Ken Jennings was a key player in this. Jeopardy!As anyone following the Alex Trebek, longtime host, dies. The record-holding Jeopardy!ChampionThis is the quiz show’s first guest hostBefore he and Mayim bialik were granted full-time employment, there was a lengthy and controversial search for a permanent replacement. Season 39: Co-hosting duties. Jennings’ relationship with the proud Canadian began back in 2004, when he was a contestant, and lasted for over a decade, as the new host recalled his last conversation with Trebek, which occurred just days before he passed away from pancreatic cancer.
The title-holder for Jeopardy!’s “Greatest Of All Time”Interview with Vulture that even ahead of Alex Trebek’s death, Ken Jennings had been asked to fill in for the host. They spoke by phone about the handover of duties and Jennings shared his thoughts on how the legendary host sounded back then. He stated:
He died the following weekend. I was supposed to be there to practice for some games. Even though Alex seemed to bounce back, he needed someone to step in for him for a while. A producer set up a call, and his voice was notably weaker than we’d ever heard it on the air, which really struck me at first. It was a hard moment. But once you got over the timbre of the voice, he was still very much Alex — going down conversational side paths about old movies he liked.
Alex Trebek’s voice is so familiar to fans of the classic game show, and especially for people like Ken Jennings, who got to speak to him outside of the studio setting, I can imagine it was jarring to hear Trebek not at full strength. But it’s comforting to know that the host was still himself, and I love to think about those two discussing old movies together. Jennings continued:
He started to talk about tennis players that he compared with various Jeopardy! champions. The thing that sticks with me was his gratitude for me coming in to fill in for them. It broke my heart. I said, ‘Alex, are you kidding? We should be thanking you. I’Alex, I’d be willing to take a bullet for your cause. I’m happy to help.’ Of course, I didn’t know that he would be gone within 36 hours.
It is all I can imagine. That was so meaningful for Ken JenningsAlex Trebek had the chance to say those words before he passed away, and it makes it sound like the host was aware that he was leaving the show to capable hands.
Fans wanted to see the former champion host the show for the final time because of the closeness it formed. Arthur Chu, another former champ pointed out that Alex Trebek gifted Jennings his cufflinksHe chose him to read his audiobook. Super champ Mattea Roach supported Jennings as well., as he — like Trebek — was considered Jeopardy!He described himself as royalty and invited others to join him on the stage.
Ken Jennings did open the quiz show’s 39th season behind the lectern, and he’ll also host the upcoming Second Chance tournament, as well as the Tournament of Champions. Mayim Bialik can also be seen hosting the show. Celebrity Jeopardy!8.30 p.m. ET Sundays on ABC She’ll also take over duties on the daytime episodes in January. Check out our 2022 TV scheduleTo see the premieres that are soon to be made, click here