Alex Trebek's plea aired in the opening moments of the show that aired on Monday. (Photo: Reuters) In a message taped for what turned out to be his final week as Jeopardy host Alex Trebek urged the game shows viewers to honor the season of giving by helping victims of the coronavirus epidemic.
Trebek’s plea aired in the opening moments of the show that aired on Monday.
“We’re trying to build a gentler kinder society and if we all pitch in just a little bit we’re going to get there,” he said.
Trebek died November 8 at age 80 of pancreatic cancer but had pre-taped several weeks of shows that have continued to air Mondays show began the final week of programs that he left behind.
His last week of shows were originally scheduled to air on Christmas week two categories of clues on Monday were December 21 and Christmas on Broadway. But to give Trebek’s final week wider exposure Jeopardy put them off until this week.
The shows executive producer Mike Richards told NBCs Today show on Monday that Trebek was “an absolute warrior” in his last taping sessions.
“He was in enormous pain,” Richards said “He was, you know, 10 days away from passing away. And you will not sense that in any of these episodes.”
A successor has not been named Longtime Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings will be the first of a planned series of guest hosts on episodes that begin appearing next week.
Asked whether Trebek had given any suggestions about a successor, Richards told NBC that he mentioned a couple of names but he wanted to stay out of that. No one is going to replace him and he knew that.