When Alex Trebek leaves Jeopardy! and hangs his hat upon America’s heart, it will be the end of an era. Alex Trebek is not merely the host of Jeopardy!; he is the nation’s dad: the man with a surplus of bizarre and often useless knowledge, a cheesy joke (or two) stored in his back pocket, and an insightful compliment tucked up his sleeve. Unfortunately, Trebek may have to exit Jeopardy sooner than he would like. In March 2019 he revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and, despite things looking hopeful after the cancer went into remission, he recently had to resume chemotherapy.
It’s absolutely understandable that Trebek would want to plan his exit before hosting duties become too much for him, and to prioritize his health. Still, long-time Jeopardy fans will surely be saddened to see him go after 35 consecutive years as the show’s host. Trebek may direct his questions at the episode’s contestants, but everyone who watches at home feels that same urge to participate and join in Trebek’s suspenseful round of televised Trivial Pursuit. Jeopardy holds the record for the longest-running game show host and has led primetime programming for decades. It’s Trebek and then Pat Sajak right after with Wheel of Fortune: the one-two punch we welcome with open arms.
Alex Trebek holds six Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, and in 2011 he won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of contributions to daytime television. Without Trebek, the gameshow world loses its center. While Wheel of Fortune, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Family Feud will continue to thrive, Jeopardy! may face a fate reminiscent of The Price Is Right post-Bob Barker.
While Drew Carey has done a commendable job as the new host of The Price Is Right, the show has lost its spark. Carey’s subpar enthusiasm pales in comparison to Barker’s iconic incarnation as the man who wanted nothing more but to host that show. Bob Barker was The Price Is Right, whereas Carey merely hosts it. So, who will be selected, from the ever-growing to host Trebek’s show?
Jeopardy! may be able to find an impressive host, but, it will be impossible to recreate Trebek’s legacy, for his life and his role on the show are intimately connected. Jeopardy! is not just Trebek’s job, it is his story — his personal and his professional one at once. Alex Trebek is the man you come home to after work to test the knowledge life has granted you, not the skills work asks you to put forth. He is the start of the evening and the end of the tedious workday. With his warmth and familiarity, there’s a reason Alex Trebek has hosted Jeopardy! for so long, and he will be near-impossible to replace.
