“I miss Alex.”
The first “Jeopardy!” an episode since Alex Trebek’s death aired Monday, featuring Ken Jennings, who was introduced as the first in a series of interim hosts, who could barely hold back tears when he spoke of the late host.
“Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors in my life,” he said Monday. during the opening of the program.
Even without the man who brought the mind and skill to the show for almost 37 years, “Jeopardy!” did business as usual on Monday. Jennings, who holds the record for the longest “Jeopardy!” finish line, opened the show with a monologue dedicated to Trebek – which almost suffocated in the process.
“Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex has done this job pretty perfectly for over 36 years – and it was even better up close,” he continued. “We were blinded by his intelligence, his charm, his grace – there is really no other word for it.”
‘Like all’ Jeopardy! ‘fans, I miss Alex. Very. And I thank him for everything he has done for all of us, “he added.
However, Jennings said the show had to continue – despite Trebek’s death in November at 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer – because there are tens of millions of fans “who like this show.” Trebek’s emotional last episode aired Friday, just ten days before he died. The episode has a montage of Trebek’s greatest moments over the years, which moved many fans to tears.
“Let’s be perfectly clear: no one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek, but we can honor him by playing the game he loved,” he concluded before entering Monday night’s game.
But the 74-time champion has not lost that fans would rather see Trebek the buzzer, as since 1984 for more than 8,200 episodes.
“Honestly, I’m in the audience,” the 46-year-old said. said in a promotion issued before the show. “I do not want to be out here. I want to see Alex here. I know exactly how they feel when they see someone else behind this chair. ”
“I’m just happy to fill in and help,” said Jennings, who won the title of Greatest of All Time last year.
Fans seem to agree after watching Monday’s episode, writing: “Look at it now and I’m not going to lie, but it feels weird” and “Wow. It’s going to take some time to get used to. ”
Jennings was an advisory producer for “Jeopardy!” this season, in which he presented special video categories, helping with participants and other aspects of the program. He is first in a series of interim hosts from the ‘Jeopardy!’ family, ”which may also include Katie Couric.
While Jennings said it was ‘surreal’ to host the show, Trebek advised him should he ever replace him as host.
“I talked to him on the phone over the weekend of the passing and he was – he was fragile, but he was still very much Alex,” Jennings said in “Good Morning America.” “I remember he just had a lot of confidence in me to be a host if he ever needed it.”
Rumors were circulating that Jennings was being ‘cared for’ to take over the show, and his name was thrown into the ring as a potential permanent replacement – which is further fueled when he tentatively apologized for previous “insensitive” tweets before his debut in the host. He also hosts the new series “The Chase” with his co-star “Jeopardy!” The Greatest of All Time ”tournament competitors James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter.
But Jennings said in the last conversation Trebek reminded him that ‘the host is not the star of’ Jeopardy! ‘Is not. “And note that the beloved host” has always addressed the players and the competition. “
“It’s just hard to imagine a star of his size in the TV landscape today saying, ‘Hey, the game is not about you,’ but that was good advice.”