KEN Jennings deserves to be the most celebrated man in America this summer, but alas, this country prefers blondes over brains.

Jennings is the clean-cut 30-year-old from Salt Lake City who has accomplished the impossible – winning for 38 consecutive days (so far) on “Jeopardy!” and piling up more than $1.3 million in prize money.

And he doesn’t just win; he shatters records and demolishes his opponents.

Like him, these are people who qualified for the show because of their intelligence, but who are struck dumb by Jennings’ mastery of every category the “Jeopardy!” producers can throw at him.

From poetry to the periodic table of the elements, Jennings knows it all. He is – for now, at least – the Smartest Man in America.

He should be hailed as a national hero whose amazing achievement is so unprecedented and so unlikely to be repeated that, in its own way, it is on par with Lance Armstrong’s sixth victory in the Tour de France.

But don’t hold your breath waiting for Ken Jennings’ picture to appear on the cover of People, Time or Newsweek.

This country simply does not reward intelligence with the same kind of enthusiasm reserved for movie stars, millionaire athletes, pop singers and convicted domestic divas.

It’s true that Jennings is a lot more famous now than he used to be. His “Jeopardy!” winning streak has been widely reported and he’s appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Show with David Letterman.”

And it’s clear from the the show’s ratings this summer that millions have been avidly following Jennings’ blitzkrieg. (His streak began June 2 and ended for an August hiatus on July 23. He’ll next be seen when the new “Jeopardy!” season starts in September.)

And yet, a disturbing backlash has come along with Jennings’ success.

Detractors complain that Jennings’ lopsided victories have killed the potential for suspense on “Jeopardy!” since he clobbers his competitors by such wide margins that he clinches the game long before the final round.

Still others have hatched absurd conspiracy theories, including the ludicrous scenario that the buzzer Jennings holds in his hand has somehow been fixed in his favor.

Even worse, Jennings has been derided by some commentators as a “nerd” or “geek” – someone to be scorned for excelling academically.

Maybe they’re just jealous. As one who does pretty well when he plays along at home with “Jeopardy!,” I can tell you that Jennings makes me feel like an idiot.

But I still plan on cheering him on when he returns Sept. 6.