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Stories

Alex Trebek Allegedly Wanted Ken Jennings To Take Over As ‘Jeopardy!’ Host

by Lauren Novak

Published October 19, 2022

Alex Trebek Wanted Ken Jennings To Take Over As 'Jeopardy!' Host

Alex Trebek was the legendary host of Jeopardy! for decades. When he passed away two years ago, it was extremely tough for viewers to accept that a new host had to be found. After some drama happened in finding a new host, it has since been decided that Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings and actress Mayim Bialik will share hosting duties for now.

Ken won over $4.5 million while competing on the game show and became a fan-favorite contestant. Since he was on the show so often, he became close with Alex and now believes that Alex would be happy that he was taking over hosting duties.

Related:

  1. Mayim Bialik And Ken Jennings Feel The Pressure Of Following ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Alex Trebek
  2. ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Honors The Late Alex Trebek In A Special Way

Ken Jennings believes Alex Trebek wanted him to take over hosting ‘Jeopardy!’

CALL ME KAT, Ken Jennings, on-set, Call Me Ken Jennings'
CALL ME KAT, Ken Jennings, on-set, Call Me Ken Jennings’ (Season 3, ep. 301, aired Sept. 29, 2022). photo: Lisa Rose / ©Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Ken shared, “I don’t want to put words in anybody’s mouth. But over the years, I did get the sense that it was an idea that wouldn’t have annoyed Alex. He asked me to read his audiobook when his voice wasn’t up to doing every chapter towards the end. I felt like that was a very nice gesture of successorship that he didn’t have to make.”

RELATED: Mayim Bialik And Ken Jennings Feel The Pressure Of Following ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Alex Trebek

JEOPARDY, host Alex Trebek, Ken Jennings, 'Ultimate Tournament of Champions' (2005), 1984-
JEOPARDY, host Alex Trebek, Ken Jennings, ‘Ultimate Tournament of Champions’ (2005), 1984-. © Sony Pictures Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Ken also talked about the last conversation he had with Alex before he died from pancreatic cancer. He said, “The thing that stuck with me is he thanked me for coming in to fill in for him. That just broke me. I said, ‘Alex, are you kidding? We should be thanking you. I’d take a bullet for you, Alex. I’m happy to help.’”

JEOPARDY!, host Alex Trebek, (1989), 1984-
JEOPARDY!, host Alex Trebek, (1989), 1984-. ph: Ron Slenzak / ©ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

Ken added that Alex once told him he believed in ghosts so he now wonders if Alex is still hanging around the set of the show. He continued, “You do kind of feel like he must be in the building. It’s not quite the same as a spectral form peering around a corner and saying, ‘No, no, what is Bucharest? Bucharest, Romania.’ But it’s nice to feel like he’s still there and part of the show.”

RELATED: Ken Jennings Remembers Gift Alex Trebek’s Widow Gave Him One Year Later

Next up: Jamie Lee Curtis Gets Nostalgic With Rare Behind-The-Scenes ‘Halloween’ Photos

Previous article: Jamie Lee Curtis Gets Nostalgic With Rare Behind-The-Scenes ‘Halloween’ Photos
Next Post: Shania Twain Confirms ‘Beauty And The Beast Role’ And Pays Tribute To Its Original Star

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