# RIP Alex Trebek **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067 "2020-11-08T17:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/110 "2020-11-09T01:11:21Z")
Six or so years ago, I was in a Vancouver hotel looking through travel brochures trying to plan our last day of a long driving trip through western Canada. I was watching Jeopardy in the background and suddenly a picture of Butchart Gardens came up on the screen. None of the contestants could identify it, prompting Alex to say something like, “If you ever find yourself in British Columbia with a day to spare, take some time to go see this beautiful place.” I was actually holding the brochure in my hand as he said it. We took the ferry over to Victoria the next day and it was great. I’ve often thought that if I were ever on Jeopardy, I’d put down for my contestant interview that I take travel advice from Alex Trebek. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/111 "2020-11-09T01:22:42Z")
I’ve watched Jeopardy since my teens. Alex has always been a comforting presence on the show. Something that I took for granted. I sometimes went years without watching because I was at work when it aired in the morning. I would usually watch when I was home sick or saw reruns on the weekend. Alex will be missed. Thank you for so many years asking challenging game questions. I may be just a little smarter because of some of the science categories. ❤ ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/112 "2020-11-09T02:33:52Z")
Will Farrell needs to host for a bit. It would be the tribute he would have wanted. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/113 "2020-11-09T03:09:57Z")
ABC has a remembrance on right now (10 pm EST). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/114 "2020-11-09T03:13:23Z")
Seeing this tribute all over the Web: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VqTmTnCHkbE/maxresdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VqTmTnCHkbE/maxresdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mako88sb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@mako88sb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mako88sb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/115 "2020-11-09T06:28:04Z")
So sad to hear this. I’ll never forget the Cheers episode with Cliff on Jeopardy and the categories tailor made for him. What a great combination. RIP Alex. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/116 "2020-11-09T08:28:56Z")
Anyone familiar with Trebek’s work on _Jeopardy!_ will know that he loved to show off his pronunciation (and correct contestants’ pronunciation) of French words, though not everyone knows that this was because he was a fluent French speaker himself. Here’s a clip of Trebek hosting a bilingual Canadian quiz show, where he switches between French and English every few sentences: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FcWYJHdeN8Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Alex Trebek 1978 CBC Radio Canada") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcWYJHdeN8Q) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/117 "2020-11-09T13:39:45Z")
My wife and I were watching reruns of “Ca$h Cab” on GSN yesterday afternoon and during one of the commercial breaks they put up a screen with a brief note mourning his passing. So that’s how I learned about it. I was a huge Jeopardy fan 15-20 years ago but didn’t watch it much recently. As noted by @kenobi_65 up-thread, I remember him from “High Rollers” back when I was a kid in the 70s (with the perm and the porn stache). RIP Alex. You were awesome. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/118 "2020-11-09T13:44:43Z")
I’ve been watching _Jeopardy!_ since the '60s, when it was hosted by Art Fleming. My mom was on the show back then, and won two games. But Fleming never had the same legacy and loyal following as Trebek. Whoever the next host will be, the show will never be the same. [And please, NOT Ken Jennings!] ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/119 "2020-11-09T17:48:13Z")
I must say (best Ed Grimley voice) that I might not continue being a loyal Jeopardy! watcher now that Alex is gone. Alex stated that he had input as to who would succeed him. I hope it’s not Ken Jennings. I would love Buzzy Cohen or Brad Rutter. Or even Austin (I loved Austin but know a lot of people don’t). ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/120 "2020-11-09T17:52:20Z")
I saw an interview with him where he said that he wanted the next host to be a woman. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/121 "2020-11-09T18:42:32Z")
is that the national animal of canada in the lower corner? this year, gah, this year. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/122 "2020-11-09T20:23:39Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I saw an interview with him where he said that he wanted the next host to be a woman. How about that “Weakest Link” lady? What’s she up to these days? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/123 "2020-11-09T21:15:13Z")
This morning, NPR’s Morning Edition host David Green aired an interview with Alex taped ‘a few months ago.’ It is outstanding and anyone reading this thread really should listen to it. > **[Remembering TV's Alex Trebek Who Has Died At Age 80](https://www.npr.org/2020/11/09/932977444/remembering-tvs-alex-trebek-who-has-died-at-age-80)** > > For 36 years, Alex Trebek quizzed Jeopardy! contestants on history, geography, hip-hop lyrics, "Potent Potables" and "Potpourri." He died Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/124 "2020-11-09T22:23:39Z")
I missed their window. Alex had stated he had NO input into his successor. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/125 "2020-11-09T22:35:49Z")
Curious what was going to happen today. Nice message from a producer, then stating they will air the 35 episodes that have been recorded. Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/126 "2020-11-09T23:13:56Z")
There was also a message at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/127 "2020-11-09T23:16:06Z")
Yes, but then joked that Betty White may be a good choice! 🙂 He also seriously suggested CNN legal analyst Laura Coates. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/128 "2020-11-09T23:18:40Z")
I don’t think that’s true. Trebek told [TMZ in 2018](https://www.tmz.com/2018/07/30/alex-trebek-jeopardy-replacement-alex-faust-kings-hockey/) that he would like LA Kings announcer Alex Faust or CNN legal analyst Laura Coates to replace him. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067/129 "2020-11-10T03:06:08Z")
Chris Cuomo just gave the man a beautiful eulogy on CNN (Don Lemon agreed briefly) I am going to go blow my nose and dry my eyes now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-alex-trebek/925067.md?page=2)