ALEX TREBEK’S MEMOIR ON LIFE WELL LIVED
INSIDE
“You never have to apologize for admitting you watch ‘Jeopardy!’”
That, according to its popular host, Alex Trebek, is one reason for its longevity (1964-79; 1984 -2020). It is a “quiz” show, not a “game” show, he insists. It celebrates knowledge. It rewards those who are wellread and deal in facts. And in these up-ended times, the show is a comfort — serving as a reminder that great minds still exist in the world.
Mr. Trebek’s quickly written memoir, “The Answer Is ... Reflections on My Life,” is so fresh it refers to the current pandemic. But then he has good reason to make haste: in 2019 he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. He has fared better than most with the disease.
The book is a not a grim reckoning, nor a juicy tellall. There are few details about his personal life that haven’t already been in the news. He is modest, and his tone is conversational. His humor a little corny— exactly like the man you see on TV every night. Mr. Trebek says he thinks he reminds us of a familiar uncle.
Maybe, but there is something so earnest, so steadfast, so true about him, that for fans it’s impossible to not want more.
The good news is this is partly achieved through a nice collection of vintage photographs and candid snapshots, like being offered a family photo album.
Divided roughly in half by his past (upbringing/ school/early jobs) and his Jeopardy! years, the book confirms for us the Canadian-born Trebek, who recently turned 80, is a product of his generation, which is to say, traditional. He uses phrases like: “found his calling,” “made sacrifices,” “made tough decisions,” and most often, “learned a lesson.”
He says his all-time favorite movie is John Ford’s “How Green Was My Valley,” which was oldfashioned when it came out — in 1941. “Any movie about fathers and sons blows me away,” he writes.
He doesn’t want to come off as a prude, so he claims to have a rebellious side, admitting he likes to swear. (Golly!) He does not drink, smoke, or take recreational drugs. He loves animals, gives generously to charities, and his favorite beverage is milk.
We learn young Alex worked hard (his first job was at 13), took to heart his Catholic education, and possessed an innate curiosity about the wider world. Picking up late-night radio signals from far-away places as a boy had a profound effect on him. While still in high school he would get a job in radio.
From there he worked his way up through dozens of television game shows before becoming “Jeopardy!’s” host in 1984. He attributes it to luck and timing, but it’s clear he made important connections and good friendships his whole life that served him well. Once settled in Los Angeles, his golden connection was Merv Griffin.
Fans of “Jeopardy!” will enjoy reminiscing about some of the show’s famous contestants, including phenoms like Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and others. There was blind contestant Eddie Timanus. There was Cindy Stowell, who knew she was dying of cancer, but well enough to compete. She died a week before her shows aired.
Alex Trebek is no navelgazer. He does not overthink the hand he has been dealt. He’s grateful for a rewarding career and a loving family. His thoughts about death are touching, but not sentimental, and he describes how easy it is to find simple joys in each day he has left.
In a later chapter, he reveals how his thoughts about manliness and toughness have evolved. “I used to think not crying meant you were tough,” he says, sounding downright modern. Recently he has come around to believe the opposite. “It means you’re strong enough to be honest and vulnerable. It means you are not pretending ... it’s one of the toughest things a person can do.”
Final jeopardy? We hope not. In the meantime, the book tells of a life welllived, befitting a straight shooter like Alex Trebek.