that it was decided to keep Ken Jennings as the sole host of syndicated Jeopardy! in order to "maintain continuity for viewers." They are "truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!," and they "hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials." The original story continues as follows.

Following Alex Trebek’s death in late 2020, there was the question of who would take over Jeopardy! hosting duties from him. For a few years, this was handled by former champ Ken Jennings and The Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik trading off as host of the syndicated game show, but this period of the show’s history has come to an end. Bialik has shared in a departing statement that she won’t be returning for more Jeopardy!.

As revealed in the words below, Bialik leaving Jeopardy! isn’t something she decided to do herself, but rather a decision that was made for her. The actress wrote on X:

Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings were officially tapped to alternate as the permanent hosts of Jeopardy! In July 2022. The duo was originally among the lineup of guest hosts who ran the show in the immediate months after Alex Trek died, and they later returned after the originally-chosen permanent host, Mike Richards, was let go after just a week due to a series of scandals. But now, with mere weeks left to go until 2023 is over, the Emmy-nominated Bialik has announced that she won’t be sticking around Jeopardy! anymore.

Although Bialik, whose comedy show Call Me Kat was canceled back in May, did not share any specifics about why Sony did not bring her back to Jeopardy!, there did seem to be writing on the wall indicating this was coming. It was also during May that Bialik stepped away from hosting the final episodes of Season 39 in order to show support for the writers strike, and by July, she was also participating in the actors strike. Then in August, it was reported that Bialik was unlikely to return for the first chunk of Season 40.

Both strikes have since concluded, but evidently Sony decided it wasn’t worth keeping Bialik around for the syndicated Jeopardy! show. Having said that, one question come to mind following this status quo shift. First, will Bialik continue be involved with Jeopardy spinoffs like the primetime specials and Celebrity Jeopardy!, or has she been completely cut from the franchise? Second, even though Ken Jennings will continue hosting for the foreseeable future, will Bialik’s exit lead to the show’s producers deciding if it’s bringing a new permanent host aboard, or will Jennings simply continue captaining this proverbial boat solo?

We’ll keep our ears open for any answers regarding that question, but for now, check your local listings about when Jeopardy! airs in your area, and look through our 2024 TV schedule to see what shows are set to debut or return in the coming year.

While most TV actresses and actors don’t make it more than a decade mark playing the same character, Jim Parson is one of the lauded actors who has, thanks to The Big Bang Theory ending in Season 12. His version of Sheldon Cooper lit up TV screens for ten seasons on CBS, but it apparently didn’t get easier playing the wordy genius over time. In fact, one interesting facet of playing the character had to do with how complicated it is to play a Ph.D and doctor of science with a genius level IQ on TV every week. 

While Sheldon was most known for his very short catchphrase “Bazinga” (which was eventually explained in Young Sheldon), a lot of the dialogue the character spurted out had to do with explaining complex science, tossing out lengthy diatribes and opinions on a variety of topics, or generally being long-winded in other ways. 

Think lines like, “Ah mimicry, I enjoy mimicry. I’ve been working on Admiral Akbar from Return of the Jedi. It’s a trap! You have to imagine me with a giant squid head. Or once when Penny asked, ‘What’s wrong with Geology?” Sheldon responded, “Let me put this in a way you’ll understand Penny. You remember how you explained to me that the Kardashians aren’t real celebrities? Well, geology is the Kardashians of science.”

So, you get the gist.  That little extra Sheldon-ness is difficult to turn into “magic” onscreen, and memorizing Sheldon Cooper’s dialogue wasn’t the easiest for Jim Parsons. I'd assume that's especially true given The Big Bang Theory cast rarely went off script. During an interview with his co-star Mayim Bialik, the two talked about his “magic notecards,” cue cards he apparently made up each week to help him memorize the complex dialogue – both of the “complicated science” and “Sheldon monologue” variety. He said: 

It sounds like a lot, but that's not even the full process. Jim Parsons went on to explain he'd do "one scene at a time" and sometimes he'd ultimately type out entire swathes of dialogue in order to make sure he had not just the words right but presumably the entire cadence of conversations. The whole thing sounds pretty intense. 

Working a TV gig is not exactly light work. Myriad stars have talked about the grind of filming in the past. A recent example was probably Jenna Ortega, who spoke about the crazy hours she worked for the Disney Channel as a child star. Network TV can run for 22 or more episodes a season, and as one of the most popular TV shows of all time, particularly from Season 4 through Season 12 The Big Bang Theory produced a whopping 24 episodes a season. I can't even imagine how much dialogue that meant the actor learned over time. 

The Big Bang Theory may have ended when Jim Parsons decided to leave the show, but he hasn't left Sheldon Cooper behind entirely. He still does voice work for Young Sheldon, which will also be ending with Season 7. At that point, I'd guess the actor will be just fine putting the notecards away, hopefully for good. 

The phrase “former child star” is most often associated with someone who was famous when they were much younger, but is not quite as well-known — or, perhaps, does not even act anymore — as a grown-up. Yet, for every starlet who has risen and fallen, there are just as many who have beaten the odds and have gone onto bigger and better things as adults, like these beloved celebrities.

Macaulay Culkin

The first person you might think of when you think of “former child stars” could be Macaulay Culkin, who was on top of the world when he led the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. While his notoriety would slow in subsequent years, it is always a treat to see him show up in ensembles like the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic cast.

Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas was one of the most acclaimed young actors of his time with leading roles in 1985’s Witness, opposite Harrison Ford, and the underrated ghost story, Lady in White, from 1988. He has since made a living taking smaller roles in otherwise big movies like Inception and Babylon, plus he's shown up on TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds.

Jurnee Smollett

With an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a scene-stealing role in DC’s Birds of Prey, and a stellar turn in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, Jurnee Smollett has established herself as one of the strongest talents of her time. However, that was already clear with her recurring role in Full House and her astonishing performance in 1997’s acclaimed Black horror movie, Eve’s Bayou, when she was still a child.

Jason Bateman

From his debut role on Little House on the Prairie to his years on the sitcom Valerie (which would become The Hogan Family), Jason Bateman showed great versatility as a performer in his younger years. He has upheld that reputation ever since, as seen by his Emmy-nominated work leading the Arrested Development cast and, later, the Ozark cast. His ability to shift from starring in funny movies like Horrible Bosses to dramas like Air is remarkable.

Dakota Fanning

Racking up more than 20 credits before she turned 10, Dakota Fanning was everywhere in the early 2000s — catching the attention of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for War of the Worlds and holding her own against actors like Robert DeNiro in Hide and Seek. Save her age, nothing much has changed for the actor, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast and reunited with her Man on Fire co-star, Denzel Washington, in 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

Ryan Gosling

A 13-year-old Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mouseketeer, paving the way for him to star in back-to-back scary anthology TV shows for kids (Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps), lead Young Hercules, and more. Leading 2004’s The Notebook cast paved the way for him to be an action hero in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. On top of all that, he also earned Oscar nominations for Half Nelson and La La Land, and made us laugh as part of the The Nice Guys ensemble and the Barbie cast as Ken.

Brie Larson

After some faux ads on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show marked her debut at 9, Brie Larson went on to star in a family sitcom with the late Bob Saget (Raising Dad), was in a YA novel adaptation (Hoot), and she even had a singing career in her teens. Now, she is a comic book movie star (for appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and playing the MCU’s Captain Marvel), and she has an Oscar for Room from 2015.

Kenan Thompson

On All That — Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live — one of the young cast’s most prominent breakouts was Kenan Thompson, who went on to co-lead his own kid-friendly sitcom with Kel Mitchell, aptly named Kenan & Kel. The Emmy winner went on to break the record for longest-running SNL actor and lead his own adult sitcom, Kenan.

David Krumholtz

After making his debut playing a child actor in 1993’s Life with Mikey, David Krumholtz became a prominent child actor with roles in Addams Family Values as Wednesday’s love interest and Tim Allen’s head elf, Bernard, in The Santa Clause. The crime procedural, Numb3rs, earned him greater recognition, leading to a career that includes lending his voice to Sausage Party, appearing in the Oppenheimer cast, and reprising Bernard on Disney+’s series, The Santa Clauses.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing a kid genius on Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, which he acknowledged when he later played himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Of course, the five-time Emmy winner is better known today as Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast, Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and so much more.

Josh Brolin

At 17, first-time actor Josh Brolin immediately made his mark on pop culture as part of the Goonies cast in the role of Brand Walsh. However, he really got heads turning at 39 when he starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men. The son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin has an Oscar nomination for Milk and multiple comic book movie roles under his belt (Jonah Hex, MCU’s Thanos, and Cable in Deadpool 2), among other great achievements. 

Haley Joel Osment

After debuting in Forrest Gump and starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Haley Joel Osment’s Oscar-nominated performance in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made him a sensation. He went on to earn leading parts in Pay It Forward and Steven Spielberg’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Osment has been known to pop up in the most unexpected places — Kevin Smith’s Tusk, a guest role on The Boys, Netflix's animated fantasy series Dogs in Space, to name a few — but always with grand results.

Ethan Hawke

After debuting in Joe Dante’s Explorers at 15, Ethan Hawke only grew in prominence in his later teens and throughout his 20s by starring in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, etc. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for Training Day and Boyhood. He completed Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight, became a Scream King with great horror movies like Sinister, and he's done a fair amount of work behind the scenes, too.

Abigail Breslin

Just four years after M. Night Shyamalan gave 6-year-old Abigail Breslin her big break with Signs, her role in the Little Miss Sunshine cast made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time. As she matured, so would her roles — such as a teenage murder suspect in Stillwater or a vigilante in the Accused cast for Fox.

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik stole the show from the Big Bang Theory cast as Amy Farrah Fowler and later led Fox’s Call Me Kat in the title role. However, the Jeopardy! host’s status as sitcom royalty dates back to the ‘90s as the star of Blossom.

Brenda Song

Perhaps Brenda Song’s most iconic character is London Tipton from the Suite Life franchise — which is just one of the roles that made her a prominent Disney Channel star. Beyond the children’s cable giant, she was in one of the best David Fincher movies, The Social Network, led Netflix’s Secret Obsession, and had a main role in Hulu’s Dollface.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Despite being removed for disruptive behavior when making his show business debut on Romper Room at 3 years old (as he revealed to David Letterman), Leonardo DiCaprio went on to lead a winning child actor’s career that included a season on Growing Pains and an Academy Award nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Things would only get better as he grew up, earning even more Oscar nominations — and one win for The Revenant — and becoming as important to Martin Scorsese’s filmography as his This Boy’s Life co-star, Robert DeNiro, whom he reunited with in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams started out appearing on Sesame Street before landing the title role of Chris Rock’s autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Following an acclaimed indie comedy (Dear White People) and a recurring role on the Walking Dead cast, the actor became sitcom royalty again when he joined the Abbott Elementary cast, which earned him multiple Emmy nods.

Kurt Russell

Former Disney star Kurt Russell made his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, and he went on to play him in a made-for-TV biopic and Forrest Gump. Several great movie roles later, Russell is one of the top action heroes of all time, and now he's working with his family by joining the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cast alongside his son, Wyatt, who is playing his younger self.

Jodie Foster

After getting her start on TV at a very young age (the first gig being The Doris Day Show), Jodie Foster got a head start on the more mature roles she would become known for when she appeared in Taxi Driver at 14. The two-time Academy Award winner (for The Accused and Best Picture Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs) would continue to work from both in front of and behind the camera.

Johnny Galecki

In 1989, 14-year-old Johnny Galecki appeared as Rusty in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast, and he also starred in another holiday classic, Prancer. I would not be surprised if many did not realize that Leonard from The Big Bang Theory was the same actor, but they were likely more hip to that fact by the time he reprised his role from Roseanne, David Healy, on The Conners.

Miranda Cosgrove

Even with Jack Black in the lead, Miranda Cosgrove stole the show in 2003’s School of Rock, and she went on to do the same thing as the evil Megan in the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh. One of her most notable credits as an adult was a Paramount+ exclusive revival of iCarly — another Nickelodeon show she led as a teen.

Keke Palmer

Her bombastic debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business made it clear that then-9-year-old Keke Palmer was a powerhouse talent. The Emmy winner would continue to demonstrate her skill as the lead of Akeelah and the Bee and much later in life as part of Jordan Peele’s Nope cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

While Zach Morris from the Saved by the Bell cast is still the role he is best known for — he even reprised it in a Peacock exclusive revival — Mark-Paul Gosselaar managed to prove his versatility in later years. He had a successful stint as a detective on NYPD Blue, played a rebellious lawyer on Franklin & Bash, and an abusive captor in NBC’s Found.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before starring on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt made multiple TV appearances and starred in classic movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It. These days, he is best known for his many collaborations with Rian Johnson, his Golden Globe-nominated turns in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, and running the creative collaboration platform HitRecord.

Sean Astin

Before playing the title role of Rudy and starring in the Lord of the Rings movies as Sam, Sean Astin was best known as Mikey in The Goonies. In addition to his accomplished voice acting career, one of his most celebrated roles as of late is Bob Newby from the Season 2 cast of Stranger Things — a show very much inspired by The Goonies.

Kirsten Dunst

After making her film debut in star-studded The Bonfire of the Vanities, Kirsten Dunst really made an impression at 12 playing a 70-year-old bloodsucker in Interview with the Vampire. Starring in the Spider-Man movies as Mary Jane Watson swung her right into the A-list and, in 2022, she received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.

Kieran Culkin

With his roles in the Home Alone movies and in Steve Martin movies (both parts of Father of the Bride), it seemed like Kieran Culkin was on his way to the same level of stardom as his brother, Macaulay. However, it was not until later in life when he was thrice Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Succession cast that he became the star he was destined to be.

Selena Gomez

Before leading Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place made Selena Gomez a star, she got her start on Barney in the early 2000s. She now has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building cast and a Daytime Emmy nod for her Max original cooking show, Selena + Chef.

Elle Fanning

Before breaking out in the Super 8 cast, Elle Fanning’s claim to fame for a while was starring as a younger version of sister, Dakota, in I Am Sam and Taken. Now, she has an Emmy nomination for leading Hulu’s The Great, which is just one of the many Victorian-era roles she has played in more recent years.

Christina Ricci

For years, Christina Ricci’s performance in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family movies was the definitive iteration of young Wednesday Addams. The Yellowjackets cast member got to revisit those days with her supporting role on Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega in the lead this time.

Danica McKellar

Some of the most memorably endearing moments from the original Wonder Years involved Danica McKellar’s Winnie Cooper and her puppy love relationship with Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. Romance is a big part of the actor’s career these days, primarily appearing in popular Hallmark movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Knowing the kind of career they would one day lead, I am sure these celebrities wear their “former child star” identities as a badge of honor.

Mayim Bialik got real in an essay for Variety about how mockery of her physical features — particularly her nose — has been a hurtful occurrence that she’s dealt with since she was a child actress. Her article specifically mentioned SNL, and while the Blossom star said she was excited at first about being parodied on the celebrated sketch comedy show, she ultimately was “ashamed,” after seeing that the cast member portraying her wore a large prosthetic nose. This inspired former cast member Melanie Hutsell to speak out, publicly apologizing to the Jeopardy! host, and now Bialik has responded.

Mayim Bialik took to Threads to clear the air with Saturday Night Live alum Melanie Hutsell, clarifying that she had intended no negativity toward the comedian or the longtime NBC series in the essay she penned for Variety. In Bialik’s words: 

Even if Mayim Bialik had not been looking for an apology from Melanie Hutsell, she said she still appreciated the former cast member speaking out about the issue. In the Variety essay, the Blossom star recalled a TV critic writing about “the lack of ‘sense’ that my face made to him” when she was a teenager. MAD magazine later followed suit, causing her to cry after it “mocked every single thing about both me and our entire show.”

Then came Saturday Night Live, and Mayim Bialik said she was confused at being the only person parodied for their physical appearance. Melanie Hutsell spoke out after seeing the essay, telling EW that she’d been “absolutely horrified” when she learned of the prosthetic she was expected to wear, but she was told if she refused to wear it, she’d be fired. Hutsell said if she could go back and change things she would not wear the fake nose, even if it meant risking her job.

This actually wasn’t the first time Mayim Bialik and Melanie Hutsell have spoken about this issue. The former SNL cast member said on the Fly on the Wall podcast that she had apologized to the actress in person during a casual run-in, and they were able to come to a mutual understanding. Hutsell had only the kindest things to say about the Call Me Kat alum, calling her “one of the smartest and most incredible people on the planet — beautiful inside and out.” It sounds like Bialik also holds Hutsell in high esteem, as she showed much appreciation for the comedian’s public apology, sending her virtual hugs.

It’s nice to see that this uncomfortable and hurtful situation came to a peaceful resolution, as Blossom fans wait to see the sitcom’s highly anticipated comeback. Rather than focusing on the comedy, though, it sounds like the Blossom reboot might take a page out of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s book to focus on the established characters’ darker issues. While we wait for updates on that, Blossom’s five seasons can be streamed with a Hulu subscription, and check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik has dealt with public scrutiny over her looks since her breakthrough role as young Tess in the cult classic Beaches. Of course, Bialik has seemingly learned how to roll the punches over time, but one moment has stood out for her over the last few decades. During her Blossom years, she became the subject of an unflattering Saturday Night Live sketch. Years after the parody debuted, she wrote about dealing with trauma associated with the portrayal. While responding the former SNL actress who starred in the skit said she would’ve been "fired" if she didn’t wear a fake nose.

What Mayim Bialik Said About The Saturday Night Live Sketch

The Big Bang Theory alum went into full detail about past critiques when penning an essay for Variety. She revealed that upon seeing the premiere episode of Blossom (which might get a Bel-Air-like reboot), a TV critic slammed her physical features. She was comforted and shielded by her parents after that. However, another critique came from her favorite magazine, MAD, which parodied her and the NBC sitcom. That particular jab apparently led her to cry for a moment before she took a photo with the magazine. Then came the SNL parody. At first, the actress viewed the sketch as her arrival in the pop culture zeitgeist, as she explained:

As Mayim Bialik laid out, being parodied on Saturday Night Live was (and continues to be) a sign of pop culture significance for any star, show, or movie. Some stars embrace satire-related scrutiny, while others can have more unfortunate reactions to it. Bialik was in the former camp until she saw the sketch for herself and noticed a certain feature of hers was accentuated. The TV personality recalled her initial response to the skit, saying:

Mayim Bialik was less than flattered, to say the least. Why the show’s producers and writers chose to highlight her nose is a mystery. To be honest,  the '90s were filled with questionable moments in TV sketch comedy, with some skits indeed playing on certain actors’ looks.

Not only did the then-teen star have to deal with industry pressure, but she also had to contend with her high school peers. The TV actress said her friends “watched SNL,” and she was ultimately “ashamed” over the situation. Despite being decades removed from the skit, it clearly still stings the TV veteran today. 

What The SNL Actress Said About Wearing The Fake Nose

Mayim Bialik wasn’t the only one who was offended by the portrayal at the time. SNL alum Melanie Hutsell, who portrayed Bialik's character in the parody, voiced her regret over the 1994 sketch to EW. Hutsell expressed her initial reservations when the sketch was pitched to her, saying:

So it seems the comedian was apprehensive about the prosthetic nose from the beginning. The TV and film veteran also recalled expressing her concerns over the nose to fellow castmates. But apparently, that nearly led to her being ousted from the late-night institution:

Melanie Hutsell definitely appears to be remorseful, and this isn't the first time she's expressed regret over the sketch. She revealed on the Fly on the Wall podcast that she was sorry for how the sketch played out and said she even apologized to Mayim Bialik during a casual run-in. Both actresses apparently came to a mutual understanding. Hutsell even called the veteran sitcom actress “one of the smartest and most incredible people on the planet – beautiful inside and out.”

In the years since the sketch aired, Mayim Bialik and Melanie Hutsell took breaks from Hollywood. The former did so to have a normal life before returning to TV. Bialik is currently away from Jeopardy! amid the actors’ strike months after the cancellation of her sitcom, Call Me Kat. Hutsell, meanwhile, has appeared in notable TV series, with the most recent being the critically acclaimed Hulu miniseries Tiny Beautiful Things. Check out our 2023 TV schedule to for premiere info on other small-screen offerings.

The Jeopardy! debate rages on, even as Ken Jennings remains the man behind the lectern for the foreseeable future — both on syndicated episodes and in the primetime Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament. No timetable has been announced for Mayim Bialik’s return to the quiz show, even as the writers return following the end of the WGA strike, but that hasn’t kept people from continuing to voice their opinions on the two co-hosts. Now, super-champ Amy Schneider is singing the GOAT’s praises and confirming what he and Bialik have said about hosting being harder than it looks on TV.

Amy Schneider’s history-making run on Jeopardy! began in late 2021, when she became the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions. She won that tournament, too, becoming one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners and amassing over $1.6 million to date after being one of just six players to compete in the inaugural Jeopardy! Masters tournament in 2022. However, when it comes to the “Ken Jennings vs. Mayim Bialik” debate, she explained why that’s the rare question she can’t answer, telling TV Insider: 

Fellow Jeopardy! Masters competitor Mattea Roach has expressed a similar sentiment about how special it is to share the stage with Ken Jennings, given his history as a contestant. 

Amy Schneider has said she was actually supposed to be on the show with Alex Trebek, but due to COVID, her tape date kept getting rescheduled, and since she never competed with Mayim Bialik as the host, she couldn’t say who was technically better. That didn’t stop her from complimenting Jennings for the job he’s doing, and she made a really good point about what we see at home vs. what happens in the studio. Schneider continued: 

Those of us watching at home can enjoy bouncing back and forth between the players and clues with no concern at all for how things actually played out before editing. It’s important for contestants to get into a rhythm while playing, but they can’t do that if there are constant reshoots due to a clue being misread or hourlong shutdowns when score changes are being debated. That’s a lot of pressure on Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik to not make a mistake!

That pressure is all on Ken Jennings currently, so catch him on Celebrity Jeopardy! at 8 p.m. ET Wednesdays on ABC, and check your local listings to see when Jeopardy! airs in syndication in your area. 

We are well into the era of widespread TV reboots and revivals, with so many classic series making returns happen in recent years, either with a new cast or the cast we all know and love. NBC's hit '90s sitcom Blossom is one of the more highly anticipated in-development comebacks, with star Mayim Bialik announcing in May that a reunion series was in the works, and her latest update revealed an unexpected change, as the project seems to be taking cues from Will Smith's NBC sitcom Fresh Prince, which was rebooted as the Peacock drama Bel-Air.

Far ahead of her Big Bang Theory success, and the stint of normal life between roles, Mayim Bialik portrayed the titular Blossom Ruby Russo on the beloved series, and confirmed to Vanity Fair that a new series centered on the character is, in fact, in the works, and with plenty of familiar faces involved. However, fans shouldn't expect the same laughs the original series brought, as this one is going a little bit darker and deeper with its storytelling. In her words:

The series sounds like it’s going to be pretty different from the original, and more on par with Bel-Air than a direct revival. Despite being a reboot of Will Smith’s Fresh Prince, the Peacock original dives deep into issues such as racial tension, culture shock, and more. While the new Blossom will likely still have the heart fans remember, it’s going to put a lot of focus into deeper issues, which will set it apart from the original but still bring back fans who watch it back in the ‘90s.

During Blossom’s run, the show was praised for addressing serious topics such as family dysfunction, addiction, sex, depression, sexual assault, gun violence, and more. It’s definitely hard to cover such serious topics while on a sitcom. While most sitcoms do cover serious topics, including that many and doing it in a way that is authentic and organic is rare, which is why Blossom got much praise for doing so. Not to mention the fact that it also centered on a teenage girl, which was also rare at its time.

Blossom starred an ensemble cast that also included Joey Lawerence, Michael Stoyanov, Jenna von Oÿ, David Lascher, Portia Dawson, Barnard Hughes, Finola Hughes, Courtney Chase, and Ted Wass. While the cast is on board for the new series, it’s still unknown how much involvement they will have. At least they are on board, which is better than nothing. Whatever happens with the new Blossom, it already sounds like it’s going to be a series you won’t want to miss. Even if it is a little different.

Not much information about the Blossom reboot has been revealed other than what to expect. With the WGA strike concluded, the SAG-AFTRA strike needs to end so that production can eventually commence. Once that happens, more details will surely come out about exactly which direction the new project will take. 

The wait will be well worth it, hopefully, but fans can watch the original Blossom with a Hulu subscription in the meantime.

Ever since Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik started sharing co-hosting duties on Jeopardy!, fans have been vocal about who they prefer, with many people arguing that the former champion was the clear choice to succeed the late, great Alex Trebek because of his success as a contestant. It turns out, though, that the actress also had a connection to Jeopardy!, and while it might not be as immediately obvious — and she admits to not being a loyal viewer growing up — her history with Trebek actually goes back even further than Jennings’.

At tapings of Jeopardy!, the audience is given the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with the host, and during one of those sessions — which aired on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast — Mayim Bialik revealed her unique childhood connection to Alex Trebek after being asked if she’d watched the quiz show growing up. In Bialik’s words: 

The actress/neuroscientist may have only been a casual viewer of Jeopardy! as a child, but she definitely has bragging rights that most youngsters don’t when it comes to the quiz show! The series she is likely referring to is, of course, Blossom, on which Mayim Bialik landed the title role at age 14, and the episode that featured Alex Trebek — “Who’s Not on First” — came in the show’s final season five years later.

In the Season 5 episode, Joey (Joey Lawrence) fantasized that he was competing on Jeopardy! against his sister Blossom (Mayim Bialik) and Albert Einstein. Even though this was apparently all happening in Joey’s subconscious, it still meant that Bialik got to stand on a Jeopardy!-esque stage and have her character introduced by the iconic game show host. The actress paid homage to the full-circle moment when she first guest-hosted in Season 37: 

Mayim Bialik may not have shared the stage with Alex Trebek nearly as many times as Ken Jennings, who compiled 74-straight wins on top of several tournaments to follow, but her 1995 encounter beat the longtime host’s first meeting with Jennings by a decade.

Regardless of your preference in Jeopardy! host, it looks like the Call Me Kat actress won’t be back behind the lectern for even longer than we expected. Mayim Bialik chose to stand in solidarity with the quiz show’s writers amidst the WGA strike by not recording last season’s final episodes — despite all of the clues being finalized before the strike started. It’s likely that once that and the SAG-AFTRA strikes end, Bialik will have to juggle her acting commitments with Jeopardy! hosting, and who knows how complicated that will be? 

For now, Ken Jennings continues to hold down the fort, with the show kicking off Season 40 with its Second Chance Tournament. Check your local listings to see when to catch those episodes. Meanwhile, Celebrity Jeopardy! is also set to kick off its second season — this one led by Jennings as well — with famous faces including Christopher Meloni, Dulé Hill, Mark Duplass and many more, starting at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 27. 

Jeopardy! is no stranger to controversy — we all remember the Great Hosting Snafu Of 2021 — and its fans have been known to pick up a pitchfork or two when it comes to upholding the sanctity of America’s favorite quiz show. Lately it’s the WGA writer’s strike and the actors’ SAG-AFTRA strike that have people up in arms, and Jennings has faced pressure to follow Mayim Bialik’s lead by stepping down as host in solidarity of the show’s writers. There’s been increasing criticism of Jennings, as huge changes have been made to keep the show in production during the strikes, and the Jeopardy! GOAT’s podcasting partner has heard enough.

Ken Jennings stepped in for Mayim Bialik at the end of Season 39, when the Call Me Kat alum skipped the final week to support Jeopardy!’s writers, who are members of the Writer’s Guild of America. Many people reportedly took issue with his decision, to the point that Omnibus podcast co-host John Roderick went on a tirade, accusing Jennings’ critics of not understanding how labor unions work. He wrote, in part, on Facebook (per TV Insider): 

John Roderick vehemently denied that Ken Jennings is doing anything wrong by continuing to keep Jeopardy! on the air during the strikes, and he went on to specifically address Celebrity Jeopardy! finalist Wil Wheaton calling one of Jeopardy!’s biggest winners a “scab” for crossing the picket lines. Roderick continued: 

Ken Jennings has also defended himself — albeit not in as many words as his Omnibus partner — by pointing out that Alex Trebek also continued working through the 2007-08 writer’s strike. He also called the writers “the engine that runs Jeopardy!,” and indeed, executive producer Michael Davies has ensured they will never air material not written by WGA members. Instead, recycled clues and previously written new material will be used for a Second Chance Tournament, and Season 2 of Celebrity Jeopardy! can move forward, as its clues were already written ahead of the strike. 

In speaking up for Ken Jennings, John Roderick really just implored people to not blast others on the Internet if they are not fully informed of a situation and to rather do some independent research on the unions. 

Meanwhile, Jeopardy! will be without Mayim Bialik longer than expected, with Jennings behind the lectern for the Second Chance Tournament to kick off Season 40 on Monday, September 11, as well as Celebrity Jeopardy!, whose second season will premiere at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 27, on ABC.  

When Jeopardy! returns with new episodes for its daily syndicated run, the beloved game show will be handling things a bit differently from what fans are used to. From having to use recycled clues to the decision to hold off on inviting any brand new contestants, Season 40 will likely stand out quite a bit from other seasons, thanks in large part to the ongoing WGA writers strike. And with production starting up this week for new episodes, it’s looking more and more like co-host Mayim Bialik will be absent for longer than previously expected, with Ken Jennings set to be at the wheel for much of the foreseeable future.

One factor that will be keeping the Call Me Kat vet away from the Jeopardy! lectern is the aforementioned writers strike. As regular viewers will recall, Bialik stepped down from her position near the end of Season 39 as a sign of unity with the show’s talented writing staff. Jennings took some flak for holding the fort in her stead, despite also sharing the love for the clue creators that make the game so fun.

According to the Jeopardy! Reddit forum, Season 40 began filming on its latest Second Chance tournament, which will see past Season 37 hopefuls returning to duke it out. There, it was reported that Ken Jennings was indeed on board to head things up without Bialik around to share the duties. Given how recent discussions between the WGA and the AMPTP haven’t gone very favorably, she will almost definitely remain absent until those disputes have concluded, and even then, there may be further complications with bringing her back.

Because even though her Fox sitcom Call Me Kat was canceled earlier in 2023, Mayim Bialik hasn’t just been resting on her Jeopardy!-assisted laurels. For one, she hosts a successful weekly podcast devoted to humorous conversations about mental health — Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown — and has other pop culture projects coming down the pipeline that have also been delayed due to strikes. 

 As such, if and when the WGA strike and SAG-AFTRA strike reach their respective resolutions, the actress may still be unable to take over Jeopardy!-hosting responsibilities due to acting commitments. As it was revealed in past months, Bialik and others have reportedly been successful at getting a Blossom revival off of the ground floor, with a pilot script being written, and cast members unofficially signing on to return.

Should NBC, Peacock or some other platform step in to order Blossom to series, it may cause further scheduling conflicts for Bialik as far as bouncing between projects goes. She was able to work things out so that she could successfully split her time and attention with Call Me Kat, but there are no guarantees that the same would happen with a newer series. Especially if everyone in the industry goes into post-strike overdrive in trying to get as much creative turnover as possible to make up for lost time. It’s possible she just won’t have any room in her schedule to get her Jeopardy! game face on.

Of course, things may fall into place in a way where Blossom doesn’t move forward, and where Bialik’s other gigs are spaced out so that she can tag in for Ken Jennings at some point during Season 40’s run. It’s impossible to predict how things will turn out in Hollywood. But for now, Jennings’ biggest naysayers will just have to settle in for the long haul. 

Jeopardy! will return with new episodes on Monday, September 11. Check your local listings to see when and where it airs in your area, and head to our 2023 TV schedule to see how primetime has been shaken up by all the industry delays. 

Jinger Duggar Vuolo has been very vocal in recent months about her upbringing, both from a TLC reality TV perspective and as a former believer of Bill Gothard’s IBLP principles. A formerly “devout” member of the community, Vuolo has spread her wings in recent years, moving to Los Angeles with her husband Jeremy Vuolo and their two kids and even becoming one Duggar lady who will wear shorts on occasion. Now, she’s opening up about growing up in the Duggar Family with all of its good stuff and bad stuff. 

Jinger Duggar Vuolo has been doing press for a while after her book Becoming Free Indeed was published in early 2023. The mom of two recently met with Mayim Bialik for a podcast interview. In it, the Jeopardy! host made some comparisons between her own Judaism upbringing and the faith that Jinger followed. The two got into a discussion about the IBLP, her upbringing and her memories with Jim Bob and Michelle.

The 'Sad' Part Of Growing Up Duggar

Jinger said she currently sees ideals that Gothard taught – like not going into debt to buy a house and not believing in family planning, including natural family planning – to be destructive.

But there was a time she was very “devout.” She mentioned an incident in which her journal had been stolen from her room while 19 Kids and Counting was filming and how it led her to believe she couldn’t be “so raw” or honest about her feelings. But she says she bought into the IBLP in her teens, hook, line and sinker, noting.

It took a toll, however. In a separate portion of her conversation, Duggar Vuolo admitted that while her parents always made an effort with their kids, there was a part of her that struggled because she couldn’t name or identify why she was feeling “anxiety” and other emotions related to her upbringing. She’s previously identified the IBLP as bringing “fear” to her growing up experience.

Still, it wasn’t all so bad. 

Sweet Memories Jinger Remembers Having With Jim Bob And Michelle 

A lot of the discourse surrounding the Duggars over the last few years has dealt with pain and trauma. The Duggar women were thrust into the limelight after Josh Duggar’s molestation report broke, and Cousin Amy only recently shared her feelings over learning about Josh’s actions. He’s currently set to get out of prison on separate child abuse material charges in 2032, a prison release statistic Cousin Amy isn’t happy about either. His wife and seven children are also reportedly struggling as they no longer have financial support. 

Meanwhile, Jill went on record about the “disturbing” religious environment the Counting On kids grew up in as part of her contribution to the Shiny Happy People documentary. Jinger didn't participate in Shiny Happy People, but she's spotlighted her experiences with her parents and the teachings the family followed in this interview and elsewhere.

Regardless, while there was bad stuff, the Duggar daughter says not everything was bad or painful about her childhood. In fact, she recounted one of many positive memories she had about growing up in Arkansas with the family. 

Counting On has been off the air now since shortly after Josh Duggar's arrest in 2021, but the family has lived on in popularity through various YouTube and Instagram shares from the family. Interest in growing up Duggar is still at a high, and I'd be surprised if we didn't get to learn more from Jinger in particular about her upbringing in the coming months.

Ken Jennings may hold the Jeopardy! record for most consecutive games won, and Brad Rutter stands as the biggest winner in Jeopardy! history, but when it comes to the best to ever play the game, Matt Amodio is at the top of a pretty unique statistic: He’s competed under seven different hosts. The super-champ recently reflected on what it was like to be a part of the quiz show following Alex Trebek's death, and he joked about why he might want one of those guest hosts to come back.

The majority of Jeopardy! contestants over its four-decade history competed with Alex Trebek as the host, and more current participants have seen either Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik. However, Matt Amodio’s 38-game win streak came amid the hosting shakeup that followed Alex Trebek’s passing. Many fans took issue with the uncertainty of that era, but Matt Amodio explained on Inside Jeopardy! why it was an honor to witness, saying: 

When Buzzy Cohen pointed out that Matt Amodio’s only losses have come from episodes led by either Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik, the Jeopardy! Masters contestant said that when he returns for the spinoff’s second season, maybe he’d like to see a different face behind the lectern. Amodio joked:

In addition to Joe Buck, Matt Amodio participated in Jeopardy! games guest-hosted by Robin Roberts, LeVar Burton and David Faber. Then-executive producer Mike Richards then came in after appointing himself the permanent host. However, that lasted only a day, before scandals forced Sony to part ways with Richards, and Mayim Bialik was called to fill in. 

That's a lot of star power that Matt Amodio crossed paths with, but it was Ken Jennings who he most wanted to field clues from. However, he didn’t get that chance until the 2022 Tournament of Champions, where he was eliminated in the semifinals. He saw Jennings again on Jeopardy! Masters, where he placed third behind James Holzhauer and Mattea Roach. Did those experiences sour Amodio’s impression of Jennings as a host? The champ said: 

It's interesting to hear Matt Amodio’s recollection of that turbulent time in Jeopardy!’s history, since his experience of seeing seven different hosts is one that (hopefully) no other contestant is ever likely to experience. You can see Amodio in action, as ABC is re-airing Jeopardy! Masters at 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on ABC, with all episodes also available to stream with a Hulu subscription. 

Everyone these days is aware of how toxic the Internet — and social media specifically — can be for one’s mental health. Online trolls are a thing, and many celebrities have spoken out about how that negativity can affect anyone — regardless of wealth or fame. Mayim Bialik has certainly shouldered her share of unsolicited opinions, as Jeopardy! fans continue the often-brutal debate over whether she or Ken Jennings is the better quiz show host. The actress recently spoke at length on her podcast about the everyday struggle some face with feeling “useless” and “irrelevant.”

Mental health is an important topic for The Big Bang Theory alum, and she actually has a whole podcast dedicated to it. Mayim Bialik has often spoken about the harsh comments she’s received from fans and even the different feedback she gets as Jeopardy!’s co-host than her male counterparts. On Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, she got candid when asked how she combats feeling “useless, irrelevant and worthless,” saying she doesn’t go the “positive affirmation” route, but rather: 

Mayim Bialik said that it’s definitely possible for some people to train their brains by telling themselves they’re not useless and using other positive affirmations. However, as an actor she said she grew up being told, “You’re amazing,” to a point where she can’t lean into believing words like that. The Call Me Kat star takes a more active approach — eating right, moving her body, meditating, etc. — to combat unfavorable thoughts. 

She also pointed out that regardless of growing up on television, she’s still a human, and she often struggles with feelings of “what I’m doing is not what I’m supposed to be doing, or I’m not doing it well enough, or I’m not reaching enough people, or I’m not doing it right, or I look stupid.” It’s a battle, and for many, she said it’s one fought on a daily basis. She continued:

The podcast host assured her audience that they’re not alone if they experience similar thoughts, but she encouraged anyone who persistently felt useless, irrelevant or worthless to reach out to a professional, because those are real and serious feelings.

Mayim Bialik has continued to weather fans’ opinions of her Jeopardy! hosting skills even after executive producer Michael Davies appointed both her and Ken Jennings the position ahead of the current season. Even the contestants have weighed in, with one being extremely critical of her clue-reading skills, while another recent champ defended her as “an excellent host.” As far as the ratings, Davies has said there is no discernible difference when one is hosting over the other.

Those looking to see Mayim Bialik behind the lectern will have to wait until next season, as she chose to not finish out her remaining Jeopardy! episodes in support of the WGA writer’s strike. Ken Jennings is back in the driver’s seat until Season 39 concludes on July 28. Check your local listings to see when the quiz show plays in your area. 

Following the conclusion of the Jeopardy! Masters tournament, fans of the classic game show have only traditional episodes to look forward to for the foreseeable future, with the next Tournament of Champions likely not happening until the fall. And soon, viewers will see G.O.A.T Ken Jennings return to the lectern a bit earlier than planned, with Mayim Bialik having stepped back from hosting duties due to the WGA writers strike. He’ll reportedly be back in position very soon, which set off a new round of fans pledging fealty to the part-time host at Bialik’s expense, which was balanced in part by a recent champ speaking up in defense of the Big Bang Theory vet.

When Ken Jennings Will Make His Early Return

Back in May, in the days after the writers strike started to completely change up the entertainment industry, Mayim Bialik shocked viewers by bowing out of her shared hosting duties with Jennings, saying she’d be out for the remainder of the season, barring any major changes. Those haven’t happened, and with the strike indeed still going strong, viewers can reportedly expect to see one of Jeopardy!’s winningest players back as ringleader for syndicated episodes on Monday, July 3, according to the Is Ken Hosting? Twitter page. He’ll be holding the fort down until the Season 39 finale, which is set for Friday, July 28. 

The comments of that post are speckled with opinionated fans razzing on Bialik in favor of Jennings (even though some were initially angry at Jennings for appearing opportunistic by choosing to bounce back as host instead of also showing solidarity with writers). Here are a few of the comments that more or less echo what a lot of other fans post about the show on a daily basis. 

• I had to stop watching until Ken is back. - @deeflowers13
• The show is so much better when he hosts . . . - @elenderman
• I can start watching Jeopardy again. Yay! Can’t watch her - @deb6305
• GREAT! I can watch 25 glorious days of new episodes with the fabulous Ken Jennings (who should be the permanent FULL-TIME host!) I've been on a "not watching Jeopardy" but will eagerly return July 3! - @OriginalLinnie

One doesn't have to look very hard to find other fans celebrating Ken Jennings while shading Mayim Bialik. One of the bigger issues that viewers have with her is the pause she takes after contestants answer, at which point she's confirming with judges that answers are either correct or incorrect. Her laughter and general mirth also regularly get called out for disrupting the game's flow. 

Former Champ Defends Mayim Bialik From Online Haters

While some fans obviously get wildly negative with opinions about the Call Me Kat star's hosting attributes, others are quick to come to the actress and podcast host's defense. And recent champ Holly Hassel can be counted among them, as she talked with The Sun about seeing all the Bialik-directed rudeness on display. In her words:

Hassel specifically talked about people taking issue with Bialik's pauses and laughter, saying the game show shouldn't shy away from showing that everyone invovled is having fun. If the hosts are enjoying themselves, that shouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, should it?

The single-day winner, who surprisingly dethroned six-day champ Suresh Krishnan, said she thinks viewers are continuing to bring the same expectations that they did when Alex Trebek was hosting, even though things have changed. In her words:

By all means, Mayim Bialik could be far more unprofessional as a Jeopardy! host, and fans would no doubt be extremely quick to call her out for it. But until she starts fake-tackling people like Pat Sajak, hopefully the hateful comments can start to subside at least a little during the summer months as Jennings wraps up the season. And then hopefully the writers strike can get resolved in the meantime, so that the game show's writers can comfortably and confidently return to work. 

The writers on Jeopardy! were among the 11,000 Writers Guild of America members who hit the picket lines over a month ago, demanding fair contracts in the changing landscape of entertainment. As Mayim Bialik chose to exit the season early to stand in solidarity with the WGA, Ken Jennings came in to finish out the already-written games. That apparently didn’t go over so well with some members of the crew, however, the Jeopardy! GOAT made his feelings about the writers known when he spoke about the show recently, calling their work “a piece of art.”

Job security for WGA’s members amid the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence is a big issue for the striking writers, and Ken Jennings weighed in on the issue in a conversation with the New Yorker. The interviewer pointed out that the Jeopardy! co-host had praised the clue-writing in one of his books, pointing out that it’s not just about knowing the facts, but that the writers often include a twist or surprise. Jennings said: 

It’s been said that even if contestants don’t know the correct response right away, there are often hints within the clue or category that can lead someone to the answer. That nuanced writing, according to Ken Jennings, is something that must come from human intelligence, not A.I. He continued: 

He certainly does make it sound like an art form! Ken Jennings isn’t one to underestimate the capabilities of artificial intelligence, either. In 2011, he and Brad Rutter — two of the biggest winners in Jeopardy! history — played against the IBM computer system Watson and lost. 

Ken Jennings is also more familiar than most with the work that the writers put into the Jeopardy! clues. In addition to serving as a host of the quiz show, he holds the record for most consecutive games won with 74, which came from his time as a contestant back in 2004.

It remains to be seen how long the WGA strike will last and if Jeopardy!’s next season will be affected. When it comes to the writers, however, both Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings have made their stances pretty clear as to how valuable they find that work. Be sure to see what is coming soon to TV and streaming with our 2023 TV schedule. 

Ever since Jeopardy! fans believed that either Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik would be named the quiz show’s one true host following Alex Trebek’s death (and plenty of other drama), a debate has raged over who is more deserving of the title. Even after EP Michael Davies named them permanent co-hosts, people are still weighing in on who they like better. Now, there may be additional fodder for the discourse, and it has to do with people allegedly being upset about Jennings taking over for Bialik amid the WGA writer’s strike.

When the Writers Guild of America went on strike May 2, Mayim Bialik announced that she would be stepping away from Jeopardy! for the remainder of its season to stand in solidarity with the writers. The decision was made to go ahead with the production of the final episodes, and Ken Jennings was called back to host. RadarOnline reports that this move prompted some to call the Jeopardy! GOAT an “opportunist,” saying he has “showed his true colors” by taking her place during the strike. According to the source: 

The writers on the iconic game show are members of the WGA, however, all of the clues for the rest of Season 39 had been written before the strike started. It was reported that Michele Loud, Jim Rhine and Billy Wisse were among the Jeopardy! writers on the picket line.

Before the strike inspired her to end her season early, Mayim Bialik was scheduled to finish out Season 39 behind the lectern. Ken Jennings had already hosted more episodes than anticipated, after the actress’ Call Me Kat production schedule prohibited her from returning to Jeopardy! at the beginning of the year as planned.

Ken Jennings reportedly hosted the episodes filmed from May 16-19, which would mean those episodes are likely to begin airing in July, with the season ending on July 28.

While fans have passionately debated whether Mayim Bialik or Ken Jennings — one of the biggest winners in Jeopardy! history — was better suited to host the quiz show, there’s never appeared to be tension between the co-hosts themselves. The Big Bang Theory alum has even joked that she prefers Jennings too!

Executive producer Michael Davies recently addressed the strong opinions that social media users share regarding the hosts, saying that no matter which one of them is behind the lectern, the ratings have remained the same. He also said he stands by his decision to bring Ken Jennings on board to share duties with Mayim Bialik — who had previously been announced as the host of prime-time tournaments — following former EP and would-be host Mike Richards’ firing.

Ken Jennings served as host of the recently wrapped Jeopardy! Masters tournament, which saw James Holtzhauer win the inaugural Alex Trebek Trophy, and earlier this year, Mayim Bialik delivered the clues for the Celebrity Jeopardy! spinoff, which Ike Barinholtz won in dramatic fashion.

Check your local listings to see how to catch Mayim Bialik’s final Season 39 episodes in syndication, before the former champion takes the reins again, and be sure to take a peek at our 2023 TV schedule to see all of the upcoming premieres. 

Jeopardy! fans were relieved to find some stability in the iconic quiz show last summer, when Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik were officially named permanent co-hosts. However, even ahead of that announcement, plenty of viewers had already begun to pit the Jeopardy! GOAT against The Big Bang Theory actress, voicing support for one to get the job over the other, and that’s a conversation that continues on message boards today. Executive producer Michael Davies is aware of the discord, and he revealed how audience preference plays into the ratings, as well as the “incredible fracture” that faced them when they started.

Both Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik have their passionate supporters — and often-loud critics — when they take their turn behind the lectern. But Michael Davies is the one behind the curtain keeping an eye on the all-important numbers, and he revealed to Vulture how the ratings are affected when one is hosting compared to the other, saying: 

According to Michael Davies, there is no discernible difference in the ratings between Ken Jennings’ episodes and Mayim Bialik’s. It does seem natural that fans would have a preference, and it’s also pretty easy to believe that the game show’s loyal fans will tune in, regardless of if their preferred host is on that day. The EP seemed to confirm that, as he continued: 

More than just the viewers’ preference, the contestants themselves have weighed in, with Jeopardy! Masters contestant Mattea Roach previously voicing their support for Ken Jennings, saying there’s something special about being on stage with one of the biggest winners in Jeopardy! history. Another recent contestant shared a blunt opinion about Mayim Bialik and the way she delivers the clues. Jennings, meanwhile, has had to defend himself against perceived mistakes multiple times. Michael Davies stands by both of his co-hosts, especially after what they and the rest of the crew endured after Alex Trebek’s death in 2020. He said: 

Ken Jennings jumped in as a guest host following the death of the longtime host, and that was followed by a carousel of celebrities who were seemingly auditioning for a permanent spot. In the end, then-executive producer Mike Richards was named host of the syndicated episodes, with Mayim Bialik joining as the host of primetime tournaments. 

However, that plan was highly criticized, as it came amid the resurfacing of several offensive comments Mike Richards had made on a podcast years prior, in addition to discrimination lawsuits from his time on The Price Is Right. After just one day into his new role as host, Richards was fired from Jeopardy! and as EP of Wheel of Fortune, with Michael Davies taking the reins of the quiz show and adding Ken Jennings to assist Mayim Bialik on syndicated episodes. 

Those were tumultuous times, indeed, so regardless of fans’ preference between Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, hopefully we can all agree the show has taken a step in the right direction. Check your local listings to find Jeopardy! in syndication, and Jeopardy! Masters is wrapping its first-season run at 8 p.m. ET May 23 and 24 on ABC. 

The WGA writers strike has already had an effect on several television productions, shutting down Saturday Night Live ahead of Pete Davidson’s return for a guest-hosting gig and putting network late-night talk shows on indefinite hiatus. Now it seems the game show industry will also be impacted, as Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik has announced that she will not be present for the final week of filming for Season 39, as she stands in solidarity with the writers. Production of the quiz show, however, has not halted, so what does that mean for the final episodes? 

Mayim Bialik Steps Away From Jeopardy! In Support Of The Writers 

The Writers Guild of America officially went on strike May 2, with its 11,000 members seeking fair pay in the age of streaming and amid the growing popularity of artificial intelligence. To that end, Mayim Bialik has decided not to continue hosting for the remainder of Jeopardy!’s current season, Deadline reports.

She joins several members of Hollywood who support the writers’ rights, as many have been seen on the picket lines themselves, and late-night hosts including Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon have continued to pay writers out of their own pockets.

Jeopardy! is a WGA show that features contributions from its members, and writers Michele Loud, Jim Rhine and Billy Wisse are among the quiz show’s writers who have joined the picket lines over the past week. However, as the clues for the remaining Season 39 games were written ahead of the strike, the show will continue production — just not with Mayim Bialik leading the way. 

Ken Jennings Will Return As Host For Jeopardy!’s Final Season 39 Episodes 

Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik have passed the baton back and forth this season on Jeopardy! after being named permanent co-hosts. However, when Jennings — one of the biggest winners in Jeopardy! history — ceded his spot behind the lectern on May 1, that was supposed to be the last we saw of him in syndication this season. (The GOAT is currently serving as host of the primetime spinoff Jeopardy! Masters.)

With Mayim Bialik exiting the show early in support of the WGA Writers Strike, Ken Jennings’ fans will be excited to learn that he’ll take over the remaining Season 39 episodes, which are set to film between May 16 and 19. That likely means he’ll be returning to our screens with his signature dad jokes in July for the final few weeks of competition.

This marks a pretty big period of transition for Mayim Bialik, as her decision comes on the heels of her sitcom Call Me Kat being canceled by Fox following its third season. Fans of the Blossom star can continue to see her in syndication (check your local listings for air times) on Jeopardy! for a few more weeks. 

While we wait for Ken Jennings to return, viewers can watch him on Jeopardy! Masters, which returns to ABC at 8 p.m. ET Friday, May 12. Be sure to also keep your eye on the 2023 TV schedule to see what premieres are headed your way soon. 

Season 4 of Call Me Kat seemed unlikely due to ratings and costs, and given the fact that it has been quite the underdog at Fox the last few years, the network did recently confirm that the Mayim Bialik comedy would not return after three seasons. Following the sad news, the actress and executive producer shared her thoughts on the cancellation and even discussed where Kat and co. ended up following last week’s finale.

After the news of the show's cancellation broke, the Big Bang Theory alum took to Instagram to share a lengthy message with her followers. Along with a sweet photo of the cast, Mayim Bialik praised her co-stars, including the late Leslie Jordan, for helping make people laugh during the pandemic, and she mentioned how hard it is to say goodbye:

Since the cancellation was so sudden, it didn’t really give the cast much time to say goodbye, especially since the season finale had just aired. So they probably just said goodbye after wrapping the season, not knowing if Call Me Kat would return. It also means that the series didn’t get a proper series finale. However, that isn’t stopping Mayim Bialik from coming up with her own ending:

Premature cancellations are always hard, especially when there is still so much story to tell. However, Mayim Bialik sharing her thoughts on where everyone ended up does help a little bit, especially with the cancellation being announced not long after the Season 3 finale aired. While Kat’s Café is closing up shop, the actresses' post provided a little bit more closure, which you can see here:

It will be strange to not see Call Me Kat on the 2023 TV schedule anymore. However, Bialik is still co-hosting Jeopardy!, so while fans may not be able to see her on the Fox sitcom, they will still be able to see her on TV. 

It seems like no show is safe these days, no matter how sure a renewal is. There were a lot of shows canceled in 2022 and that list is growing for 2023, with Call Me Kat sadly being added. Even though this wasn’t the news the Fox comedy had hoped for, it is better than waiting who knows how long for Fox to come to a decision. So, while we won't be getting a Season 4 of Mayim Bialik's show, you can stream the latest season with a Hulu subscription.

It’s a pretty tumultuous time in the TV world right now. Along with heartbreaking series finales, popular dramas switching networks and the bevy of potential cancellations that we’re faced with as fall shows wrap their seasons, Hollywood is also dealing with the effects of the WGA writers strike. Perspective can be everything for actors who are facing uncertain times, and Cheyenne Jackson seems to be mastering that state of mind, after receiving the unfortunate news that Call Me Kat will not return for Season 4. 

Cheyenne Jackson portrayed Max on the Fox sitcom for the entire run, and the Season 3 finale left off on an optimistic note, both for his music career and relationship with on-off love interest Kat (Mayim Bialik). While we’re left to wonder what the future held for all of the Call Me Kat characters, Jackson seemed to be taking the news in stride, as he posted a sweet photo to Instagram with a thoughtful message: 

The actor put his situation into perspective, as he appeared in a selfie with his 6-year-old son Ethan. The youngster’s milestone may seem minor in comparison to his dad losing a job, but Cheyenne Jackson reminds us that it really is the little moments with family that are the most important. 

That’s not to say this isn’t a tough time for the Call Me Kat cast, who also included Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt, Julian Gant and the late Leslie Jordan. For a series that was on the air for just over two years, the actors developed a tight-knit relationship — especially Mayim Bialik and Cheyenne Jackson. The Jeopardy! host had nothing but admiration for her co-star, as following their first season she shared a heartfelt tribute to Jackson, saying he had added to her life in so many ways. “What a pleasure to work alongside this immensely talented, loving, gifted man,” Bialik continued.

As close as the cast already was, they were bonded by tragedy in October 2022, when Leslie Jordan died in a car accident at the age of 67. Production of Season 3 was paused indefinitely as Cheyenne Jackson, Mayim Bialik and more shared heartfelt thoughts as they struggled to come to terms with the loss of their friend. When they returned to set, Call Me Kat said a touching goodbye to Jordan’s character Phil, and now, just months later, they’re having to close the book on this short chapter in their lives.

It’s possible the experience of losing a friend during production is one factor that is allowing the American Horror Story actor to have such a healthy perspective on the sitcom’s cancellation. It also probably doesn’t hurt that he’s got a couple of other projects headed our way pretty soon, including Borderlands, the upcoming Jamie Lee Curtis movie from Eli Roth that’s based on the video game series of the same name.

While we wait for more news on that front, there are plenty of series hitting the 2023 TV schedule, even as we continue to navigate some turbulence in the television landscape. 

Update on May 5: Call Me Kat has been cancelled after three seasons. Original story remains below. 

The Season 3 finale of Call Me Kat arrives on Fox on May 4, with plans for a wedding celebration among the characters, but fans unable to celebrate the guarantee of a Season 4. While Fox has already renewed scripted shows such as Accused and The Cleaning Lady for the 2023-2024 TV season, there’s currently no guarantee that Mayim Bialik will be reprising her role as Kat in the fall. So, even with a slate of upcoming summer shows ahead on the 2023 TV schedule, the time is right to look at what we know about Call Me Kat’s odds of returning to Fox.

What’s Happening At Fox

Nobody at Fox or behind-the-scenes at Call Me Kat has made an official statement about the future of the sitcom, but cast member Cheyenne Jackson (who also appeared elsewhere on Fox last year as a contestant on The Masked Singer) said in an Instagram Q&A (via TVLine) that he expected news of a renewal to come in “four to five weeks.” Although that Q&A is no longer available on Jackson’s Instagram account, the answer was posted in early April. If his timetable remains accurate, then news of a renewal or cancellation should come any day now. 

A possible complication may be the 2023 WGA writers strike, which has already forced a production halt for NBC’s mainstay Saturday Night Live and could well impact networks’ plans for the fall TV season. Plus, Fox cancelled hit show 9-1-1 earlier this week for financial reasons. Of course, 9-1-1 is just migrating over to ABC rather than being cut from primetime altogether, and Mayim Bialik’s sitcom is surely much cheaper to produce than the Angela Bassett- and Peter Krause-led drama, which reportedly had a price tag of $9 - $10 million per episode. 

At the time of writing, Fox has multiple entries on our list of 2023 TV shows that will probably get cancelled unless something changes, although Call Me Kat isn’t in dire enough straits to earn a slot alongside shows like Welcome To Flatch and Fantasy Island. It’s also not unprecedented for a show to end a season without a renewal, only to get the good news after the finale, as happened with Alert: Missing Persons Unit. So, without any official statements about the future of the show, let’s look at another source for the popularity of Call Me Kat: the ratings.

What The Ratings Say

Now, I can admit that standard primetime ratings aren’t quite as meaningful in the current era of streaming services and cord-cutting, and Call Me Kat Season 3 is in fact available streaming for fans with a Hulu subscription. Still, ratings are a source of data to indicate how many people are willing to tune in live, watch within three days, and watch within a week, so there’s still value.

And at the time of writing, Call Me Kat’s numbers aren’t exactly the most impressive in primetime for the 2022-2023 TV season in the 18-49 age demographic. In Live+Same day averages so far, the sitcom averages 0.2, according to SpoilerTV. That rises to 0.3 in Live+3 day and then up to 0.4 in Live+7 day. When it comes to viewership, Call Me Kat averages a Live+Same total of 1.18 million, a Live+3 total of 2.02 million, and Live+8 total of 2.22 million. 

While those totals don’t put Call Me Kat on top of network television this season, it’s worth comparing them to the ratings/viewership averages from Fox’s other two live-action comedies:

• Call Me Kat: 0.2/1.18 million in Live+Same; 0.3/2.02 million in Live+3; 0.4/2.22 million in Live+7
• Welcome to Flatch: 0.2/1 million in Live+Same; 0.3/1.2 million in Live+3; 0.3/1.24 million in Live+7
• Animal Control: 0.3/1.35 million in Live+Same; 0.4/2.06 million in Live+3; 0.4/2.38 million in Live+7

The Verdict

On the whole, it’s hard to predict with much certainty what’s to come in the fall TV season due to the writers strike, but I would say that Call Me Kat has more points in its favor than against. Compared to other Fox shows, I can’t imagine that it’s especially costly to produce, and it has better numbers than Welcome to Flatch across the board. Animal Control does have a slight edge in audience size, but Call Me Kat has more notable rises in delayed viewing. 

If Fox is going to renew one of its live-action comedies, my money would be on Call Me Kat. We can only hope that Cheyenne Jackson's timetable was correct and news on the sitcom's future is on the way sooner rather than later.