MAYIM Bialik has finished her first month without a job.
The former Jeopardy! host was fired from the game show at the end of last year and has been powering through a rollercoaster of emotions ever since.
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Mayim first started hosting the game show in August 2021, after she was hired alongside Ken Jennings to replace Alex Trebek after his passing.
The pair traded turns as hosts, and were offered permanent roles in 2022.
However, throughout her time there, Mayim faced criticism from Jeopardy! fans opposed to her hosting style and abilities.
On December 15, she personally announced that she was fired from Jeopardy!
“As the Holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” the 48-year-old began her Instagram post.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!
“I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Jeopardy! family.”
In just the short month since, Mayim has experienced new highs and lows.
‘TRIGGERED’
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Mayim has kept a low profile since her exit from Jeopardy!, mainly focusing on her podcast.
Mayim and Jonathan Cohen, her partner for more than 12 years, co-host the weekly podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.
On one of her most recent episodes, the former Big Bang Theory star revealed she has been “triggered” since being let go.
Mayim opened up while welcoming Jada Pinkett Smith and a renowned hypnosis expert to the podcast.
“Sometimes something will come up for me and what will trigger in me is ‘I have to fix that,'” she said in a clip from the episode.
“Sometimes it’ll be someone else’s problem.”
“Sometimes my name’s not even in the sentence, but it creates a sensation in my-in my body that I cannot tolerate- this is also a definition of codependency, you’re welcome-,” Mayim went on.
“This feel intolerable. What can I do to fix it?”
“I know that I will feel better when you feel better,” she shared, talking to the guest on her podcast.
TACKLING TRAUMA
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In a subsequent episode of her Bialik Breakdown podcast, Mayim delved into the topic of “processing trauma.”
Sporting a large bow, Mayim shared a symbolic perspective on managing a full mental load.
She advised fans, “If a glass is already full, one extra drop will spill it over.
“The idea with meditation, the idea with therapy, the idea with processing trauma is that it lowers the water in the glass.
“So it takes more drops to get it to spill over.”
The couple also abruptly took a week off of their weekly podcast in early January, and explaining the hiatus, she referred to the past year as a “dumpster fire.”
BUZZY STEPS IN
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Shortly after announcing her departure, Jeopardy! producers explained the decision was to have “one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers.”
That pledge lasted less than a month, at least on paper.
In a mind-blowing twist, former champion Buzzy Cohen stepped in last month to host new episodes of the show for the 2024 tournament season.
Buzzy, 38, took charge of the “play-in games” that determined the final slots in Season 39 Champions Wildcard.
Buzzy shared snappy Instagram photos of himself on stage at the host podium and with the players.
He excitedly captioned the post, “Well, I made it back onto the Alex Trebek Stage to host the play-in games for the #Jeopardy Champions Wildcard Competition.
“I was honored to stand behind the lectern and deliver some wonderful clues to these past champions.”
The games were audio-only in a new move for the show to help whittle down the contestant field for the mini-tournament, but fans think it was a major hint Buzzy will guest host more in the future.
EMMY EXCITEMENT
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Mayim has only mentioned Jeopardy! publicly once since her firing, congratulating the show on winning a Primetime Emmy.
Mayim‘s post included an image of the Jeopardy! logo that was labeled Emmy Winner for Outstanding Game Show, along with a photo of Keke Palmer, 30, holding up her newly won Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show.
The Blossom star divulged in her post’s caption that she was proud that she was able to host Jeopardy! when she did.
“I’m so proud to have been a part of the 2022 season of Jeopardy! that won the primetime Emmy last night for best game show!” Mayim wrote.
Additionally, she gave a shout out to Keke, praising her for last night’s accomplishment, despite her losing to the former Nickelodeon star.
“And hearty congratulations to Keke Palmer for being the first woman in 15 years to win best host – you’re an inspiration to women everywhere and I salute you,” Mayim finished.
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK
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Fans missing Mayim are in for a treat as the actress is shifting gears and putting on a hard hat.
After lying low for most of the month, she has finally announced her next project.
She was the titular celebrity on Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott’s home-renovation HGTV show Celebrity IOU.
The series sees “Hollywood A-listers express their deep gratitude to the individuals who have had a major impact on their lives” by “surprising them with home renovations,” according to its website.
Mayim’s episode marks her first TV appearance since leaving Jeopardy! and promises unexpected DIY action.
In a trailer she dropped on Instagram, the sitcom star could be seen getting hands-on.
She struggled with a bandsaw, drives a front-loader truck, and energetically hammerd in the foundation.
The Scotts threw in a playful joke, saying, “I have a theory we’re going to make a big bang with this place here,” accompanied by an eye-roll from Mayim.
Decked out in overalls and workwear during the build, Mayim switched to a chic, flowy skirt and tee for the final reveal.
She captioned her post, “Can you handle me renovating with @jonathanscott and @mrdrewscott? I bet you can.”
Notably, she mentioned that the episode was “filmed last year” to conclude her caption.
‘BRIGHTER 2024’
The week after her Jeopardy! news, Mayim shared her first photo post-firing.
She held her cat in her arms in the emotional selfie and shared a reflective caption: “She never sits on me. But she’s sitting on me. Taking this as a sign for only good things to come. Thanks for the inspiration, Addie!”
In early January, Mayim shared another hopeful message on her Instagram page while smiling in the pouring rain.
“As the rain washes away 2023, I can’t help but hope it’s making way for a brighter 2024,” she wrote.
Mayim has since removed “co-host @jeopardy” from her Instagram bio.
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