Even before Alex Trebek announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer early last year, there was a lot of talk about who would eventually succeed him as the future host of TV’s best quiz show. His contract was extended through 2022 back in 2018, and Trebek has made an effort to downplay any public discussions about his eventual retirement—including saying earlier this month that when he does leave he’ll do it “on a whim” and just ask the producers for 30 seconds at the end of an episode “to say goodbye.”
Now, Trebek is going even further in that direction by saying that not only will he have no input in whoever his Jeopardy! successor will be, but he’ll refuse to offer any input if anyone asks. As reported by TVLine, Jeopardy! producer Harry Friedman recently explained that Trebek “really has no interest in being involved” in the process of naming a new host, despite the fact that Friedman says he’d “welcome [Trebek’s] opinion.” That being said, Trebek does say he’d like to see a woman replace him, preferably a “bright” woman with a “good sense of humor” like Betty White. (He might be joking a little, but Betty White would be a really fun choice.)
Of course, it’s not hard to see why Trebek might be reluctant to talk about this. After all, the depressing truth about Trebek’s health hangs over any discussions about his future on Jeopardy!, and even if you do put it out of your mind, it still must be sad for him to consider someone else doing the job he’s had for all these years. We still think you could do a lot worse than Ken Jennings, who was our suggestion back in 2018 (and that was before he officially became the GOAT), but let’s all do our best to follow Trebek’s lead and refuse to consider this any further.
42 Comments
I think actors are generally hesitant to do late-night because the schedule is so grueling, but Jeopardy is a pretty sweet gig, right? Isn’t it something like two days a week, or a week a month? I’m curious how high-profile of an actor would be interested in this gig.Or maybe they’ll just give it to Ken Jennings.
I’ve got to say that despite thinking about who could take over Jeopardy I hadn’t thought of Ken until the GOAT tournament. But he’d be perfect
Listen to his podcast. He has a very easygoing way about him that I think would work well, and would be a good contrast to Trebek.
Jennings is the clear choice.
They’ll likely work out some backups just in case, but it would shock me if Jennings is the first choice immediately after Alex retires.
Years ago, when Carson was still (kinda) found the Tonight Show, someone asked Letterman, “Would you want the Tonight Show.” Letterman grimaced and said, “No… Because no matter what I did, there would be people just arriving in this country who had never even seen the show before saying, ‘eh. He’s not as good as Johnny.’Trebek looms large over Jeopardy, and will for a very long time.
And this is why I’d be the perfect choice for Jeopardy. I’d keep the seat warm for the person who doesn’t want to follow a legend, but doesn’t mind following the guy who followed the legend and was subsequently run out of town.
This is actually a common strategy in leadership transition, especially with a founder or longtime leader of an organization. Hire an interim leader for one year while you perform a rigorous search process and reflection on the where the organization is. Otherwise, if you just hire someone permanently off the bat, you’ll likely find that everyone resents the new person, they can’t get anything done, and quit or are forced out after a year, at which point the organization has had a change to reflect on where it is, appoints an interim leader, and performs a more rigorous search process. The result is much the same, except the latter strikes a real blow to morale and productivity. If they spent a season doing celebrity hosts or something, they’d probably figure out about halfway through what qualities they need to keep intact and what they can/should change. “Oh, they can be wittier than Trebek, but then they can’t ever be as caustic as he could be, or it’s too mean” or “They don’t have to appear to know all the answers, they can actually be very impressed at how much the contestants know, like an audience surrogate rather than a patrician.”
When Drew Carey took over The Price is Right from Bob Barker, same thing. I remember him talking to Leno and saying that Leno is probably the only guy in the world who knew how he felt.
Didn’t he name a couple of people who he thought would be good successors a few months ago? I remember being surprised because one of them was a woman and Alex has always struck me as a little sexist.
I think he definitely has unconscious biases of a white man born during WWII but I’m glad to see that he also seems to make a conscious effort to overcome them.
Everyone has unconscious biases. Let’s not single out Trebek.
There was talk that ESPN’s Tony Reali of “Around The Horn” was a possibility. But then the only place I heard that was on ESPN, so maybe it was just self-promotion.
I think we can all agree that Trebek will be passing a significant torch in pop-culture and arguably mark an end of an era.Likely the most famous Canadian since Who is George-Etienne Cartier?
There is only one man that can come close to filling Alex Trebek large shoes……and I happened to have sex with his mother last night. HAHAHAHAHA!
Way too early for that, Connery. Waaay too early.
And that man’s name is… Turd Ferguson.
It’s a funny name.
One think I like about Norm’s Burt is he says everything like it’s one word(“TurdFergusonit’safunnyname”).
Just a reminder that, in 2018, Trebek did actually offer some thoughts on his preferred successor, floating the names of L.A. Kings announcer Alex Faust and CNN legal analyst Laura Coates (not that they would or should necessarily use his personal pick).Regardless, this is a very unique position. Trebek has transcended the role of just being a game show host, and brings an amazing level of panache and smarts to what he does. Whoever is selected won’t be able to help coming up short, and will be hated by most of the internet.
The obvious choice is Susanna Hoffs.
wild card option: Paris Hilton.
This would make for a good discussion over some potent potables.
Just hire Will Ferrell and be done with it.He doesn’t have to do his Trebek. But we know he’d be good at it.
I think Paul F. Tompkins would be a good choice. He’s a snappy dresser, he rocks a good mustache game, and he’s already sort-of played a gameshow host.
Inspired, but then he might only appear on 2 or 3 podcasts each month instead of All of Them.
Call me John McClane, ‘cause I’m a diehard fan of this idea!
Jeopardy is definitely no HSASWDTKDTKTLFO (Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let’s Find Out!)
Oh he hopes it’s a bright woman with a good sense of humor?Julia Collins, then. She’s already beloved by the viewership. She’s obviously bright, winning 20 games and nearly half a million dollars. And… well, i miss having her on my TV.
It’s smart (and classy) of him to stay out of it. That said, if we can’t get a woman and if his sitcom doesn’t pan out, I would love to see what Kenan would do with it playing it straight. (At least have him host an April Fool’s episode!)
Victoria Coren
There’s really only one person who makes sense.You guessed it:
Estelle Getty’s desiccated corpse.
Fucking Kinja…the image was there when I clicked “publish.”Though these replies are better than another Frank Stallone joke, so…
Don Swayze?
I did guess it, but I didn’t express it in the form of a question so it wasn’t accepted.
who is frank stallone.
preferably a “bright” woman with a “good sense of humor”Jamie Lee Curtis, get in here!
I think we all know the correct choice is Werner Herzog:“Correct. We would also have accepted ‘What is the grotesque mockery that is our life’s vain search for meaning?’, as we do with all categories.”
Wthen there’s no Alex Trebek it should be cancelled.
I was about to say that Alan Thicke would be perfect for this, but then I looked him up to find out that he’d died 4 years ago. What the shit? How did I not know about this (or maybe I did and just forgot)? Anyway, that was my best idea. Frick.
The only acceptable successor is Will Ferrell…playing Alex Trebek This is the way