Mayim Bialik leaves ‘Jeopardy’ in solidarity
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Mayim Bialik is expressing her solidarity with the Writers Guild of America.
Bialik, co-host of “Jeopardy!”, is stepping away from the game show podium in solidarity with striking Hollywood writers according to a report from industry website Deadline. WGA writers walked off the job May 2 after their contract with the major studios expired.
Bialik, who shares hosting duties on the series with former champion Ken Jennings, is a member of the Screen Actors Guild of America, another entertainment union that has expressed support for the WGA. USA TODAY has reached out to Bialik’s representatives for comment.
“Jeopardy!” has one week of taping left in Season 39 that was meant to be hosted by Bialik, but Jennings will cross the picket line to finish the series’ production before the summer hiatus, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly. The show typically tapes three episodes each day.
Writers on “Jeopardy!” are members of the WGA and on strike, but their work for Season 39 was completed before the strike was called. The season finale typically airs in late July.
More: Writers strike 2023 explained: Why the WGA walked out
No end is in sight for the WGA’s strike. The two sides are far apart on the details of the contract, and no new talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, have been scheduled. So far the strike has shut down late night shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” along with some daytime series such as “The Talk.” Soap operas will soon run out of completed episodes to air. Production on future seasons of TV shows including Netflix’s juggernaut “Stranger Things,” HBO Max’s “Hacks” and Apple TV+’s “Loot” have ceased. Picketers claim to have disrupted filming of other series such as FX’s “American Horror Story” and Showtime’s “Billions.”
More: ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 delayed amid writers strike: What that means for you
After a brief summer hiatus, “Jeopardy!” would traditionally begin writing and filming new episodes for the fall season. But without their writers, it is possible Season 40 could be delayed. It could be months before production on other halted TV series and films resumes, and many more months between that date and when viewers get to see those shows.
More: Hollywood writers are on strike: What that means for your favorite shows.
“Jeopardy!” fans can watch the currently airing “Masters” tournament on ABC. For the showdown’s second week, starting May 15, the tournament airs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8 EDT/PDT). The semifinals air May 22 and 23; a winner will be crowned after the finals on May 24.
Leaderboard: ‘Jeopardy! Masters’ standings: Where do James Holzhauer and Amy Schneider rank?
Contributing: Erin Jensen