Ken Jennings Believes SNL's Colin Jost Could Succeed on Celebrity Jeopardy!

The Jeopardy! host shared his thoughts on whether the comedian could compete on the game show.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:23pm

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In an interview, Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings discussed the possibility of Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost appearing on Celebrity Jeopardy!. Jennings noted that while Jeopardy! hosts are typically barred from competing, the show's producers would likely find a way to allow Jost to participate if he was interested. Jennings also pointed out that comedians have won the last three Celebrity Jeopardy! tournaments, suggesting Jost's quick thinking and ability to make connections could make him a strong competitor.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into the potential for more crossover between the worlds of comedy and game shows, as well as the flexibility of the Jeopardy! format to accommodate high-profile celebrity contestants. It also highlights the hosting skills and trivia knowledge of comedians, which could inspire more of them to test their skills on the iconic quiz show.

The details

In the interview, Jennings first addressed whether Jost's experience as a Jeopardy! host for the show's Pop Culture spinoff would prevent him from competing on the main Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament. Jennings said there is likely a way for the producers to allow Jost to participate, noting that the show has found solutions for other former hosts. Jennings also pointed to the recent success of comedians on Celebrity Jeopardy!, suggesting Jost's quick wit and ability to make connections could make him a strong competitor.

  • The latest season of Celebrity Jeopardy! is currently airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu.

The players

Ken Jennings

The current host of Jeopardy! and a former champion on the show.

Colin Jost

A longtime cast member and co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live.

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What they’re saying

“That's interesting. Like for regular Jeopardy!, it's kind of assumed that I can never play again, because I have the in-person edge that comes with having hosted the show. And I wonder if that would hold for Colin Jost.”

— Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! host

“If Colin wanted to play, my guess is, we'd find a way to do it, and he'd probably be very good.”

— Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! host

“One thing we've noticed in all the three years we've run this is: it's been won by a comedian every time. Comedians are quick thinkers and good at making the kind of connections that Jeopardy clues often depend on.”

— Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! host

What’s next

The producers of Celebrity Jeopardy! could reach out to Colin Jost to gauge his interest in competing on the show. If Jost is open to the idea, the Jeopardy! team would likely work to find a way to accommodate him, given his hosting experience and the recent success of comedians on the program.

The takeaway

This story highlights the potential for more crossover between the worlds of comedy and game shows, as well as the flexibility of the Jeopardy! format to adapt to high-profile celebrity contestants. It also suggests that comedians' quick thinking and ability to make connections could make them strong competitors on the iconic quiz show.