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Mayim Bialik is finally returning to "Jeopardy!" – in a way.
Bialik hasn't appeared on the popular game show since the writers strike began in May, and even though producers worked around the strike while it was still in effect, she left all hosting responsibilities to co-host Ken Jennings. Now, "Jeopardy!" is featuring her in promotional materials for a new Halloween special, and fans have mixed feelings.
"13 Nights of Jeoparween!" consists of a series of old clips featuring spooky-themed categories shared to the show's YouTube channel and TikTok page. The material itself isn't new, just the presentation.
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Mayim Bialik hasn't appeared on "Jeopardy!" this season. (Tyler Golden/ABC)
Still, this is the first time "Jeopardy!" has shared Bialik's image at all on their platforms since July 12 when they took to Instagram to post about the show's Emmy nominations.
While her actual return to the show hasn't been announced or addressed, viewers still took note of her inclusion in the ad, and not everyone was pleased.
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"Can't wait to have Mayim back!" one fan commented on the Instagram post.
"Yay, Mayim!!" another cheered.
Ken Jennings took over hosting duties for "Celebrity Jeopardy!" from Mayim Bialik. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images | Tyler Golden/ABC via Getty Images)
Others were much more critical, such as the person who wrote, "Oh no not her again" with a crying emoji.
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"Oh hell NO!!!!!! AWFUL AWFUL!!! Tell me this is a very nasty joke," a viewer begged.
"Mayim hosting truly IS scary!" one joked, playing off the Halloween theme.
While Bialik's critics are often the most vocal, Jennings got some backlash himself, with a fan commenting, "No worries about scary. K.J. Has that covered with his passive aggressive attitude. Contestants beware."
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When the writers strike began in May, the filming schedule for "Jeopardy!" was greatly affected. While producers were able to work out a way to continue filming despite the strike, using recycled clues from old shows and former contestants, the tournaments that typically conclude a regular season still needed to be filmed.
Completion of those tournaments, in addition to "Celebrity Jeopardy!" and the tournaments for the current season, have pushed back new episodes with new contestants until at least next April.
Mayim Bialik hasn't addressed her "Jeopardy!" absence. (Casey Durkin/ABC via Getty Images)
Jennings has shouldered the hosting duties for all of these episodes, including the episodes of "Celebrity Jeopardy!" that Bialik has hosted alone in the past.
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She's mostly kept quiet about her absence from the show, though last month she did tell Vanity Fair, "There’s a lot of complexity to this, but my general statement is always that I come from a union family. My grandparents were immigrants who worked in sweatshops, and my parents were public school teachers."
Mayim Bialik was a vocal supporter of the writers strike. (Jeopardy/Sony Pictures Television)
She continued, "While it’s not for me to personally judge anyone else’s decision, for me, I am a union supporter – pretty much all unions and what they fight for. I believe in that system even if it’s not perfect. I believe in getting educated about why people strike and what they’re striking for."
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The strike officially ended on Sept. 27. Bialik hasn't said when or if she plans to return to hosting.
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