Weeks after the passing of legendary “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, Sony Pictures Television has announced that popular contestant and “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” tournament winner Ken Jennings will serve as the first of a series of interim guest hosts when the trivia game show returns to production on Monday, Nov. 30.
“Alex believed in the importance of ‘Jeopardy!’! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said ‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Mike Richards. “We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.”
Trebek died on Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer, after being first diagnosed in March 2019. His last day in studio was Oct. 29.
A long-term replacement host will not be named at this time, said the studio. Jennings has long been a favorite to assume Trebek’s iconic position at the “Jeopardy!” podium, having first emerged on the scene in the early aughts with a 74-game win streak and an all-time record for highest winnings in regular-season play with $2.52 million in earnings. He also became a consulting producer on the show after winning the “GOAT!” tournament earlier this year. Other names, including Anderson Cooper and George Stephanopoulos, have been floated as potential new hosts.
More guest hosts will be announced in the weeks to come, says Sony Pictures Television.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety