‘Jeopardy!’ Guest Host Dr. Sanjay Gupta Has Many Fans Hoping He’ll Be the Quiz Show’s Next Permanent Host
CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta wowed Jeopardy! fans during his two-week stint on the quiz show. Citing his Alex Trebek-like poise and engagement with contestants, many viewers have called for the medical reporter to be named the program’s next host.
For his part, Dr. Gupta let it be known who impressed him most during his hosting duties.
Who impressed Dr. Gupta most
As he rounded out his two-week stay on the show, Gupta honored the group of people that he came to admire most: all the behind-the-scenes crew that make Jeopardy! look so effortless.
“Let me tell you, I’m a little emotional,” the neurosurgeon said at the start of his final game. “It’s my last show today. You know, when you watch Jeopardy! on television as I have for 30 years, you have no idea how much goes into putting this show together. Frankly, to come in as a guest host only works because of the incredible team that is making it all happen behind the scenes, performing a totally different kind of surgery to the one I’m sort of used to. It ends up making it all so beautiful. So kudos to the entire staff and to the entire team. Thank you very much.”
On Instagram, Dr. Gupta posted an endearing photo of himself with his wife and three teenage daughters watching Jeopardy! along with a message revealing how much the guest job meant to him: “After all these years, the most magical thing about @Jeopardy! is it brings my three teenage girls together almost every evening. Thanks for the honor of these past two weeks. I will never forget them.”
Many fans want Dr. Gupta as the next permanent host of ‘Jeopardy!’
On the program’s social media posts, fans have expressed their feelings for Dr. Gupta – and they’re impressed. Many, in fact, want him in as Trebek’s successor.
“Dr Gupta has been phenomenal!! Please make him the permanent host!,” said one fan. Another viewer wrote: “Dr. Gupta was amazing! He was truly interested in all of the contestants!”
Finally, one fan felt Dr. Gupta handled his hosting duties much the way Trebek did: “He was excellent! Reminds us of Alex so much. Same hand gestures and mannerisms. Loved his voice.”
Over $200,000 raised for Dr. Gupta’s chosen charity on ‘Jeopardy!’
The game show on its Instagram account noted the impressive amount of money raised for Dr. Gupta’s charity, Odyssey Atlanta, during his time on the show.
“$231,059 donated to @odysseyatlanta, thanks to @drsanjaygupta’s two-week appearance on ‘Jeopardy!'”
Odyssey Atlanta, an educational nonprofit, expressed their gratitude for the visibility Dr. Gupta had given their organization and efforts.
“We are honored that Dr. Sanjay Gupta, renowned neurosurgeon and Atlanta resident, has selected Odyssey as his charity of choice while guest hosting Jeopardy! for two weeks,” their statement read. “Odyssey is a transformational academic experience designed to prepare, inspire, and support Atlanta public school students from underserved communities with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed from first grade through college and beyond.”
