The Real Reason ‘Jeopardy!’ and Alex Trebek Are a Perfect Match
Two of the most beloved parts of American pop culture are game show host Alex Trebek and the game show Jeopardy!.
The two are forever linked together, and will be even after Trebek steps down as host. Trebek has been the face of Jeopardy! since 1984 and even has continued to host the show during his recent battle with pancreatic cancer. Trebek is scheduled to be the host of Jeopardy! until 2022.
That leaves at least two more years of Jeopardy! with Trebek behind the host’s podium. The sad reality is that Trebek’s time as host of the show is limited, which is a great reason to celebrate and enjoy the time that is left.
Who is Alex Trebek?
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, George Alexander Trebek began his career in the entertainment industry on the Canadian television show Music Hop in 1963. Trebek decided to use his middle name Alex as his entertainment name, and began his start on American television in 1973.
The first hosting job Trebek held was on an NBC show called The Wizard of Odds. NBC and Trebek then began a long relationship, as Trebek went on to host various game shows High Rollers, The $128,000 Question, Battlestars, Pitfall, and Classic Concentration. Then in 1984, Trebek has also made a variety of cameo appearances on iconic television shows such as Arthur, The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210, How I Met Your Mother, and many others. In nearly all of these appearances, Trebek voices or plays himself and is hosting a Jeopardy type game show.
One of Trebek’s roles that was not based on himself was as The Second Man In Black in the popular science fiction show The X-Files. Despite these television cameos, Trebek will always be known as possibly the greatest host in game show history.
What is ‘Jeopardy!’ about?
The popular program is one of the most well-known game shows of all-time. The original version of Jeopardy! was created by Merv Griffin in 1964, and hosted by Art Fleming on NBC.
This version of the show ran until 1975, and was revived by the network with Trebek as the host. The way the game is played is quite simple, but the knowledge required to win makes it much more difficult.
In Jeopardy! contestants select a clue from one of five categories, and must answer the clue in the form of a question. Correct answers earn points, and wrong answers lose points. There is also a round of final jeopardy, where contestants can bet the points they have received.
The player with the most points at the end of the round wins. The premise of the show is simple, but it is a very difficult game to win. Episodes of the game show can be seen on syndication reruns across the world every day. The show and its host are synonymous, and many believe that no one could ever replace the legendary Trebek.
What makes Trebek and ‘Jeopardy!’ the perfect match?
Like peanut butter and jelly, Trebek and Jeopardy seem to be made for each other. Trebek’s soothing and intelligent demeanor and voice just sound perfect while reading off clues on the show.
Fans of Trebek also love the host’s positive attitude, and seeing the highly enjoyable interactions between Trebek and the contestants. Trebek’s mix of intellect and humor is perfect for the long-running game show, and it is clear that everyone involved in the show really enjoys their time on Jeopardy!.
The host has mentioned his dislike for stupid people, which there are not many of in the difficult game show. The long-time host has also mentioned his love for interacting with the show’s live audience during commercial breaks.
These breaks allow Trebek to let out his lighter side, much to the delight of those in attendance. Fans that make up both the live audience and the at-home viewers will certainly miss Trebek whenever he decides to retire as the host of Jeopardy!.
