Trebek hints at retirement
The answer to the question: “When is Alex Trebek quitting as Jeopardy! host?” might be sooner than you think.
In an interview with TMZ’s Harvey Levin, the Canadian-born game show host said he could be done in 2020 when his current contract runs out.
The chances that Trebek, who has hosted Jeopardy! since 1984, sticks with the trivia show past 2020 are “50-50 and a little less,” he told Levin on Fox News’ program OBJECTified.
Trebek, who was born in Sudbury, Ont., and awarded the Order of Canada in 2017, turned 78 in July. He suffered heart attacks in 2012 and 2007.
After Levin asked if he can imagine life without the show, Trebek said, “Sure.”
When the Emmy-winning host does eventually turn in his mic, whether it’s in 2020 or sometime afterward, he already has two candidates in mind who can replace him — Los Angeles Kings play-by-play announcer Alex Faust and CNN legal analyst Laura Coates.
Coates took to Twitter to express her delight.
“Incredibly honoured & humbled @Jeopardy Alex Trebek 1) knows who I am 2) thinks I’d be a great host of my fave game show ever that I grew up watching w/ my family & still watch w/ my own kids (who saw him say this & now think I’m a genius) #Dying.”
Jeopardy! has won 33 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.