Posts moved from the Alex Trebek obit.

[oldradiotapes]

R.I.P. Alex.

Hopefully Sony won't repeat the mistake Fremantle made when Bob Barker retired, if they decide to continue the show. The new guy will have some VERY huge boots to fill.

 

[crainbebo]

I have a feeling Ken Jennings will be pitched by Sony soon to take over. Or someone in the news industry. An evening news anchor, like David Muir (if he has time)? Wolf Blitzer?
Really big shoes to fill no matter what. What's going to be interesting is possibly hearing Johnny Gilbert introduce a new host before he himself passes on.

 

[davideduardo]

I have a feeling Ken Jennings will be pitched by Sony soon to take over. Or someone in the news industry. An evening news anchor, like David Muir (if he has time)? Wolf Blitzer?
.

Interesting idea of bringing over a "news" person. The anchors are really not newsmen or journalists, just supposedly personable news readers, so the transition would be easy. However, I wonder if those anchors might consider this a step down.

 

[TheBigA]

I have a feeling Ken Jennings will be pitched by Sony soon to take over.

Apparently that has already been discussed:

https://nypost.com/2020/09/03/is-ken-jennings-being-groomed-to-replace-jeopardy-host-alex-trebek/

 

[CTListener]

Interesting idea of bringing over a "news" person. The anchors are really not newsmen or journalists, just supposedly personable news readers, so the transition would be easy. However, I wonder if those anchors might consider this a step down.

Most anchors have reporting backgrounds, but it's all in their distant, small-market past. Reporters with anchor looks and deliveries get sent to the desk quickly. That said, Jeopardy is regarded as a tougher test than any current game show (though it pales in comparison to BBC radio's impossible "Brain of Britain"), I don't think a news anchor would face the same criticism for taking the Jeopardy job that Meredith Vieira got for hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Of course, she had long distanced herself from her local news/network news/60 Minutes past by hosting The View.

 

[TheBigA]

Jeopardy is regarded as a tougher test than any current game show

Keep in mind the host doesn't come up with the questions. He simply reads them from a card.

In Alex's case, he did so in a very credible way. Same with Art Fleming. Its that credibility that is more of a factor than one's previous job experience.

 

[CTListener]

Keep in mind the host doesn't come up with the questions.

I wasn't trying to imply that was the case, just that someone with a background in network news would be more readily accepted as the host of a quiz that engages the brain more than most currently do. If Jeopardy was more along the lines of The Price Is Right, I could see a network or major market news person -- even a mere news reader with no reporting background -- having reservations about the job, no matter how much money it would pay. Remember that Mary Tyler Moore Show episode in which Ted Baxter left WJM news for a silly game show? Lou Grant got him to reconsider by reminding him that he was a "newsman," and would be lowering himself by leaving the profession to host a "QUIZZZZZZ show"!

 

[TheBigA]

Lou Grant got him to reconsider by reminding him that he was a "newsman," and would be lowering himself by leaving the profession to host a "QUIZZZZZZ show"!

As I recall, after that conversation, Lou told Mary it was all a way just to keep their star from leaving.

 

[Mgomrjsurf]

Any of the former Family Fued host that are still alive.

 

[oldradiotapes]

Interesting idea of bringing over a "news" person. The anchors are really not newsmen or journalists, just supposedly personable news readers, so the transition would be easy. However, I wonder if those anchors might consider this a step down.

Apparently that has already been discussed:

I wasn't aware they were discussing his taking the show over but I kind of figured he would have been considered at some point, given his history of involvement with the show.

 

[RFCCRadioAudio]

Could Jeff Probst be tapped to host? He hosted Rock & Roll Jeopardy on VH1 and did a good job.

 

[seatownmedia]

My brother attended a live studio taping of Jeopardy earlier this year. His opinion was he didn’t look good in person and they had to stop the taping dozens of times to complete the half hour show. Too bad, I bet in his prime he could do the whole show in one take. What a loss for not only the viewers but the affiliates who have depended on this show for revenue. Not to say the show won’t continue, it will, but never be the same.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Any of the former Family Fued host that are still alive.

Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, and John O'Hurley (And for a short period Al Roker) are all still alive, but none of them would be right for Jeopardy.

To be honest I can't think of any hosts of any recent game shows that would be a good fit for Jeopardy, because most were comedians, which would apply for past Family Feud hosts as well.

Rest in peace Alex.

 

[TheBigA]

What a loss for not only the viewers but the affiliates who have depended on this show for revenue. Not to say the show won’t continue, it will, but never be the same.

You're exactly right. This show and Wheel of Fortune create a ton of money. It's why they have tried to retain the original hosts of both. They know that loyalty and heritage is tough to build and replace. Bringing someone in from the outside won't be accepted.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Interesting idea of bringing over a "news" person. The anchors are really not newsmen or journalists, just supposedly personable news readers, so the transition would be easy. However, I wonder if those anchors might consider this a step down.

It’s not so far-fetched an idea, considering that John Charles Daly was ABC’s primary news anchor (1953-1960) during some of the same years he hosted “What’s My Line” on CBS (1950-1967). He also did some fill-in work on NBC’s “Today,” making him one of very few people who worked simultaneously at all three of the original TV networks.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I remember that Alex Trebek was hired to Jeopardy after the show's creator/ director in the 1980's got the idea from the Al Yankovic Parody of Jeopardy.

 

[TheBigA]

I remember that Alex Trebek was hired to Jeopardy after the show's creator/ director in the 1980's got the idea from the Al Yankovic Parody of Jeopardy.

Not so, according to this:

The song was released just prior to the revival of Jeopardy! in 1984, though contrary to popular theory, the revival was already in the works and was not inspired by Yankovic's song.

 

[davideduardo]

You're exactly right. This show and Wheel of Fortune create a ton of money. It's why they have tried to retain the original hosts of both. They know that loyalty and heritage is tough to build and replace. Bringing someone in from the outside won't be accepted.

I really like Crainbebo's idea of getting a news anchor. Authoritative, people think they are wise and knowledgeable, and recognizable by many.

 

[TheBigA]

I really like Crainbebo's idea of getting a news anchor. Authoritative, people think they are wise and knowledgeable, and recognizable by many.

What is the figure you often cite about the public's trust in news anchors? Do you really want to trust such a venerated institution as this to that?

 

[gr8oldies]

It's going to be very, very difficult to fill the slot. They had brought Ken Jennings onto the staff, and I had thought they might be thinking of grooming him as the next host. What about someone who won celebrity Jeopardy?