It’s laborious to consider we’re arising on the third anniversary of Alex Trebek’s loss of life. The Jeopardy! icon — one of many all-time finest sport present hosts — handed away on November 8, 2020, after battling pancreatic most cancers, however he was an expert to the tip. In truth, a current contestant on the traditional quiz present can attest to that reality personally, as Yoshie Hill was one of many gamers on Trebek’s closing present. She returned to the Alex Trebek Stage final week for the Champions Wildcard Match, and her recollection of Trebek’s “exceptional” final episode had fairly an influence on present host Ken Jennings.
Jeopardy! is presently operating its first Champions Wildcard Match, which options winners from Seasons 37 and 38 competing for a spot on this season’s Match of Champions. That implies that a few of these contestants initially competed when Alex Trebek was nonetheless the host. Yoshie Hill was a two-day champion going into the episode that aired January 8, 2021, and she or he recalled Trebek’s power and professionalism, telling Ken Jennings through the October 26 sport:
LIttle did we all know that was going to be Alex’s final present. I used to be on the stage and it was exceptional for a person who really was very, very sick standing that [indicates Ken Jennings] near me. He regarded so good, I by no means would have recognized. And he had a lot power and focus, and with every contestant, it will need to have taken an amazing quantity of effort to take care of that stage of professionalism on that day.
It’s heartbreaking to consider how a lot ache Alex Trebek was really in on what could be his closing day of taping, however he didn’t let the contestants or the viewers down, remaining absolutely engaged when the cameras had been rolling. He died simply 10 days later.
Ken Jennings was visibly affected by Yoshie Hill’s story, as he himself has recalled his closing dialog with Alex Trebek simply days earlier than he handed away. Jennings bought choked up as he concurred with Yoshie Hill, saying:
He was not in good well being backstage, however he would come out right here and he may do the present. This was the place the place he felt assured and up to the mark, and I’m so glad he had that so late in his life.
Ken Jennings appeared to pause for the briefest of moments to gather himself, earlier than summoning among the professionalism of his predecessor and turning the gamers’ consideration again to the board to renew the sport. You may watch the emotional video under:
Ken Jennings took over for Alex Trebek — one thing Trebek had apparently been eager about for fairly some time — after his loss of life, after which a revolving door of celebrities had been introduced in as an audition of types. Following some internet hosting controversy and the eventual ouster of govt producer Mike Richards, Jennings was introduced again as a co-host to share duties with Mayim Bialik.
Ken Jennings has been the person behind the lectern to this point for Season 40, after Mayim Bialik left Season 39 early amid the WGA author’s strike. It’s unknown when she’ll make her Jeopardy! return, however she has began to seem within the promos, so it could possibly be ahead of later. Verify your native listings to see when syndicated episodes play in your space, and tune into Movie star Jeopardy!, which airs at 8 p.m. ET Wednesdays on ABC.
