Alex Trebek's Final Jeopardy! Episode Will Air Christmas Day
Alex Trebek's final episode as host of Jeopardy! will air on Christmas Day. The longtime and iconic game show host passed away Sunday.
Alex Trebek's final episode as host of Jeopardy! will air on Christmas Day. After a battle with pancreatic cancer, Trekbek passed away in his home early this morning. Trebek was beloved, and although he wasn't the only host of Jeopardy!, most agree that he was the most iconic. Trebek had been the host of the show since 1984, appearing in 8,000 episodes over 37 seasons. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter. Over time, Trebek became synonymous with the Jeopardy! brand, and was held in high regard by both fans and contestants of the show. Trebek is widely considered to be the greatest game show host of all time.
Trekbek was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019, announcing the news in a video message. Many were sadden by the news, and soon speculation begun about Trebek stepping down and getting replaced. However, Trebek made it clear that he had no intentions to stop his hosting duties, and continued to stay with the show throughout his entire illness. Like all productions, Jeopardy! was forced to shut down in March 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the way game shows are shot, the production had many episodes already banked and Jeopardy! continued to air new shows into June. However, as time went on and the pandemic didn't show any signs of calming down, many began to worry that Jeopardy! would run out of new episodes.
However, Sony Pictures Television (via The Wrap) announced that Trebek still has new episodes yet to air as host, and his final episode will air on Christmas Day. Jeopardy! redesigned their sets to be safer for the crew and contestants on the show, and resumed filming in July. Trebek's last day of filming was on October 29th, just ten days before his passing.
While there were always rumblings and rumors about Trebek being replaced or retiring because of his diagnoses, the iconic host seemed to have no plans to do so. He had been open about not fearing death, and was honest about the fulfilling life he had. While he intended to fight the cancer, Trebek revealed that he had rehearsed his final episode, and already knew what he intended to say to the audience. As of the writing of this article, it is unclear whether Trebek knew the shows he taped in October would be his last, and if he delivered his farewell message.
Trebek's legacy cannot be understated. Jeopardy! is an iconic show and has remained consistently popular throughout its entire run - largely due to Trebek's enduring charisma and sharp wit, which never diminished even as his illness worsened. He was fiercely dedicated to the program - shown by his quick return after he finished his first round of chemotherapy. While Trebek would probably argue that Jeopardy! is bigger than himself, it is hard to imagine what the show will look like without him.
Source: The Wrap