‘Jeopardy!’ Host Alex Trebek Takes Leave After Brain Surgery

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek is taking a medical leave after undergoing surgery to remove blood clots from his brain, Trebek and his production team said Thursday.

Trebek, 77, was diagnosed in mid-December with a condition known as subdural hematoma, a complication from hitting his head in a bad fall in October, he said. He underwent surgery the following day.

“After two days in the hospital, I came home to start recovery,” Trebek said in a video posted to the game show’s website. “The prognosis is excellent, and I expect to be back in the studio taping more ‘Jeopardy!’ programs very, very soon!”

The show’s website added, “Alex spent Christmas at home with his family, and he will return to the Jeopardy! studio for taping in mid-January. Because Jeopardy! tapes months in advance, the only change made to the show’s schedule concerns the upcoming College Championship, which will now air in April. Otherwise, Jeopardy!‘s broadcast schedule is unaffected.”

Trebek underwent surgery December 16th at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, two months after Trebek’s October fall. The host was released from the hospital two days later.

The 77-year-old Trebek has been at the helm of Jeopardy! since the show relaunched in 1984. Although Trebek has faced some health issues in the past decade, including a pair of heart attacks, the host hasn’t had any prolonged absences from the syndicated game show.

(Excerpts) Read More at: RollingStone.com and CNN.com