Somewhere around the late 80s, Trebek hosted a short-lived show that was a precursor to home shopping networks. A friend of my dad’s was also on the show, and had to describe a radar detector that was for sale. Instead of at least feigning polite interest, Alex kept asking pointed questions, like “Isn’t that illegal?”, “No? Well, isn’t it unethical?”, while my dad’s friend tried damage control while giving Trebek, “Dude, we’re on the same team!” looks.
I feel exactly the same way—What really kills me is the way that he LOVES to “correct” contestants on pronunciation, even when they are exercising a perfectly cromulent way of saying a particular word.
He reeks of smugness and pomposity, and if I didn’t enjoy the trivia of the game so much I would never be able to watch…
Many years before Trebek did “Jeoparday,” he was the host of a somewhat short-lived game show called “The Wizard of Odds.” It had various games/trivia questions based on numbers, for example:
He might have a list of items reading:
a) The number on Joe Namath’s jersey
b) Number of cubic feet in a gallon
c) Number of states bordering Canada
d) Number of grams in an ounce
And then a number such as “12” might be displayed, and the contestant would be asked to find the one item in this list that is over “12.”
Or the game might be: The number might be “31” and the contestand might be asked to pick the three from the list that when added together are under “31”
Anyway. . .
I remember the very first game on the very first program ever aired. It was a list of famous actresses, and the customer was asked to do some game based on their their bust measurements, whether they were higher or lower than some number.
Needless to say, that hooked me, but they never did another game like that.
I never knew people felt so strongly about him. I always kind of liked him. Though I don’t watch as much Jeopardy! as some people, granted.
I always saw him as just another stuffed-shirt Canadian. Nothing wrong with that.
When I was on, I tried 3 times to explain what I did to the PAs, and it was always considered too difficult for him to get. And his job is easier than you think, since when he fluffs a reading, which happens once a show it seems, they go back and record him doing it right.
I attended a taping of Johnny Carson’s game show before he took over Tonight. (Yes’ I’m old.) Let’s say there was a world of difference.
I used to see him as that, too. Then, some years ago, my husband (on a business trip) encountered him (Trebek) in an airport. Hubby didn’t interact with him at all, but he told me what he witnessed, which was Trebek in full-on tantrum mode, insisting that he be moved immediately to the front of the line, didn’t they realize who he was??? Etc. etc. etc.
Haven’t been able to stand him since. Though I still do like the show.
That doesn’s surprise me actually. I can see that him being really smart and now pretty famous has made him pretty arrogant. He does seem like the smug type.
Maybe he deserves all those jabs from Connery on SNL? 
Why do people think Trebek is smart? He’s probably gleaned a lot of knowledge from being the host of a higher-brow trivia show for years, but has he done anything to show that he’s smart?
I never had a bad thought about him till I saw the show referenced by the OP.
It was pretty clear that Trebek was clueless that he was making the contestant very uncomfortable and when he continued to badger her on the subject, which she repeatedly stated that she was NOT a groupie, it was quite obvious that he had no clue why she was so adamant in her response.
T: So, you’re a groupie (slut who randomly screws musicians)
C: NO!
T: Are you sure you’re not a groupie (slut)?
C: [turning red] Yes I’m sure that I’m not a slut
T: Well, you said that you wanted to write about bands so you could be a slut
C: [Quietly smiling praying the subject will change soon]
T: Let’s get back to the game now!
I feel like the chitchat has gotten weirder and weirder in the past few years. Worse still, Trebek seems to be reveling in the awkwardness. It makes me cringe, but a small part of me admires the don’t-give-a-fuck lifestyle.
I watched one particularly memorable bit of snark towards a contestant that I still use to this day whenever I spot someone particularly condescending. The question had to do with painters, and the description was something about “This Flemish painter… .” The contestant answered, “Who is Bruegel? Buzz! Wrong. When no one else rang in and time expired Trebek turns to the contestant and says “Bruegel of course, was Dutch.” Whenever I see someone corrected in a condescending manner I trot out that phrase about Bruegel. No one gets it, but I’m used to that.
Can anyone find a video online of the “groupie exchange”?
:giggle:
When we got a DVR, the very first thing I said to my wife while I was programming it was, “No more of those contestant interviews on Jeopardy”
For me, that’s when I clean out the cat’s box. More enjoyable than watching the interviews.
That would be 'Cro-mu-lant’.
Just joking. This is the only thing that I have against Alex, and it is enough. But, I’m almost over the last time that he did it, which was 7 or 8 years ago. It is just so incredibly rude, and at the expense of the people that help him get rich. He once ‘corrected’ somebody’s pronunciation of “Pliny” the Elder. Of course, if Alex can tell us for certain how Pliny pronounced his own name, I’ll be more than glad to say that I misjudged him, but, until then, I’ll have to say jerk.
Best wishes,
hh