A buzzworthy new addition to the Jeopardy!-verse is upon us. Pop Tradition Jeopardy! premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, December 4. Earlier than its massive debut, Colin Jost shared his mindset and addressed rumors of a feud with Ken Jennings.
When information of the spinoff first broke in Might, some unsubstantiated studies emerged claiming that Jost was trying to substitute Jennings as host of the principle present. In a wide-spanning new interview from The Ringer on Tuesday — Jost’s first in regards to the massive gig — he dismissed these rumors and “promised” followers he’s not truly gunning for Jennings’ position.
“I promise I’m under no circumstances attempting to steal his job,” Jost advised the outlet. He’s superb at his job. I even have a job. He and I texted throughout [Pop Culture Jeopardy!], truly.”
Jost shared what these conversations had been like, saying Jennings was “supportive” in getting ready him to hitch the daunting and fast-paced world of Jeopardy! internet hosting.
“He was simply supportive. What he was saying is true — there’s nearly nobody that is aware of what it’s prefer to host the sport. , all of the loopy particular issues you need to do in each sport and preserve observe of, along with what simply looks like regular internet hosting stuff. The gameplay of it’s so particular and quick and exact that it’s simply an expertise that just about nobody will get to have. It’s like speaking to somebody who used to host Weekend Replace—it’s its personal vocabulary and personal expertise that’s very particular.”
Jost was additionally requested if he had an all-time favourite Jeopardy! contestant having watched the quiz present rising up, and he was fast title Jennings.
“Actually, Ken Jennings,” he mentioned. “He was the primary individual I noticed go on that sort of loopy run, at no matter age I used to be when that occurred, and it was actually simply so thrilling to observe. I used to be watching each night time to see what would occur. I feel that’s a part of why he’s such a fantastic host to me—he has that credibility that you already know he most likely is aware of every little thing.”
The Saturday Night time Reside star additionally advised followers what to anticipate from the brand new spinoff, and he mentioned it’s “tougher” materials than the nightly present.
“I discovered Pop Tradition Jeopardy! tougher than common Jeopardy! I used to be actually impressed. You need to have a breadth of data for all that’s inside popular culture.” He additionally shared among the groups of three put on “costumes,” and that “They wrote all of the clues not realizing who the host was going to be.” He known as this a “bizarre” expertise since nearly each episode has a clue about his spouse, Scarlett Johansson.
Talking of bizarre, because the spinoff is team-based, there may be some historical past between the contestants: “And there have been groups that had, like, one in every of them used to this point an individual within the group, however then they left that individual and began courting the opposite one within the group. There are some bizarre love triangles taking place. It was like an advert for Hinge or one thing.”
Jost additionally shared the fascinating manner he met Jeopardy!’s government producer Michael Davies, very similar to Jennings (and his legendary Comedy Central pilot within the 2000s), he pitched a sport present co-hosted by Michael Che to Davies years in the past.
The Pop Tradition Jeopardy! host praised the long-running quiz present and, as soon as extra, shared his respect for its host. “I nonetheless watch it at any time when I’ve an opportunity. It’s simply such a timeless, completely constructed sport… I’m certain I’m rather a lot much less environment friendly at it than Ken Jennings is. He most likely additionally is aware of much more solutions than I do.” Jost additionally threw in what could possibly be perceived as Mayim Bialik shade: “Your focus is a lot on the integrity of the sport and wanting it to be paced up and for there to not be any bizarre pauses.”
Pop Tradition Jeopardy! is the first-ever model of the quiz present to be primarily based on groups of three, to be solely on streaming – not interfering with the nightly present – and solely primarily based on area of interest popular culture as an alternative of, say, Shakespeare. Lastly, it additionally introduces a brand new host to the franchise in Jost. The inaugural season consists of 40 episodes, launched in batches of three weekly till one group emerges the first-ever Pop Tradition Jeopardy! champions successful $300,000. See full particulars right here.
Pop Tradition Jeopardy!, Sequence Premiere, December 4, Amazon Prime Video