Ken Jennings wants to end 'pettiness' with ex-Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik

Ken Jennings is hoping to mend the rift between himself and Mayim Bialik .

The pair acted as co-hosts on Jeopardy! until Mayim was shafted from the show for her controversial posts about Israel. “Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!" she wrote on Instagram in 2023.

The actress went on to pay respects to her time on the show. She continued: “I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.”

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Of course, this put distance between the previous co-workers. Now, though, Ken reportedly wants to work things out as time has given the situation an opportunity to simmer.

An insider told Closer Weekly: “Ken’s softened his opinion of Mayim Bialik now that his persistence to nail the Jeopardy! job has paid off and wants to be friends. He thinks he was the best candidate then and still thinks so but doesn’t like knowing he was a bit of a jerk, and he’d like to make it up to Mayim. He wants to be the nice guy.”

He's hoping to put the "pettiness" about him keeping his role behind them. However, Mayim might not be quite as keen to mend the past. Another source said: “She’s not buying the act and wants nothing more than for Ken to scram and to be left alone. She wanted to be the host so badly — the solo host, that is — but Ken got it, and she was forced off the show. She’s over it now.”

In essence, Mayim “hasn’t forgiven and she certainly hasn’t forgotten." Nonetheless, Mayim is watching closely as she enjoys watching him mess up from time to time. “In the meantime, she’s enjoying all the gaffes Ken’s making, which proves he’s not such a know-it-all after all," the insider said.

Internally, there was some reported scuffles between Ken and the producers as the host seems to be looking for more money. “They’re not just going to throw money at him. Ken still has a lot to prove, although he may not think so,” an insider said.