Jeopardy!’s Alex Trebek does not plan to retire from his iconic hosting position anytime soon. Trebek’s impeccable hosting skills have graced the trivia game show for 36 seasons and more than 8,000 episodes. Winner of six Emmys for Outstanding Game Show Host, the 79-year-old has been with Jeopardy! since it debuted in syndication in 1984. Considered one of the most recognized television personalities of all time, Trebek has appeared, as himself, in a slew of TV shows including Jack Ryan, The X-Files, The Golden Girls, and Orange is the New Black.
Almost one year ago, Trebek shocked the nation when he revealed in a video message that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Unrelentingly, Trebek continued his Jeopardy! hosting duties and returned for season 36. Following a stint with chemotherapy, Trebek was optimistic while enduring the side effects of weight loss, fatigue, and thinning hair. Amid rumors of Jeopardy! seeking out a replacement for Trebek, the trivia show became the talk of the town with the rise of Jeopardy! star James Holzhauer and the riveting Tournament of Champions. Earlier this week, Jeopardy! launched the multi-night prime time event Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time. Designed to crown the ultimate Jeopardy! champion from the intelligent trio of Holzhauer, Ken Jennings, and Brad Rutter, the event has been rumored as being Trebek’s last episodes. Recently, the beloved host revealed his final 30 seconds of the show have already been rehearsed.
As reported to Variety, Trebek has dispelled the rumors that his retirement from Jeopardy! is occurring soon. Referring to the announcement that he had planned out his final words for his final Jeopardy! episode, Trebek stated, “I don’t foresee that 30-second moment coming up in the near future. Now, thinking about retiring and retiring are two different things. As long as I feel my skills have not diminished too much…then I’ll continue doing it.”
Helmed by the perdurable Trebek, Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time garnered a staggering 14.4 million viewers on the first night. Vying for a grand prize of $1 million, Jennings walked away the successor of the first match of the potentially best-of-seven tournament. Competing in a high-stakes tournament, the three contestants have expressed that the best part of the event is the gratification of being back on stage with Trebek.
Deemed far more than a game show host, Trebek has had a profound impact on audience members, contestants, and fans. Trebek’s candidness about his disease had led people to rely on him for emotional support in their battles, as he undergoes his own. Overall, the host should put his health first. It’s still unclear who will fill his large shoes as the new host of Jeopardy!, but it is a relief to fans that Trebek will remain behind the podium for a little while longer. Despite what the future holds, Alex Trebek of Jeopardy! will always be the beloved father-figure of America’s favorite game show.
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Source: Variety
