Many 'Jeopardy!' fans decry 'disgraceful' decision to let Dr. Oz guest host: 'I feel so let down'
"Jeopardy!" is coming under fire for bringing on controversial TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz as a guest host.
"The Dr. Oz Show" host, 60, kicked off his two-week stint as guest host for the famous quiz show on Monday, following the November death of beloved host Alex Trebek.
"I was fortunate to become friends with Alex and visited him and this show as often as I could," Oz said in a clip, posted on Twitter Monday. "I miss you, Alex."
In past years, the TV doctor has come under scrutiny for peddling controversial medical advice to his fans and was scolded by a Senate panel in 2014 for hyping dubious weight-loss products. In 2015 a group of doctors sent a letter to Columbia University asking for his dismissal from the medical school's faculty. And in April 2020, after the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oz said he "misspoke" after saying on Fox News that "the opening of schools may only cost us 2% to 3%, in terms of total mortality" which "might be a trade-off some folks would consider."
"Jeopardy!" fans voiced their displeasure with Oz hosting the game show on Twitter.
Twitter user @Skaterx999 wrote that choosing Oz to host "Jeopardy!" was "the most disgraceful disrespect to Alex's legacy."
"Does this mean he’ll make up the answers like on his show?" quipped drummer Jeremy Taggart.
"Criminal Minds" star Kirsten Vangsness wrote that she was "dissatisfied in this choice of a host."
"It doesn’t match the authenticity and kindness that #AlexTrebek stood for," she added.
'Jeopardy!': Dr. Mehmet Oz starts his two-week run as guest host Monday
"I feel so let down by the producers," wrote user @Sharonkingsmil1. "I am a long time viewer and really resent their screwing around with the tone by allowing yahoos to host."
"(expletive) you @Jeopardy," wrote actor Jon Daly. "NO (EXPLETIVE) WAY!"
When a fan suggested on Twitter that James Holzhauer host the show, the former "Jeopardy!" champion replied, "no I believe in science."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for "Jeopardy!" for comment.
Future guest hosts include CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, "Today" host Savannah Guthrie, neurosurgeon and CNN medical adviser Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker and actress Mayim Bialik, who stars in the Fox sitcom "Call Me Kat."
Some of these hosts will be considered for the permanent slot, but "Jeopardy!" will take its time and may not replace Trebek until the show begins its 38th season in syndication in September.
Contributing: Gary Levin
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Jeopardy!' fans criticize Dr. Oz as guest host: 'Disgraceful'