‘Jeopardy!’ Reportedly Searching for Alex Trebek’s Replacement
Alex Trebek shocked fans when he revealed he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Though the news is devastating, the 78-year-old promised fans he’d continue to host Jeopardy! amid his health struggles.
However, Rob Shuter, who is a gossip columnist and author, took to his podcast “Straight Shuter: Naughty But Nice” to dish on the network’s reported plans to replace him.
“Alex is 78 years old, and the show was already talking about a replacement host when he retired. Now with his health scare, that process has been accelerated,” sources told the podcast host, according to Radar Online.
“Jeopardy is still a very successful show and makes millions for the network. There was no way it was just going to end after Alex retired. The idea has always been to ‘refresh’ the formula, not change it.”
In fact, the show is allegedly looking into finding a female host to take over for Trebek.
“Talk about his replacement has always centered around finding a female host and someone of color. But at the same time, they want someone smart and well-educated,” Shuter shared.
“Someone that is respected and trustworthy. They are aiming more for Gayle King than Real Housewife Nene Leakes!”
This reported news comes one month after Trebek went public with his cancer diagnosis in a recorded video shared on social media.
“Just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” he said in the clip.
“Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and I’m going to keep working, and with the love and support of my family and friends — and with the help of your prayers, also — I plan to beat the low survival-rate statistics for this disease.Truth told, I have to. Because under the terms of my contract, I have to host ‘Jeopardy!’ for three more years.”
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What's all this about a network? Jeopardy has nothing to do with a network. It's a syndicated show produced by Jeopardy Productions a subsidiary of Sony.
Jeopardy NEEDS a host who at least seems intelligent enough to know the answers to most of the "questions." Bringing in a celebrity because they're female or black or both just isn't going to cut it.
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Sounds like someone just doesn't want a black woman hosting jeopardy.
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I think Condoleezza Rice could make a good host. I just don't think they should hire her just because she's a black woman.
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Alex has been great. Why does the new host have to be a black female? Isn't that extremely prejudiced? Of course it is.
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Sad? Would a white guy work better for you? Does he HAVE to be an old guy, or can they bring in someone young? Or would it just be 'offensive' to you to even ponder? Maybe they should just be looking for a guy who looks and sounds JUST LIKE ALEX?
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Your race and sex based hatred have no place in America. Leave now.
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The decision to hire based on race and sex has already been made. In the spirit of "Non Discrimination" of course. Alinsky Rules 4 and 5 need to be put into play here.
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It’s difficult to imagine Jeopardy with Trebek. I had heard that he was going to retire before the health announcement was made. It’s possible to find a decent host to continue the show, but let’s not diminish the quality of the show and bring in some knuckle head that jokes his or her way through the show. Years ago I had heard that producers wanted Merv Griffin to dumb down the show, he refused and the rest is history, Alex had a lot to do with the legacy of this show. Here’s hoping that they maintain the shows integrity.
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