Mayim Bialik has dropped a surprising update about her podcast following her exit from Jeopardy!.
The Big Bang Theory actress was let go last month, leaving former champion Ken Jennings as the sole host.
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Mayim, 48, shared the news with her fans on her popular podcast’s Instagram page.
She announced she’s taking the week off from Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, which proudly promises “New episodes weekly!” on its website.
In her caption, she mentioned: “We are taking the first week of January off, but are looking forward to the many exciting things that MBB has in store for 2024!
Thanks for being here, and Happy New Year!”
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Mayim shared the news while treating fans to a compilation video of her favorite interviews from 2023 as a holdover episode.
Referring to the past year – during which she was let go – as a “dumpster fire,” Mayim recapped her favorite guests, including Ben Stiller and Marc Maron.
Since she departed from Jeopardy!, Mayim has only released one new episode of her podcast, featuring a sit-down with John Stamos.
Mayim co-hosts the podcast with her boyfriend, Jonathan Cohen.
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‘TAKE TIME TO RECHARGE’
A fan commented: “While I’m bummed there won’t be a new episode next week, I hope you’re taking the time to recharge and enjoy time with your family as the year ends. Can’t wait to see who your guests are in 2024!”
Another wrote: “A bit sad that next week there we won’t have a regular episode.
“But wishing that all the terrific MBB team could use this hiatus to enjoy holidays, charge batteries, and return with strength and amazing guests in 2024.
‘HOPING TO COME BACK’
Mayim did not anticipate being fired from the game show, according to a new bombshell report.
Mayim walked out in May 2023 in solidarity with Hollywood strikes but had plans to return once the strikes were resolved.
However, The Messenger suggests that her firing was not a mutual decision.
A source told the outlet: “Mayim was notified right before the end of the year that she wasn’t coming back.
“She was hoping to come back, but now looking forward to her next chapter at this time.”
Mayim is “already in the process of moving on from the game show,” the outlet added.
Their source claimed that she will continue putting out her Bialik’s Breakdown podcast and “has other projects that will be announced soon.”
The new report would explain why her firing caught co-host Ken “off guard.”
“It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her. I can’t speak to her decision-making process or her opinions about it,” Ken told The Hollywood Reporter.
“But on my end, I’m just a fan of Jeopardy! and I’m always delighted to host when they call upon me. I just feel extremely lucky to have even been considered for this job as a non-broadcaster.”
BYE-ALIK
On December 15, the sitcom star announced that she was fired from Jeopardy! personally on Instagram.
Mayim captioned her post: “Jeopardy! announcement.”
“As the Holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she began.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!.”
The actress went on: “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.”
“For all of you who have supported me through this journey and to the fans, contestants, writers, staff of America’s favorite quiz show, thank you.”
Mayim has since removed “co-host @jeopardy” from her Instagram bio.
She was named co-host with former champion Ken in 2022, after a scandalous host hunt and following Alex Trebek‘s tragic death in 2020.
‘ONE HOST’
About an hour later, the official Jeopardy! Instagram page confirmed the news.
“Mayim Bialik has announced she will no longer be hosting the syndicated [or nightly] version of Jeopardy!,” the post started out.
“We have made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers.
They went on to say that Ken, 49, will be the sole host of the show.
“We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to work with her in the future on primetime specials,” the game show wrote.
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Jeopardy! is yet to give further details on the abrupt axe, but other reports have come out about what went wrong for the star.
Sources have claimed Mayim’s monthlong hiatus while still under contract was a reason behind her firing, as she hadn’t been on set since last spring.
According to other reports, producers decided they didn’t need to hosts as Ken “improved his hosting skills” while Mayim was away.
Each host reportedly made $4M a year though that figure is expected to increase now for Ken.
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