Alex Trebek, longtime host of the game show “Jeopardy!,” passed away peacefully in his home Nov. 8, at age 80. Trebek was the host of “Jeopardy!” for 36 years. As the show’s host, Trebek was known for being sharp, quick-witted and a bit snarky when contestants got answers wrong that he deemed easy. It was this fun-loving and challenging attitude that made the show entertaining and made it oh-so tempting to play along from home.
Trebek had several hosting gigs on other game shows, but “Jeopardy!” was where he made a name for himself. He started hosting when the show got a reboot in 1984. Trebek has always been the face of the game show and dedicated most of his career to hosting. Trebek has been so dedicated, in fact, that when he announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, he decided that he would continue to work and host the show for as long as he could. Trebek knew the impact that he had on viewers, and knew how important and impactful it would be to them that he stay strong and continue to be there for viewers as he has for more than three decades.
Growing up, I always watched “Jeopardy!” with my dad; we would challenge each other to answering the questions first, and when we both didn’t know about something, we would look it up on Wikipedia and try and learn about the subject. “Jeopardy!” pushed us– as it pushed so many others– towards curiosity.
Alex Trebek entered all of our living rooms through our televisions– regularly or randomly– to push us and assist us in a pursuit of random facts and knowledge. “Jeopardy!” regulars have Trebek to thank for their plethora of knowledge, be it about history, science, literature, geography or all of these subjects.
When you watch reruns of “Jeopardy!” and hear that soothing and familiar voice, keep in mind the legacy that it has behind it. The legacy of a passionate and witty host who pushed contestants– in person and at home– to be curious and inquisitive.
It’s not yet clear who Trebek’s replacement will be, but nobody will be a worthy successor. Trebek has had a profound impact on American culture, and he’ll always be close to the hearts of millions. By Gen-Z and Baby Boomers alike, Alex Trebek will be sorely missed.
Mikayla Rochelle is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Mikayla by tweeting her at @mikayla_roch.
