Thanks for everything, Alex Trebek. Thanks for all of the clues.
Your show has helped quench a thirst for knowledge for many, many viewers around the world, young and old, rich and poor, the highly educated—the lawyers, doctors, librarians and scientists—and those with very little formal education who happened to catch the Jeopardy! bug each weekday afternoon.
Almost every parent, I believe, would want their kids to watch Jeopardy!.
“I think you have watched enough television. Isn’t it time to go out and play? What are you watching in there?”
“Jeopardy!”
“Oh, very well then.”
The show has surely caused many to look further into a wealth of subjects—world history, chemistry, Edison and da Vinci, spices of Africa, U.S. presidents, poetry, volcanoes, ancient Egypt and its pharaohs and pyramids and, of course, potent potables.
Hundreds of thousands of clues and questions (remember, the format is not question and answer on this unique show) have sparked the minds of viewers for decades. The original incarnation of Jeopardy! launched in 1964, when the Canadian-born Trebek had just begun his television career in his native country. Trebek, who later became a U.S. citizen, was not the show’s only host, but he has been the face of the show since its revival in 1984.
Many viewers at home probably experienced a category or board that they could have just dominated. Could-haves, should-haves and if-onlys . . .
Other trivia-based game shows are weak and slow by comparison. As long as time doesn’t expire in one of the rounds with clues still remaining on the board, each Jeopardy! game contains 61 clues. That’s some action! The knowledge comes fast.
The show will live on, with Ken Jennings–the GOAT–appropriately stepping in as interim host. Producers say other interim hosts will follow, with a permanent announcement on the show’s future coming soon.
“Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him. We will honor his legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved,” according to the show’s executive producer Mike Richards.
Much love and respect, Trebek, even if you never had me on the program. I tried, I would have made myself available anytime, but it was not to be.
Maybe there’s still time for me. Possibly I can make it onto the show with another host. I would love it, but—even if I managed to win a game, which would be incredible—it just wouldn’t have the same bragging rights as appearing on the stage with Alex.
