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A Wake for Alex Trebek
Jeopardy! contestants, past and present, mourn the loss of their legendary host.
www.vulture.com
Stop It: The Only Person Worthy of Replacing Alex Trebek Is Ken Jennings
Don’t be fooled into believing anyone else.
www.vulture.com
I Was a ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant, and I Saw How Alex Trebek Embodied the Pursuit of Knowledge
He became far more than a familiar face on TV, serving as a model of poise and dependability for those curious about the world around them.
www.indiewire.com
Vikings Star Adam Thielen Honoring Alex Trebek With Custom Cleats For 'MNF'
This wide receiver is rockin' custom cleats to honor Alex Trebek on "Monday Night Football" ...
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Mache Customs – Hand painted footwear design since '04
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Alex Trebek once got so high on pot brownies he slept through an entire weekend
Tributes to and tales about the late, great Alex Trebek have been pouring in since the Jeopardy! host’s passing last week at age 80. There have been some great recollections of the man, whose…
starcasm.net
The date for Alex Trebek’s last Jeopardy episode has been set
Shortly after Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek passed away, the show’s owners revealed two surprising pieces of information. One is the date of Alex Trebek’s last Jeopardy episode — and…
starcasm.net
Alex Trebek's short-term replacement announced by 'Jeopardy!'
Mon, November 23, 2020, 7:30 PM EST
Alex Trebek had hosted Jeopardy! since 1984. (Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Alex Trebek’s death Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer left a gaping hole on Jeopardy!, the game show he been the heart, soul and face of since he began hosting it in 1984.
The show announced Monday that its come up with a short-term plan to move forward without him: “a series of interim guest hosts from the Jeopardy! family — starting with Ken Jennings.”
One of the most recognizable names in the Jeopardy! universe, Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on the show (74 games!). He also took first place in the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament in January.
Additional guest hosts will be announced later. No word if they will include Jennings’s fellow competitors on the GOAT tournament, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer; fan favorite LeVar Burton; news man George Stephanopoulos; or any others who’ve been mentioned as potential replacements.
Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer noted that Trebek had always “wanted the show to go on after him.”
After the news broke, Jennings humbly commented, “There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January.”
Trebek taped enough shows to air through Dec. 25. However, Jeopardy! will air 10 of Trebek’s best shows during the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, so the final ones he hosted will move to the week of Jan. 4. It’s unclear which date Jennings will first appear to deliver clues.
Mon, November 23, 2020, 7:30 PM EST
Alex Trebek had hosted Jeopardy! since 1984. (Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Alex Trebek’s death Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer left a gaping hole on Jeopardy!, the game show he been the heart, soul and face of since he began hosting it in 1984.
The show announced Monday that its come up with a short-term plan to move forward without him: “a series of interim guest hosts from the Jeopardy! family — starting with Ken Jennings.”
One of the most recognizable names in the Jeopardy! universe, Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on the show (74 games!). He also took first place in the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament in January.
Additional guest hosts will be announced later. No word if they will include Jennings’s fellow competitors on the GOAT tournament, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer; fan favorite LeVar Burton; news man George Stephanopoulos; or any others who’ve been mentioned as potential replacements.
Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer noted that Trebek had always “wanted the show to go on after him.”
After the news broke, Jennings humbly commented, “There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January.”
Trebek taped enough shows to air through Dec. 25. However, Jeopardy! will air 10 of Trebek’s best shows during the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, so the final ones he hosted will move to the week of Jan. 4. It’s unclear which date Jennings will first appear to deliver clues.
Alex Trebek - Wikipedia
Philanthropy and activism
Trebek was a longtime philanthropist and activist. He was active with multiple charities, including World Vision Canada[111] and United Service Organizations.[112] For World Vision, Trebek travelled to many developing countries with World Vision projects, taping reports on the group's efforts on behalf of children around the world.[111] Trebek and the Jeopardy! crew became involved with the United Service Organizations in 1995, appearing on several military bases throughout the world, both in an attempt to find contestants and as a morale booster for the troops.[112] He donated 74 acres (30 hectares) of open land in the Hollywood Hills to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1998.[113] He was later awarded one of the American Foundation for the Blind's six yearly Access Awards[114] for his role in accommodating Jeopardy! champion Eddie Timanus.[115] Trebek hosted the annual The Great Canadian Geography Challenge in Canada.[116] He hosted the National Geographic Bee in the United States for 25 years, stepping down in 2013.[117][118] In 2016, Trebek donated $5 million to the University of Ottawa to fund the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, the objective of which is "to expose students to a wide range of diverse views, through speeches, public panels, events and lectures by University of Ottawa researchers, senior government officials and guests speakers from around the world."[119] Trebek's gifts to the university, which at the time totaled $7.5 million, also fund a Distinguished Speaker Series, which has included a presentation by Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee, introduced by Trebek.[119] In 2017, Trebek funded the Alex Trebek Leadership Award at the University of Ottawa, an annual $10,000 award to a summa cum laude graduate who has also demonstrated community leadership.[120] By October 2020, Trebek's contributions to the University of Ottawa totalled around $10 million.[53]
In March 2020, Trebek donated $100,000 to Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.[121]
Awards and honours
In 1997, Trebek was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ) from the University of Ottawa.[122] In addition to awards for Jeopardy!, Trebek received a great deal of recognition. He received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.[123][124] He was awarded seven Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Awards (1989, 1990, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, and 2020)[125][126] and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (located at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard, near those for Ann-Margret and Vincent Price).[103]
Trebek's star on Canada's Walk of Fame
On November 4, 2010, Trebek received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's gold medal for his contribution to geographic education and the popular study of geography.[127] Previous recipients of this award include the author and anthropologist Wade Davis (2009), Peter Gzowski (1997), and Mary May Simon (1998).[128] In 2016, Trebek was named the Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society;[129] in that capacity, he was present at the opening of the RCGS's new headquarters in 2018.[111]
In 2011, it was announced that Trebek would be one of the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards.[130][131] That same year Trebek received an Honorary Doctorate from Fordham University.[132] Since June 13, 2014, Trebek has held a Guinness World Record for "the most gameshow episodes hosted by the same presenter (same program)" for having hosted 6,829 episodes of Jeopardy!,[133] overtaking previous record holder Bob Barker.[134] On May 4, 2015, Trebek's alma mater, the University of Ottawa, named its alumni hall in his honour, as a benefactor to the university.[135]
In May 2016, Trebek was given the Key to the City by the City of Ottawa.[136] On June 30, 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada by then Governor General David Johnston for "his iconic achievements in television and for his promotion of learning, notably as a champion for geographical literacy."[137] On June 28, 2019, the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded the 2019 Americanism Award to Trebek.[138][139]
In 1997, Trebek was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ) from the University of Ottawa.[122] In addition to awards for Jeopardy!, Trebek received a great deal of recognition. He received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.[123][124] He was awarded seven Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Awards (1989, 1990, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, and 2020)[125][126] and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (located at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard, near those for Ann-Margret and Vincent Price).[103]
Trebek's star on Canada's Walk of Fame
On November 4, 2010, Trebek received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's gold medal for his contribution to geographic education and the popular study of geography.[127] Previous recipients of this award include the author and anthropologist Wade Davis (2009), Peter Gzowski (1997), and Mary May Simon (1998).[128] In 2016, Trebek was named the Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society;[129] in that capacity, he was present at the opening of the RCGS's new headquarters in 2018.[111]
In 2011, it was announced that Trebek would be one of the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards.[130][131] That same year Trebek received an Honorary Doctorate from Fordham University.[132] Since June 13, 2014, Trebek has held a Guinness World Record for "the most gameshow episodes hosted by the same presenter (same program)" for having hosted 6,829 episodes of Jeopardy!,[133] overtaking previous record holder Bob Barker.[134] On May 4, 2015, Trebek's alma mater, the University of Ottawa, named its alumni hall in his honour, as a benefactor to the university.[135]
In May 2016, Trebek was given the Key to the City by the City of Ottawa.[136] On June 30, 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada by then Governor General David Johnston for "his iconic achievements in television and for his promotion of learning, notably as a champion for geographical literacy."[137] On June 28, 2019, the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded the 2019 Americanism Award to Trebek.[138][139]
Alex Trebek's short-term replacement announced by 'Jeopardy!'
Mon, November 23, 2020, 7:30 PM EST
Alex Trebek had hosted Jeopardy! since 1984. (Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Alex Trebek’s death Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer left a gaping hole on Jeopardy!, the game show he been the heart, soul and face of since he began hosting it in 1984.
The show announced Monday that its come up with a short-term plan to move forward without him: “a series of interim guest hosts from the Jeopardy! family — starting with Ken Jennings.”
One of the most recognizable names in the Jeopardy! universe, Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on the show (74 games!). He also took first place in the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament in January.
Additional guest hosts will be announced later. No word if they will include Jennings’s fellow competitors on the GOAT tournament, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer; fan favorite LeVar Burton; news man George Stephanopoulos; or any others who’ve been mentioned as potential replacements.
Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer noted that Trebek had always “wanted the show to go on after him.”
After the news broke, Jennings humbly commented, “There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January.”
Trebek taped enough shows to air through Dec. 25. However, Jeopardy! will air 10 of Trebek’s best shows during the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, so the final ones he hosted will move to the week of Jan. 4. It’s unclear which date Jennings will first appear to deliver clues.
Gonna be cool to see how they honor his legacy and life's work. He spent nearly half his life hosting the program.
Gonna be cool to see how they honor his legacy and life's work. He spent nearly half his life hosting the program.
Agreed.
Also a great scouting method.
Maybe one of them will rise to the top and be considered for the permanent slot.
Indeed. Man, talk about big shoes to fill ... damn ... especially with millions of people watching.
“Happy Thanksgiving, ladies and gentlemen. You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing right now, there are many reasons to be thankful. There are more and more people extending helpful hands to do a kindness to their neighbors, and that’s a good thing. Keep the faith. We’re going to get through all of this, and we will be a better society because of it.”
Interim ‘Jeopardy’ Host Ken Jennings Under Fire for Insensitive Tweets
Just hours after Jennings was named Alex Trebek’s temporary successor, the Jeopardy GOAT has found himself in hot water.
decider.com
White Men Can't Jump star Rosie Perez on nerding out over Alex Trebek, whether she could host Jeopardy!
By Derek Lawrence
December 11, 2020 at 10:15 AM EST
Share:Rosie Perez Recalls a Scene-Saving Ad-lib from the Late, Great Alex Trebek on the Set of ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ and Whether She’d Ever Want to Fill His Shoes as Host
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Watch the full episode of Couch Surfing streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.
What is an all-time great scene?
Appearing on the latest episode of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Flight Attendant star Rosie Perez reflected on her breakout role in the 1992 basketball classic White Men Can't Jump. For much of director Ron Shelton's film, the focus is on the hustling antics of Sidney (Wesley Snipes) and Billy (Woody Harrelson), but Perez's Gloria takes over the final act with a victorious appearance opposite the late Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!
"I thought that they were going to get an actor to play Alex Trebek," shares Perez. "On the day of filming the scene we didn't have any real rehearsal, we just started shooting and out comes Alex Trebek and my mouth dropped. And all of a sudden I was so nervous. You can see in the scene my shoulders are kind of hunched and I'm holding on for dear life because I was shaking, I was literally shaking, because I'm a nerd and watched Jeopardy! and then watched Wheel of Fortune afterwards. In this scene, I mess up the word and I say, 'What is Mount Suvius?" And I was mortified and Alex Trebek ad-libbed in that scene and said, 'Well, let's check with the judges. Yes, we will accept that answer.' And I was like, "Oh my gosh!" Then when they yelled cut I ran over to the director and said, 'We've got to do that again, I messed up.' He goes, 'Oh no, that scene is in the film.'"
The aforementioned director Shelton spoke to EW for an oral history on White Men's 25th anniversary, revealing that during casting Perez came in and made Shelton completely reimagine the role of Gloria, originally written as a white, upper-class Southern woman. “You can’t invent that,” he recalls of watching the actress. “That’s original.”
And Perez knows that the "wonderful" Trebek is an original, saying after filming they both requested a hug from the other. After the legend's death last month, the game show recently announced a string of guest hosts in lieu of immediately naming a permanent replacement. Could Perez return to Gloria's big stage?
"No," she said with a laugh on Couch Surfing. "No, I would not be a good host for Jeopardy!. It would be a pleasure and it would be an honor... but, to follow Alex Trebek, no. I think someone much more scholarly should do that, not me."
But that doesn't mean she believes Gloria wouldn't still fair well. When asked earlier this year by EW how Perez thinks her character would have done on Jeopardy's recent “Greatest of All Time” special, without hesitation, she declared, “Gloria would have blown everybody away.”
ew.com
By Derek Lawrence
December 11, 2020 at 10:15 AM EST
Share:Rosie Perez Recalls a Scene-Saving Ad-lib from the Late, Great Alex Trebek on the Set of ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ and Whether She’d Ever Want to Fill His Shoes as Host
×
Direct Link
Watch the full episode of Couch Surfing streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.
What is an all-time great scene?
Appearing on the latest episode of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Flight Attendant star Rosie Perez reflected on her breakout role in the 1992 basketball classic White Men Can't Jump. For much of director Ron Shelton's film, the focus is on the hustling antics of Sidney (Wesley Snipes) and Billy (Woody Harrelson), but Perez's Gloria takes over the final act with a victorious appearance opposite the late Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!
"I thought that they were going to get an actor to play Alex Trebek," shares Perez. "On the day of filming the scene we didn't have any real rehearsal, we just started shooting and out comes Alex Trebek and my mouth dropped. And all of a sudden I was so nervous. You can see in the scene my shoulders are kind of hunched and I'm holding on for dear life because I was shaking, I was literally shaking, because I'm a nerd and watched Jeopardy! and then watched Wheel of Fortune afterwards. In this scene, I mess up the word and I say, 'What is Mount Suvius?" And I was mortified and Alex Trebek ad-libbed in that scene and said, 'Well, let's check with the judges. Yes, we will accept that answer.' And I was like, "Oh my gosh!" Then when they yelled cut I ran over to the director and said, 'We've got to do that again, I messed up.' He goes, 'Oh no, that scene is in the film.'"
The aforementioned director Shelton spoke to EW for an oral history on White Men's 25th anniversary, revealing that during casting Perez came in and made Shelton completely reimagine the role of Gloria, originally written as a white, upper-class Southern woman. “You can’t invent that,” he recalls of watching the actress. “That’s original.”
And Perez knows that the "wonderful" Trebek is an original, saying after filming they both requested a hug from the other. After the legend's death last month, the game show recently announced a string of guest hosts in lieu of immediately naming a permanent replacement. Could Perez return to Gloria's big stage?
"No," she said with a laugh on Couch Surfing. "No, I would not be a good host for Jeopardy!. It would be a pleasure and it would be an honor... but, to follow Alex Trebek, no. I think someone much more scholarly should do that, not me."
But that doesn't mean she believes Gloria wouldn't still fair well. When asked earlier this year by EW how Perez thinks her character would have done on Jeopardy's recent “Greatest of All Time” special, without hesitation, she declared, “Gloria would have blown everybody away.”
Rosie Perez on nerding out over Alex Trebek and whether she could host 'Jeopardy!'
'White Men Can't Jump' star Rosie Perez reflects on filming 'Jeopardy!' scene with Alex Trebek: 'I was so nervous.'
‘Jeopardy’ Fans Thank Three-Day Winner Brayden Smith for Giving Alex Trebek “A Final Gift”
The Las Vegas native is giving off serious James Holzhauer vibes this week on Jeopardy.
decider.com
'Jeopardy!' fans crown unstoppable contestant as 'Alex's last champion'
“Jeopardy!” fans know how much deceased host Alex Trebek loved a champion, which is why they were so happy contestant Brayden Smith put on a show Thursday.
How to Watch Alex Trebek's Final Episodes of Jeopardy! This Week
The beloved late host's last week of episodes will begin airing on Monday
Alex Trebek Controlled Jeopardy!’s Beep-Beep-Beeps
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images
As our five stages of grief accelerate with Alex Trebek’s final Jeopardy! episode set to air on Friday, consider this a fun piece of trivia to further remember the legend: Did you know that Trebek was the one who controlled the beep-beep-beep signal when no contestants knew a clue answer? As opposed to, like, a glib computing system named Watson with a timer? This revelation came to us via a new Ringer article, which was previously buried in a separate piece published in December. Bob Bergen, who hosted the short-lived kids spinoff Jep! for the franchise, said he was shocked to discover Trebek’s discreet involvement while touring the studio in the ‘90s. This might be the sole case of a secret button being good.
“The very first day, Harry [Friedman] is showing me the podium with the button,” Bergen recalled to The Ringer. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, there’s no set time? Do you edit it down so people don’t go, How come he had ten seconds and he had four?’ He said, ‘Nope, and nobody in the history of the show has ever questioned it.’” Prominent contestants Ken Jennings and Buzzy Cohen have since confirmed this little-known fact, with Jennings tweeting back in December, “I didn’t learn this until last year and I really had to re-evaluate my life.” What’s next? Did Trebek serve as his own boom operator, too?
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images
As our five stages of grief accelerate with Alex Trebek’s final Jeopardy! episode set to air on Friday, consider this a fun piece of trivia to further remember the legend: Did you know that Trebek was the one who controlled the beep-beep-beep signal when no contestants knew a clue answer? As opposed to, like, a glib computing system named Watson with a timer? This revelation came to us via a new Ringer article, which was previously buried in a separate piece published in December. Bob Bergen, who hosted the short-lived kids spinoff Jep! for the franchise, said he was shocked to discover Trebek’s discreet involvement while touring the studio in the ‘90s. This might be the sole case of a secret button being good.
“The very first day, Harry [Friedman] is showing me the podium with the button,” Bergen recalled to The Ringer. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, there’s no set time? Do you edit it down so people don’t go, How come he had ten seconds and he had four?’ He said, ‘Nope, and nobody in the history of the show has ever questioned it.’” Prominent contestants Ken Jennings and Buzzy Cohen have since confirmed this little-known fact, with Jennings tweeting back in December, “I didn’t learn this until last year and I really had to re-evaluate my life.” What’s next? Did Trebek serve as his own boom operator, too?
‘Jeopardy!’ EP Mike Richards On Alex Trebek’s Final Episode, Successor Search & Late Host’s Love Of Comedy (And Those ‘SNL’ Spoofs)
By Nellie Andreeva
Nellie Andreeva
Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV
@DeadlineNellieMore Stories By Nellie
January 7, 2021 10:26am
43COMMENTS
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The final Jeopardy! episode hosted by Alex Trebek, which airs Friday, will be remarkably unremarkable, with no farewell by the veteran host or any kind of personal message to viewers in his opening statement.
That is because “Alex didn’t think that was going to be his last episode,” Jeopardy executive producer Mike Richards told Deadline about the show, filmed some 10 days before Trebek died November 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. “He was planning on hosting the show the next week, that was his focus. And then when he wasn’t feeling well, he told me, ‘I am not going to be able to come this coming Monday-Tuesday but let’s look at the following Monday and Tuesday’; those were the days we shot. That was as late as Thursday of the week he passed away. He passed away Sunday morning.”
RELATED STORY
Alex Trebek Calls For Kindness Amid Covid-19 Pandemic During First Of Final 'Jeopardy!' Episodes
The January 8 show will be “a normal Jeopardy! episode,” Richards said, with Trebek saying “see you next time” and credits rolling. That will be followed by a tribute package celebrating Trebek’s legacy.
The last time Trebek addressed viewers in a personal manner was in the episode that aired Monday, when the beloved trivia-game host used his opening statement to deliver a powerful message about kindness, togetherness and giving.
“That was just something he decided to do in that moment,” Richards said of Trebek’s speech, which was followed by spontaneous applause in the studio.
As Richards and his team are putting the final touches on the last Trebek episodes, a search for his successor is also underway.
“The search is going very well, there are a lot of people very interested in hosting Jeopardy!, which is gratifying, and also appropriately reverent of the shoes they will be stepping into,” Richards said. “We have had some great conversations with people.”
Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings will be the first guest host after Trebek’s sign-off this week.
“Ken stepped in and did a great job for us as a guest host,” Richards said. “We will have a series of guest hosts throughout the spring.”
Richards would not discuss names, with Katie Couric believed to be on the list, as reported by the Los Angeles Times yesterday.
A permanent new host won’t be named before spring, Richards said.
“We are going to take our time and talk to a lot of people, have some people guest host and see what our fans think as well,” he said.
So, along with talking to big-name talent who could succeed Trebek without appearing on the show, Richards and executives at Sony Pictures TV, which produces Jeopardy!, will use guest-host stints as prospective auditions. Additionally, “you will also see big-name people who are not going to be considered for the role but they just love the show, love Alex and wanted to pay tribute,” Richards said. “So not everyone who comes on is auditioning. We are going to go in a lot of different directions, I don’t think we want to be in a hurry to name a new person. We all are still mourning the loss — certainly I am — of Alex, and I think just turning around and naming someone would be irresponsible and not thoughtful, which is antithesis of Jeopardy!“
While Trebek’s death leaves a void, “the way I have chosen to take in my time with him was to be inspired by him,” Richards said. “He was so professional, so hard working, so intelligent and in all of that also incredibly kind. When you hear people say it will not be done like that again, that’s true, but but we can all aspire to do it that well again.”
Going forward with a new host, “the format will stay the same as it has for decades and decades; the format works great,” Richards said, adding that the producing team will continue to adjust and improve the show as they have done every season. Jeopardy! is currently slated to return from its holiday production hiatus next week, the week of Jan. 11.
A reality and game show veteran, Richards was already a huge Jeopardy! and Trebek fan when he joined the program as executive producer in May.
“Part of the joy was getting to watch Alex who was as good a host as I have ever seen in my life, the little things he was able to do, the nuances, his ability to drive the game forward quickly, to slow down at the right point, interject humor, all of those things that he did masterfully that were almost unrecognizable when you just watched it from home, he was so good,” Richards said.
Humor came naturally to Trebek.
“Something I think a lot of people didn’t know — and I certainly didn’t before I started to work with him — is how much Alex loved comedy, loved stand-up comedy, loved written comedy, anything that would make him laugh,” Richards said.
That included the recurring Jeopardy sketches on Saturday Night Live in which Trebek was portrayed by Will Ferrell.
“He loved it, he thought it was so funny. The more they took shots at him, the funnier he thought it was,” Richards said. “He became a big Will Ferrell fan because of the impression, and I think that speaks to his humility. There are a lot of people who may not have liked that portrayal, and he absolutely loved it.”
Trebek maintained his sense of humor to the end despite the toll fighting cancer took on him. The host was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in May 2019. While he was not feeling well for most of his last 18 months as he underwent weekly chemotherapy treatment, he did did not talk about his pain much, Richards said.
“Toward the end he was more verbal about it with us in the office, when we were having a the morning meeting,” he said. “The most remarkable thing was, the worst shape he was in the morning when we saw him in the meeting, it was almost the inverse of — he would walk out (on stage), and he was unbelievable. He willed himself together, he collected himself in that hour between when we would meet and when the shows would start, and it was miraculous.”
Trebek, who hosted Jeopardy! for more than 36 years, “was incredibly diligent” about keeping the producers up to speed on the state of his health, telling them ahead of time which days he could work and which one we wouldn’t be able to.
“In a very typical Alex fashion, he was very straightforward, he didn’t sugarcoat it,” Richards said.
As a result, the show had to miss only one day of taping because of him.
By Nellie Andreeva
Nellie Andreeva
Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV
@DeadlineNellieMore Stories By Nellie
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- ‘Jeopardy!’ EP Mike Richards On Alex Trebek’s Final Episode, Successor Search & Late Host’s Love Of Comedy (And Those ‘SNL’ Spoofs)
January 7, 2021 10:26am
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The final Jeopardy! episode hosted by Alex Trebek, which airs Friday, will be remarkably unremarkable, with no farewell by the veteran host or any kind of personal message to viewers in his opening statement.
That is because “Alex didn’t think that was going to be his last episode,” Jeopardy executive producer Mike Richards told Deadline about the show, filmed some 10 days before Trebek died November 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. “He was planning on hosting the show the next week, that was his focus. And then when he wasn’t feeling well, he told me, ‘I am not going to be able to come this coming Monday-Tuesday but let’s look at the following Monday and Tuesday’; those were the days we shot. That was as late as Thursday of the week he passed away. He passed away Sunday morning.”
RELATED STORY
Alex Trebek Calls For Kindness Amid Covid-19 Pandemic During First Of Final 'Jeopardy!' Episodes
The January 8 show will be “a normal Jeopardy! episode,” Richards said, with Trebek saying “see you next time” and credits rolling. That will be followed by a tribute package celebrating Trebek’s legacy.
The last time Trebek addressed viewers in a personal manner was in the episode that aired Monday, when the beloved trivia-game host used his opening statement to deliver a powerful message about kindness, togetherness and giving.
“That was just something he decided to do in that moment,” Richards said of Trebek’s speech, which was followed by spontaneous applause in the studio.
As Richards and his team are putting the final touches on the last Trebek episodes, a search for his successor is also underway.
“The search is going very well, there are a lot of people very interested in hosting Jeopardy!, which is gratifying, and also appropriately reverent of the shoes they will be stepping into,” Richards said. “We have had some great conversations with people.”
Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings will be the first guest host after Trebek’s sign-off this week.
“Ken stepped in and did a great job for us as a guest host,” Richards said. “We will have a series of guest hosts throughout the spring.”
Richards would not discuss names, with Katie Couric believed to be on the list, as reported by the Los Angeles Times yesterday.
A permanent new host won’t be named before spring, Richards said.
“We are going to take our time and talk to a lot of people, have some people guest host and see what our fans think as well,” he said.
So, along with talking to big-name talent who could succeed Trebek without appearing on the show, Richards and executives at Sony Pictures TV, which produces Jeopardy!, will use guest-host stints as prospective auditions. Additionally, “you will also see big-name people who are not going to be considered for the role but they just love the show, love Alex and wanted to pay tribute,” Richards said. “So not everyone who comes on is auditioning. We are going to go in a lot of different directions, I don’t think we want to be in a hurry to name a new person. We all are still mourning the loss — certainly I am — of Alex, and I think just turning around and naming someone would be irresponsible and not thoughtful, which is antithesis of Jeopardy!“
While Trebek’s death leaves a void, “the way I have chosen to take in my time with him was to be inspired by him,” Richards said. “He was so professional, so hard working, so intelligent and in all of that also incredibly kind. When you hear people say it will not be done like that again, that’s true, but but we can all aspire to do it that well again.”
Going forward with a new host, “the format will stay the same as it has for decades and decades; the format works great,” Richards said, adding that the producing team will continue to adjust and improve the show as they have done every season. Jeopardy! is currently slated to return from its holiday production hiatus next week, the week of Jan. 11.
A reality and game show veteran, Richards was already a huge Jeopardy! and Trebek fan when he joined the program as executive producer in May.
“Part of the joy was getting to watch Alex who was as good a host as I have ever seen in my life, the little things he was able to do, the nuances, his ability to drive the game forward quickly, to slow down at the right point, interject humor, all of those things that he did masterfully that were almost unrecognizable when you just watched it from home, he was so good,” Richards said.
Humor came naturally to Trebek.
“Something I think a lot of people didn’t know — and I certainly didn’t before I started to work with him — is how much Alex loved comedy, loved stand-up comedy, loved written comedy, anything that would make him laugh,” Richards said.
That included the recurring Jeopardy sketches on Saturday Night Live in which Trebek was portrayed by Will Ferrell.
“He loved it, he thought it was so funny. The more they took shots at him, the funnier he thought it was,” Richards said. “He became a big Will Ferrell fan because of the impression, and I think that speaks to his humility. There are a lot of people who may not have liked that portrayal, and he absolutely loved it.”
Trebek maintained his sense of humor to the end despite the toll fighting cancer took on him. The host was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in May 2019. While he was not feeling well for most of his last 18 months as he underwent weekly chemotherapy treatment, he did did not talk about his pain much, Richards said.
“Toward the end he was more verbal about it with us in the office, when we were having a the morning meeting,” he said. “The most remarkable thing was, the worst shape he was in the morning when we saw him in the meeting, it was almost the inverse of — he would walk out (on stage), and he was unbelievable. He willed himself together, he collected himself in that hour between when we would meet and when the shows would start, and it was miraculous.”
Trebek, who hosted Jeopardy! for more than 36 years, “was incredibly diligent” about keeping the producers up to speed on the state of his health, telling them ahead of time which days he could work and which one we wouldn’t be able to.
“In a very typical Alex fashion, he was very straightforward, he didn’t sugarcoat it,” Richards said.
As a result, the show had to miss only one day of taping because of him.
Ken Jennings Pays Tribute to Alex Trebek in First Episode Guest Hosting
Ken Jennings paid tribute to Alex Trebek to kick off his first episode as guest host.
www.tmz.com
Ken Jennings Pays Tribute to Alex Trebek in First Episode Guest Hosting
Ken Jennings paid tribute to Alex Trebek to kick off his first episode as guest host.
Heartwarmingly beautiful.
Heartwarmingly beautiful.
Agreed. I liked how he walked out & immediately paid tribute.
Ken Jennings Honors the ‘Perfect’ Alex Trebek in His First Jeopardy! Episode
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Jeopardy!/Twitter
A new era of clues and awkward anecdotes is upon us: On January 11, Ken Jennings made his debut as Jeopardy!’s first interim guest host in the aftermath of Alex Trebek’s death, using the start of the episode to confirm that, yes, he’s not a Canadian legend who’s been hosting the show since 1984. However, Jennings hopes that viewers will be willing to accept him and his GOAT-ness behind the lectern for the next month or so, even if he’s never had a mustache. “Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life. Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex did this job pretty much perfectly for more than 36 years, and it was even better up close,” he explained. “We were dazzled by his intelligence, his charm, his grace. Really, there’s no other word for it. Like all Jeopardy! fans, I miss Alex very much, and I thank him for everything he did for all of us. Let’s be totally clear. No one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek. But we can honor him by playing the game he loved.”
Upon the completion of Jennings’s guest-host duties, Katie Couric, who has presented a few Jeopardy! clue categories throughout the years, will be his successor for a week. No dates have been announced for the length of Jennings’s tenure or the start of Couric’s, and the remaining hosts have yet to be confirmed, so we’ll just say this now: Don’t let that punk Watson anywhere near the show again.
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Jeopardy!/Twitter
A new era of clues and awkward anecdotes is upon us: On January 11, Ken Jennings made his debut as Jeopardy!’s first interim guest host in the aftermath of Alex Trebek’s death, using the start of the episode to confirm that, yes, he’s not a Canadian legend who’s been hosting the show since 1984. However, Jennings hopes that viewers will be willing to accept him and his GOAT-ness behind the lectern for the next month or so, even if he’s never had a mustache. “Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life. Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex did this job pretty much perfectly for more than 36 years, and it was even better up close,” he explained. “We were dazzled by his intelligence, his charm, his grace. Really, there’s no other word for it. Like all Jeopardy! fans, I miss Alex very much, and I thank him for everything he did for all of us. Let’s be totally clear. No one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek. But we can honor him by playing the game he loved.”
Upon the completion of Jennings’s guest-host duties, Katie Couric, who has presented a few Jeopardy! clue categories throughout the years, will be his successor for a week. No dates have been announced for the length of Jennings’s tenure or the start of Couric’s, and the remaining hosts have yet to be confirmed, so we’ll just say this now: Don’t let that punk Watson anywhere near the show again.
‘Jeopardy’ Fans Thank Three-Day Winner Brayden Smith for Giving Alex Trebek “A Final Gift”
The Las Vegas native is giving off serious James Holzhauer vibes this week on Jeopardy.
'Jeopardy!' fans crown unstoppable contestant as 'Alex's last champion'
“Jeopardy!” fans know how much deceased host Alex Trebek loved a champion, which is why they were so happy contestant Brayden Smith put on a show Thursday.ca.news.yahoo.com
How to Watch Alex Trebek's Final Episodes of Jeopardy! This Week
The beloved late host's last week of episodes will begin airing on Mondaypeople.com
Alex Trebek's Last Great 'Jeopardy!' Champ, Brayden Smith, Dead at 24
Alex Trebek's last great "Jeopardy!" champion, Brayden Smith, died unexpectedly.
www.tmz.com
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