Katie Couric makes history as first female host
Who is Katie Couric?
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, on Monday the veteran journalist became the first woman to guest host “Jeopardy!”
Couric made her debut after repeat champion Ken Jennings and executive producer Mike Richards initially took over for the late Alex Trebek.
“It is such a thrill to be here guesthosting a show I’ve watched and loved for years — and, of course, a real honor to help out as all of us recover from the loss of the truly irreplaceable Alex Trebek,” Couric said during her brief opening monologue. “Now, let’s have some fun. Are you ready contestants? Let’s do this thing!”
The media professional also announced on the show that “Jeopardy!” has pledged to match all of the winnings made by competitors during Couric’s hosting stint and donate the amount to Stand Up to Cancer’s pancreatic-cancer research team.
In November, longtime “Jeopardy!” emcee Trebek died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, as did Couric’s older sister.
Couric, who also lost her husband to cancer, helped launch Stand Up to Cancer, which has raised more than $600 million for disease research since 2008.
“I can’t think of anything more important than supporting cancer research,” Couric said in a recent interview for “Jeopardy!”
“It just means the world to me because it’s affected me so personally. And I know it probably means the world to everyone at ‘Jeopardy!’ who loved Alex Trebek.”
— Los Angeles Times
Obama, Hamm chosen for Women’s Hall of Fame
Former first lady Michelle Obama and soccer star Mia Hamm have been chosen for the National Women’s Hall of Fame as part of a Class of 2021 announced Monday that also includes former PepsiCo Chief Executive Indra Nooyi and retired Brig. Gen. Rebecca Halstead.
Halstead commanded in combat as the first female commanding general at the strategic level in Iraq.
NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who died last year, also will be inducted during an Oct. 2 ceremony, along with the late author Octavia Butler, Native American artist Joy Harjo, abolitionist Emily Howland and artist Judy Chicago.
The National Women’s Hall of Fame inducts a new class every other year in Seneca Falls, N.Y., the site of the first women’s rights convention. As in other years, this year’s ceremony will be in person, hall officials said, but tickets will not be available until April or May, when there is a better understanding of COVID-19 protocols for live events.