Ken Jennings will act as an interim host of new episodes of Jeopardy! following the death of Alex Trebek. As it stands, Jennings, who holds the record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy!, won over $2.5 million in his original 74-game run in 2004. Earlier this year, Jennings, sports gambler James Holzhauer, and Brad Rutter faced off in the special event Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time. Following four nights of fierce competition, Jennings snagged the $1 million prize and emerged the victor of the tournament.
Earlier this year, Trebek offered a one-year update on his cancer battle and touted his legendary professionalism when he revealed he'd already rehearsed the final 30 seconds of his last Jeopardy! episode, though he didn't say when that would occur. On November 8, Trebek passed away peacefully at the age of 80. It's not clear yet whether or not he got a chance to record his farewell speech. Since the passing of the late host, speculations have emerged about who will take over Trebek’s hosting duties. In September, Jennings joined the new season of Jeopardy! as a consulting producer, leading many to wonder if he was being primed to take over for Trebek as the show’s host. Now it has been revealed who will step behind the podium to helm the new episodes of Jeopardy!—at least for a little while.
Per The Wrap, Jennings will fill in for Trebek as the interim host of Jeopardy! when new episodes resume filming next week. Slated to make his hosting debut on Monday, January 11, Jennings will serve as the first of a series of temporary guest hosts. Reportedly, Jeopardy! will reveal the identity of the permanent host at a later date. Executive producer Mike Richards spoke on the show’s decision to temporarily feature guest hosts from within the Jeopardy! family and issued this statement:
Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy and always said he wanted the show to go on after him. We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.
As it stands, Jeopardy! continues to pay tribute to Trebek. Originally scheduled to air through Christmas Day, Trebek’s final episodes will now premiere the week of January 4. Furthermore, the game show continues to honor Trebek’s legacy and will air a selection of 10 of Trebek’s best episodes from December 21 to December 28. Following the news of his death, Trebek has received countless tributes from celebrities around the world. Of course, Trebek and Jennings appeared to form a strong bond over the years, and upon Trebek’s passing, Jennings revealed he was “grateful for every minute I got to spend with him.”
Deemed far more than a game show host, Trebek has had a profound impact on audience members, contestants, and fans. The host’s dignified, pointed, and kind-hearted appearance is why so many have welcomed him into their homes. It’s not surprising then, why it’s still unclear who will permanently fill his large shows as the future host of Jeopardy!. However, Jennings has been part of the show’s family for over 15 years and is the ideal choice to temporarily take over the hosting duties for the new episodes. Overall, Alex Trebek of Jeopardy! will always be the beloved host of America’s favorite game show.
Source: The Wrap