GEORGE PLOTS TO AX ALEX!
News honcho’s scheme to nab Jeopardy! job from Trebek
POLITICS junkie George Stephanopoulos is plotting to take over Jeopardy! from ailing host Alex Trebek, stunned insiders say.
The ABC News titan, 59, has hyped the high-profile gig publicly — and sources snitch to GLOBE that he’s making a no-holds-barred grab for it!
“George has had secret meetings with TV bigwigs and even done a hush-hush audition behind closed doors,” spills an insider.
“Hosting Jeopardy! has long been a dream of his. He’s a fan of the show and his whole family watches it with him, including his daughters.”
Adds the tattletale: “He’s almost dead-certain for the job and a favorite, but they don’t want to announce anything yet out of respect for Alex.
“Still, others think it’s in poor taste and that he’s dancing on Alex’s grave!”
As GLOBE readers know, longtime emcee Alex, who turns 80 in July, has been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer since last year and has undergone several debilitating bouts of treatment.
“Alex has given hints that he may step down after 36 years, but no decision has been made yet,” reveals the insider. “He has his good days and his bad days, but he’s always enjoyed the work.”
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex taped episodes without a studio audience. But due to his age and health woes, the show’s production was eventually suspended.
“Now the wolves are lining up at Jeopardy!’s door and George is leading the pack!” dishes the insider.
During a recent on-air conversation with shock jock Howard Stern, George — who was a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton before he went into broadcasting — admitted as much.
“I think it would be a lot of fun,” George confessed before adding, “But I like what I’m doing, too.”
George — who hosts ABC’s Good Morning America and the politically oriented Sunday news show This Week — told Howard Jeopardy! is “great” and he’d have “big shoes to fill.”
But George’s “aw shucks” act seems to be just for show, sniffs the insider.
“George would love to nab the Jeopardy! job. Alex makes $10 million a year working two days a week. He’s angling to get it — and thinks he has a good chance, too!”