The concept we’re developing on 5 years with out Alex Trebek is probably going mind-boggling to many Jeopardy! followers. Trebek’s 37-year run on the historic recreation present made this system a nightly staple for hundreds of thousands, which continued even after his passing. As Jeopardy! finally sorted via its guest-host brouhaha, and dropped Mayim Bialik as co-host in late 2023, Ken Jennings in the end emerged as the only successor, and is weighing in on these turbulent occasions and what it was wish to take over for the beloved late icon.
The syndicated recreation present undoubtedly discovered its footing since, and goes sturdy, with Jeopardy! Masters debuting its newest season on the 2025 TV schedule. #2 on the record of all-time greatest Jeopardy! winners, Jennings revealed to Folks that mini-era was advanced to maneuver due to everybody mourning Trebek’s tragic passing, himself included, and realizing that nobody could possibly be a real one-to-one alternative. As he put it:
It was very tough after Alex handed as a result of, after all, all of us missed him. Nobody had seen anyone else host Jeopardy for practically 40 years. It was a tough adjustment, and I did not need to be there.
He’s not improper. Trebek’s loss of life was arduous to course of, and led to many conversations about how the present might transfer ahead with out hiim. I can’t think about being ready just like the 50-year-old Jennings on the time, with many followers calling for him to take over, although the studio wasn’t instantly on board. And although he was initially skittish about taking on arguably the perfect recreation present ever, Jennings took the plunge and hasn’t actually seemed again.
Jennings jumped into his extra intimate perspective on the time, sharing he wasn’t able to let go of the legend. In the long run, although, he knew he’d watch the late entertainer sufficient that he might use his information of what Trebek would’ve performed to choose up the internet hosting torch. And now that it’s been a couple of years, he’s feeling extra assured than ever earlier than:
I needed Alex – like he was my man, however fortunately I had seen him host sufficient that I type of had this inside sense of what would he do right here, and that is actually the one factor that obtained me via. And some years on, I’ve gotten sufficient reps that I really feel somewhat extra snug on the market.
For the reason that new job duties had been assigned, we’ve seen Jennings slowly change into extra assured behind that podium. Even nonetheless, followers have various opinions of him as lead, and he’s okay with that as a result of he is aware of this demographic is notoriously tuning in for what they change into famliar with over time a long time. All of us knew this era can be an odd feeling and new, and it’s nice to know he additionally acknowledged it wouldn’t be a fast course of. However there continues to be loads of good indicators for this new age persevering with to bridge the hole, and he has no plans of adjusting Jeopardy!’s format.
You’ll want to tune into Jeopardy! Masters‘ new episodes airing on ABC each Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. ET.