By Jaxie Pidgeon
For millions of “Jeopardy!” fans, family game show nights will never be the same.
On Nov. 8, the world mourned the loss of Alex Trebek, the iconic face of “Jeopardy!” who lost his year and a half long battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
For trivia fanatics who tuned in weeknights at 7:30 p.m., the legendary host was a part of their family. Trebek’s dapper charm was inviting and inclusive, creating a safe space for kids and adults alike to tap into enlightening and educational topics. For over 36 years, Trebek graced family living rooms with his distinctive and soothing voice. It was his composure that made him a relatable and trusted figure to all.
Since he became the host of the newly improved “Jeopardy!” in 1984 to his final tapings in October 2020, Trebek’s calm, collected demeanor never wavered. When a contestant answered correctly, he was pleased but not overjoyed. When a contestant struggled to find the right answer, he remained grounded and levelheaded, always keeping the show moving in a respectful manner.
Unlike many game show hosts, Trebek’s serene style emanated compassion. He didn’t pick favorites and wanted all contestants to have an equal shot at succeeding on the show.
In a career spanning over 8,200 episodes, Trebek never pegged himself as the star of the show. He preferred to let the three contestants share the stage and be the center of attention for viewers while he eased their nerves and orchestrated a formidable contest of the minds.
Trebek used his sharp intellect to moderate, never to outshine. While he knew all of the correct answers to the ever-challenging questions because they were written down for him for each show, he did not use that information in a hard-and-fast way. In fact, if a contestant’s answer was on the right track but a bit unclear, Trebek would turn to the show’s experts to have the final say on whether it should be deemed correct.
Under Trebek’s reign, “Jeopardy!” had an uncommon structure that appealed to a diverse and multi-generational audience. People of all ages as well as various academic, geographic and cultural backgrounds tuned in to NBC five nights a week to be entertained by his steadfast style while his contestants competed for the big bucks. His witty personality was appealing and relatable and served as a key reason for his solid reputation both on-air and behind the scenes.
Throughout his long and popular television career, Trebek led an extremely private personal life. That was until March 6, 2019, when the then 78-year-old revealed to the world that he’d been diagnosed. He said he shared this information to stay true to his policy of being open and transparent with the “Jeopardy!” fan base.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 57,600 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 47,050 people are expected to die of it in 2020.
Despite his slim odds of surviving the disease, Trebek said he was not afraid of death and would continue working. While his fans reeled over the devastating news, Trebek remained true to his serene, soothing nature, quelling his supporters’ fears and instilling instead a sense of hope and purpose, just as he always did with his contestants.
“I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease,” Trebek quipped in his YouTube announcement. “Truth told, I have to because under the terms of my contract, I have to host “Jeopardy!” for three more years.”
Ken Jennings, the all-time “Jeopardy!” champion, paid tribute to Trebek on Twitter upon hearing the devastating news.
"Alex wasn't just the best ever at what he did," Jennings said. "He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I'm grateful for every minute I got to spend with him."
In July 2020, Trebek published his 304-page memoir, "The Answer is ... Reflections On My Life." In it, he shares insights on his private life and his decades of experience on television. He said he would like to be remembered as a decent man who did his best to help people perform at their best.
“Because that was my job,” he wrote. “That is what a host is supposed to do.”
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