‘Jeopardy!’ — and Alex Trebek — return for new episodes Sept. 14
Show has new design to allow social distancing, Zoom tests
What is good news?
Alex Trebek will be back behind the “Jeopardy!” lectern in less than two weeks as the iconic game show host, Sony Pictures Television announced Thursday.
New episodes will return on ABC on Sept.
14 with Trebek and
74-time champion Ken Jennings as a consulting producer.
“I feel good, and I feel excited because once again ‘Jeopardy’ has demonstrated that it’s at the forefront of television programming,” Trebek said in a statement.
“I believe we are the first quiz show to come back on the air in the COVID-19 era. On a personal level, I’m excited because it gets me out of the house. It gives me something to do on a regular basis, and I was missing that.”
Trebek has been open about his arduous battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and the struggle to remain optimistic.
Jennings, who won the “Greatest Of All Time” tournament earlier this year, will record video categories, develop projects, assist with contestant outreach and serve as a general ambassador for the show, according to Sony.
“Though I’ve played my last round of ‘Jeopardy!’ as a contestant, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to remain involved with my favorite show,” Jennings said. “I’m still in on all the action, but I don’t have to worry about phrasing things in the form of a question any more.”
In the world of COVID-19, the “Jeopardy!” set has been redesigned to allow more social distancing between the contestants, and between the contestants and Trebek.
The casting will be done completely virtually with the new “Anytime test” and a second-round done via Zoom.