I have been fearing how the people at Jeopardy would handing the eventual passing of the torch from Alex Trebek to a new host. So much talk about comedians or existing game show hosts. But a Jeopardy host is different. You need to actually be brilliant and command respect.
Now word is out that Ken Jennings will be joining the Jeopardy staff as a sort of associate producer. Sometimes reading category answers, sometimes creating special teams and probably, some day, replacing Alex himself.
The show is returning on Monday, September 14th with Alex in the hosting gig while he continues his battle against pancreatic cancer, which he was diagnosed with last March. Though he has said the treatment has taken a toll on his body, he has survived longer than most patients with the aggressive cancer, partially thanks to immunotherapy treatment.
“I feel good, and I feel excited because once again ‘Jeopardy!’ has demonstrated that it’s at the forefront of television programming,” Trebek said in a statement about Jennings’ promotion. “I believe we are the first quiz show to come back on the air in the COVID-19 era. On a personal level, I’m excited because it gets me out of the house. It gives me something to do on a regular basis, and I was missing that.”
So this is good news all around. I need some return to normalcy and Alex is just the pill for that ailment.