TV

'Jeopardy!' resumes filming Nov. 30 after Alex Trebek's death; interim host is Ken Jennings


Bryan Alexander
 
| USA TODAY

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Ken Jennings will be the first interim “Jeopardy!” host when the TV game show resumes production Nov. 30, less than a month after longtime, beloved host Alex Trebek died.

Jennings will be one of several interim hosts before the show decides on a permanent replacement, “Jeopardy!” announced in a statement.

“Alex believed in the importance of ‘Jeopardy!’ and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” executive producer Mike Richards said in a statement announcing the resumption of production. “We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved.”

“By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers,” said Richards.

Jennings responded to the hosting news with a respectful Twitter bow to Trebek, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March 2019 and died at age 80 on Nov. 8.

More: Alex Trebek of ‘Jeopardy!’ dies at 80 after pancreatic cancer battle

“There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to be helping ‘Jeopardy!’ out with this in January,” Jennings wrote.

Earlier this year, Jennings, 46, claimed the title of “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” in a prime-time event. He also holds the all-time records for most consecutive games won (74) and highest winnings in regular-season play ($2,520,700). 

“Jeopardy!” will air 10 of Trebek’s best episodes the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Trebek’s final week of episodes will now air the week of Jan. 4, in order “to give his millions of fans a chance to see his final appearances,” the show announced.

The first week of guest-hosted shows will air the week of Jan. 11 starting with Jennings.

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Alex Trebek: ‘Jeopardy!’ contestants remember late game show host

Alex Trebek, the longtime “Jeopardy!” host, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jennings has been the subject of discussion for a potential permanent hosts given his popularity and long-standing success on the show. Internet fans posted an online Change.org petition to have LeVar Burton appointed host, with more than 100,000 people signing.

Trebek himself weighed in on a possible future replacement in 2019.

“It’s probably going to be a woman, somebody younger, somebody bright, somebody personable, somebody with a great sense of humor, so I nominated Betty White,” he joked.

He then mentioned some more serious candidates, including CNN’s Laura Coates, LA Kings announcer Alex Faust and TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz.





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