Fabled host of quiz show 'Jeopardy!' Alex Trebek dies at age 80 after cancer battle
Alex Trebek, the Canadian-born host of iconic quiz show “Jeopardy!” has died. He was 80.
Trebek developed into a daily presence in living rooms around the world during the 36 years he hosted the show.
He became a beloved figure through the warm demeanour and sharp wit he brought to the long-running game show.
The official “Jeopardy!” Twitter account announced that Trebek died at home early Sunday morning surrounded by family and friends. Trebek revealed in March 2019 that he’d been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
He acknowledged the survival rate was low, but vowed to “fight this” and “keep working.”
“Truth told — I have to, because under the terms of my contract, I have to host ’Jeopardy!’ for three more years,” he added jokingly.
“So help me: keep the faith and we’ll win. We’ll get it done.”
His announcement ignited a flood of tributes for the Sudbury, Ont., native from fans, celebrities and politicians far and wide.
Thousands of former contestants organized mass messages of support. One group put together a collage of their thumb prints — a reference to the format of the show in which they used their “buzzer fingers” to answer clues.
Trebek did indeed continue to work and kept fans informed of his health status, appearing in numerous YouTube videos recorded on the “Jeopardy!” set.
“I admire Alex Trebek so much,” Oscar-winning Canadian actor Christopher Plummer said in an interview with The Canadian Press in January 2020, the same month he was the subject of a “Jeopardy” category.
“He’s been such a graceful and generous host for the last God knows how long, 40 years it must be, since I first saw ’Jeopardy’ all that time ago. And he’s kept that standard going. He’s amazing.”
If Trebek’s life were a category on “Jeopardy!,” the clues would describe a consummate professional who was just as affable behind the scenes as he was on TV; a master of small talk who took a keen interest in contestants’ lives; and an intellectual who had deep insight into many subjects on the show and was able to banter about virtually any topic.
For many, meeting him on the set was a life-long dream that began when they were children watching the TV personality smoothly guide “Jeopardy!” contestants through moments of tension and hilarity every night with their family.
The mere mention of his name fires up the tick-tock percussion of the “Jeopardy!” theme song in many fans’ heads.
“He was just inseparable from the idea of ’Jeopardy!’ as a show, for me,” said Snowden Becker, a March 2005 contestant from Los Angeles.
“He’s an international treasure.”
Trebek was born on July 22, 1940, to a father who was a Ukrainian immigrant and chef at a hotel, and a French-Canadian mother who tended the house and spent about a year and a half in a sanatorium being treated for tuberculosis. They eventually separated.
Trebek got a philosophy degree at the University of Ottawa and was still a student when he began announcing radio and TV news with the CBC as a way to help pay off his tuition. That led to hosting gigs on CBC shows including “Music Hop,” “Reach for the Top” and “Strategy.”
Trebek moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s and hosted a slew of other game shows, including “The Wizard of Odds,” “Double Dare” and “The New Battlestars.”
He took the helm of “Jeopardy!” as a host/producer in 1984, shooting five episodes a day, twice a week.
Contestants say before cameras rolled, Trebek had to memorize pronunciations for all the words on the show. He had a natural flair for languages, particularly French, having a mother who was Franco-Ontarian. He was also gifted at playful repartee during each taping, when he would bring up one of five talking points each contestant submitted about themselves.
Trebek wanted to ensure the show and its participants were the focal point and told announcer Johnny Gilbert from the very beginning to introduce him with the words “And now here’s the host of the show” — not “the star of the show.”
“The game is the star, the contestants are the stars,” Trebek said in a 2009 interview with The Canadian Press.
“I’m just the host and if I do my job properly, people will feel comfortable welcoming me into their homes each day and I’ll hopefully have some longevity.”
Trebek became an American citizen in 1998, at one time owning a thoroughbred horse ranch in California, but he returned to Canada for various events.
His quiz show persona was characteristically calm but also droll, making the audience laugh with wry remarks and participating in sillier bits, like the time he walked onto set without pants to help cut the tension during a Tournament of Champions special.
At a taping in 2001, he even shaved off the moustache he’d been sporting for 20 years. He did it during a lunch break and shocked the audience when he returned without it.
“I can’t think of another TV icon that I looked up to more as a kid,” said Seattle-based Sally Neumann, who competed on the hit quiz show in March 2016 and organized contestant tributes after his cancer diagnosis.
“He really comes through on the camera as everyone’s favourite dad or grandpa and a soothing presence.”
Trebek also had guest appearances on various TV series and game shows, and was lovingly lampooned by Will Ferrell on “Saturday Night Live” in several “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketches.
He wrote about those impersonations in his 2020 memoir, “The Answer Is…Reflections on My Life,” which touches on everything from his upbringing to his “penchant for cursing” and “Jeopardy!” strategies.
It was in that book that Trebek wrote if his current treatment for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer didn’t work, he would probably stop pursuing medical intervention.
He said he’d “lived a good, full life,” knew he was nearing the end of it, and was “not afraid of dying.”
He also admitted there were moments when he regretted going public with his diagnosis, noting he felt “a lot of pressure to always be tough.”
There were days when he was “a basket case” before taping, he admitted.
But as soon as he got onstage, “it all changes suddenly. I’m myself again. I feel good,” he wrote.
“No matter how I feel before the show, when I get out there it’s all forgotten because there’s a show to be done. Work to do.”
Trebek was nominated for more than two dozen Daytime Emmy Awards for “Jeopardy!” and won seven. His other honours included the Order of Canada medal and stars on the Walk of Fame in Canada and Hollywood.
Trebek had two children with his wife, Jean Currivan.
His cancer diagnosis was among several health scares he faced.
In 2004, Trebek escaped serious injury after he fell asleep at the wheel of his pickup truck and it drifted off a road and crashed into a ditch in California.
In December 2007, he had a minor heart attack at his home.
And in late 2017, he underwent surgery for blood clots on his brain caused by a fall.
Throughout it all, Trebek vowed to keep working on “Jeopardy!”
In his 2020 book, he said he knew there will come a time when he wouldn’t be able to host as well as the job demands.
“Whenever it gets to that point, I’ll walk away,” he wrote.
I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
"If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu."
-- Author unknown
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
I always enjoyed Jeopardy and testing my wits against the players'. But the answer format thing always bugged me. It seemed so forced and unnecessary on what was otherwise a decent trivia show. Daughter tried out for Teen Jeopardy but we didn't make it to the show. But we spent a weekend in NYC and had fun. Trebek wasn't there for the trials.
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
He will be missed, such a classy guy.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Who is Alex Trebeck?
RIP Alex.
RIP Alex.
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Norm Crosby, the so-called "Master of the Malaprop", has also passed away at age 93.
They're dropping like flies.
-"BB"-
They're dropping like flies.
-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
He was an excellent host for Jeopardy, and seemed like a nice person with a good sense of humor. Wonder who they will find to replace him.
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
I wonder if anyone will do it. Seriously, does anyone want to be "The guy that replaced Alex Trebek?"
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
As a watcher of Jeopardy from the first series hosted by Art Fleming, I was skeptical when Alex came in; but he was a worthy successor who kept the franchise fresh for many, many years. And it seems he died the way he wanted, dying before he left the series. RIP Alex.
As for a successor (no one can or should replace him), recent Jeopardy shows have given a lot of exposure to Ken Jennings in presenting clues. I have a feeling he is seriously being considered, and these were tests to gauge audience response. I think he could work out as the host. As long as the show is taken seriously and doesn't follow the path of most other game shows, I have no doubt it will continue.
As for a successor (no one can or should replace him), recent Jeopardy shows have given a lot of exposure to Ken Jennings in presenting clues. I have a feeling he is seriously being considered, and these were tests to gauge audience response. I think he could work out as the host. As long as the show is taken seriously and doesn't follow the path of most other game shows, I have no doubt it will continue.
- Bicycle Bill
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Agreed. So long as they don't dumb it down it should be able to carry on for another couple decades or so.
The other thing is that whoever they select as Trebek's successor, that person needs to remember that the SHOW and the CONTESTANTS — and the viewers' desire to test/compare our own knowledge with the three people behind the podia — are the reasons we are tuning in, and follow Trebek's lead in positioning themselves as merely the host, not the 'star'.
Lastly, for fuck's sake, let's leave 'political correctness' or 'ethnic inclusiveness' out of it. Pick someone who is intelligent and authoritative without being a prick about it, and who can intereact with people without goddamned cue cards or prepared scripts. If that person happens to be a hispanic male, black female, or transgender whatever, then so be it; but let's not just pick a black, queer, or female person merely to ameliorate 'white guilt' or to satisfy some undefined quota of minorities in front of the camera. We've already got that with the current version of "Family Feud" — a black emcee, and a selection bias that seems to guarantee that one of the two families every show is non-white.
-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
I know a perfect candidate.
Donald J. Trump (he'll need a job soon and has previous TV experience).
Donald J. Trump (he'll need a job soon and has previous TV experience).
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Bicycle Bill wrote: ↑Mon Nov 09, 2020 3:38 am... and follow Trebek's lead in positioning themselves as merely the host, not the 'star' – strike 1 ... Pick someone who is intelligent – strike 2 ... and authoritative without being a prick about it – strike 3, and you're outta here!!
-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
The problem is that every category will be about him, for example:
Trump's Greatest Golf Scores
Trump, The Greatest Since Lincoln
Trump's Many Accomplishments
Trump Wives
Ivanka
Bigly Things
Trump's Greatest Golf Scores
Trump, The Greatest Since Lincoln
Trump's Many Accomplishments
Trump Wives
Ivanka
Bigly Things
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Or perhaps we could restart Truth or Consequences.
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
So I'll begin my reviews of the guest hosts to-date:
Ken Jennings has of course been an odds-on favourite to take over permanently as host, and he did quite a creditable job. He has clearly made the best of his spots on other game shows to develop a good sense of timing and tone. His manner is quite natural and fits the show. My only minor quibbles would be a speaking voice that sometimes goes to the squeaky end, and some occasional undue pauses in declaring responses to be correct or incorrect, which can break the contestants' flow and concentration. But I think that both could improve with experience.
Mike Richards, the executive producer, stepped in for two weeks to fill a gap in the availability of guest hosts. He was a complete natural, probably due in part to being an "insider" of the show, as well as previous short stints in game show hosting. His unassuming manner blended right into the game play. I became accustomed to him as host almost immediately, and would happily watch if he became the permanent host.
Katie Couric began her stint this week. I hope that having her as a guest host is not an indication that they are considering her for the job. Her manner is forced and smarmy, too frequently resorting to what she thinks is a clever quip, and inserting herself too obviously into the narrative.
Next up - Dr. Mehmet Oz
Ken Jennings has of course been an odds-on favourite to take over permanently as host, and he did quite a creditable job. He has clearly made the best of his spots on other game shows to develop a good sense of timing and tone. His manner is quite natural and fits the show. My only minor quibbles would be a speaking voice that sometimes goes to the squeaky end, and some occasional undue pauses in declaring responses to be correct or incorrect, which can break the contestants' flow and concentration. But I think that both could improve with experience.
Mike Richards, the executive producer, stepped in for two weeks to fill a gap in the availability of guest hosts. He was a complete natural, probably due in part to being an "insider" of the show, as well as previous short stints in game show hosting. His unassuming manner blended right into the game play. I became accustomed to him as host almost immediately, and would happily watch if he became the permanent host.
Katie Couric began her stint this week. I hope that having her as a guest host is not an indication that they are considering her for the job. Her manner is forced and smarmy, too frequently resorting to what she thinks is a clever quip, and inserting herself too obviously into the narrative.
Next up - Dr. Mehmet Oz
"If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu."
-- Author unknown
-- Author unknown
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Who is someone who has no business giving medical advice?
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Mehmet Oz - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mehmet_Oz
Mehmet Cengiz Öz (Turkish: [mehˈmet dʒeɲˈɟiz œz]; born June 11, 1960), known professionally as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American television personality, cardiothoracic surgeon, Columbia University professor, pseudoscience promoter, journalist, and author.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
Oz was brought to us initially by Oprah Winfrey, if we need reminding. And I had forgotten that despite his genuine medical qualifications, he was an early promoter of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 prevention (which has of course been disproved by people who look into these things [aka scientists]) and he was appointed by Trump to the President's Council on Sports and Fitness.
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Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
ex-khobar Andy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:54 pmOz was brought to us initially by Oprah Winfrey, if we need reminding. And I had forgotten that despite his genuine medical qualifications, he was an early promoter of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 prevention (which has of course been disproved by people who look into these things [aka scientists]) and he was appointed by Trump to the President's Council on Sports and Fitness.
Oz is apparently not a fake though he is as much a quack as Dr PhilMajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:12 amI do dislike Oprah (not as a person but as a TV personality with an appalling taste in literature, spirituality and fake medical doctors). I know - she's hurt by such rejection and may never recover her aplomb.
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: I'll take "People who will be missed" for $200, Alex
First error I ever remember seeing on Jeopardy:
"The U.K.'s House of Commons uses this 4-word electoral system where a simple majority of votes determines the winner of the race."
The correct response is first past the post, as they stated, but the clue is incorrect in that a majority is not required to win election to the H of C, but rather only a plurality.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
"The U.K.'s House of Commons uses this 4-word electoral system where a simple majority of votes determines the winner of the race."
The correct response is first past the post, as they stated, but the clue is incorrect in that a majority is not required to win election to the H of C, but rather only a plurality.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
"If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu."
-- Author unknown
-- Author unknown