Ken Jennings’ podcast co-host SLAMS Jeopardy! star Mayim Bialik for ‘virtue signaling’ and ‘performative solidarity’ after she pulled out of show amid the actors’ strikes – while her co-host is labeled a ‘SCAB’ for continuing to film
Ken Jennings’ podcast co-host has furiously denounced the Jeopardy! star against accusations that he is a ‘scab’ for agreeing to host the game show’s Celebrity spin-off amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
John Roderick, 54, who is also a musician, further appeared to be shading Ken’s co-host Mayim Bialik, 47, over her decision to step away from Celebrity Jeaopardy! in solidarity with the strikers, leaving a void that her on-screen partner has since made waves for filling it.
While Ken, 49, and Mayim handle hosting duties at Jeopardy! Since the death of former host Alex Trebek in the summer of 2022, the Big Bang actress has historically taken charge of the Celebrity edition of the show.
Now Ken’s friend and podcast contributor has spoken out against Bialik, accusing her of “performative solidarity” and noting that her co-host’s decision to host the game show still complies with the rules of the SAG-AFTRA strike – which includes an exception for game shows.
“Mayim does what she does out of performative solidarity with the writers’ strike and Ken steps in to keep the show going in accordance with his contract as a SAG-AFTRA game show host,” enraged John in a sizzling Facebook post.
John Roderick, 54 – co-host of Ken Jennings on the Omnibus podcast – posted a lengthy diatribe on Facebook criticizing those who were ‘ignorant of the facts’ by calling Ken, 49, a ‘scab’
Social media users began accusing Ken of being a “scab” – a term for not showing solidarity with a union – after it emerged that he would host Celebrity Jeopardy! in the absence of Mayim Bialik
Also in John’s sights was actor-writer Wil Wheaton, 51.
In May, the actor-writer took aim at Ken on social media, writing, “This is a VERY small town, Ken Jennings, and we will all remember this. Your privilege may protect you right now, but we will *never* forget it,” said Per TV insider.
No doubt with Wil’s previous comments on the matter in mind, John ranted, “I’m not going to say that Mayim, or Wil Wheaton, are SHOWBOATING, and maybe Wil doesn’t know how labor works either, but there’s a lot of irrelevant virtue signaling on this subject that, frankly, both boring and idiotic.’
While coming to Ken’s defense, John fervently exposed the legality of the situation.
“If you look at the SAG-AFTRA rules, there are contractual exceptions for daytime television and game shows. Ken is a member of SAG in good standing,” he began.
Everyone in Hollywood is aware that different unions have different rules and different contracts apply differently to different jobs. There are still TENS OF THOUSANDS of labor union workers in Hollywood.
“Ken is not a villain and anyone who says that doesn’t know how unions work,” John stated.
To emphasize, he added, “I’m amazed that so many people who think they’re supporting labor by shouting scab in a public forum are simply revealing that they have no idea how organized labor functions.”
The musician further denounced those who “have a habit of stirring up s**t on social media if you only have a superficial knowledge” of the subject in question
Ken and John launched the Omnibus podcast in December 2017
John went on to berate the internet denizens for the “habit of fomenting s**t on social media if you have only a superficial knowledge” of the subject – adding zealously, “especially if you don’t know the facts.”
The rant on Facebook comes in the wake of a new wave of social media hate directed at Jennings, accusing him of being a “scab” for accepting Celebrity Jeopardy! hosting gig in Mayim’s absence, as previously reported by DailyMail.com.
Ken and John have co-hosted the Omnibus podcast since December 2017.
In the Omnibus intro, a voiceover from John describes the impetus behind the series.
“Fearing the great catastrophe sure to befall our civilization, we embarked on this monumental reference to strange and obscure human knowledge.
“These recordings represent our effort to collect and preserve wonders and esoterica that would otherwise be lost,” one says, further describing the podcast as “our time capsule.”