# Who SHOULD replace trebek on jeapordy? Vs. Who do you WANT to replace him? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2019, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877 "2019-03-10T06:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/101 "2019-03-17T06:04:00Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Mostly because I miss him and perhaps not the very best fit for the job but Jon Stewart could be fun. Agreed. > [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](#): > > Yeah, but see, I don’t think Trebek _does_ do it well. He’s stiff and awkward. He comes across as arrogant and douchey. Oh, he tries not to, but you can just _tell_ he thinks he’s better than the peons he deigns to associate with - it radiates off him. His attempts at being loose and funny are just painful. He doesn’t know how to have an unscripted conversation; I swear he’s on the spectrum somewhere. During the “getting to know you” segment, his response to almost every contestant is “Good for you!” You could make a drinking game out of it if you don’t value your liver. > > I hardly wish death on the man, but I’m looking forward to a host who doesn’t ping my “there’s something wrong with this guy” radar. Amen to every word of this. I’ll add that he usually opens a mini-interview with a question that is phrased in such a way to make it perfectly clear that he already knows more than a little about the contestant’s area of interest/expertise, and will often reply to their achievement by implying he’s done it too, only better. He always has to one-up them, as if to knock them down to size, and also make it about _him_. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/102 "2019-03-17T06:16:27Z")
Well hell. A week and a half ago I said I wouldn’t post in this thread again. Obviously I got carried away. Sorry. Over and out. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/103 "2019-03-17T07:23:19Z")
Matt LeBlanc. Really. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/104 "2019-03-17T10:13:58Z")
If you won’t have him for President, how about Chesley Sullenberger? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/105 "2019-03-17T16:34:21Z")
> [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](#): > > Yeah, but see, I don’t think Trebek _does_ do it well. He’s stiff and awkward. With due respect, you’re objectively wrong. He pulls the show off really, really well. It runs very smoothly, even granting they can edit it a little. Your personal opinion of him as “douchey,” whatever that means, isn’t all that relevant to how well he hosts the show, except insofar as it is in defiance of the majority opinion of the show’s legions of viewers. I mean, you seem to hate the guy based on whatever, and that’s your opinion, but that isn’t a measure of how well a game show host does his job. I’ve seen show hosts who were people I thought were quite likable who just weren’t very good at it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/106 "2019-03-17T16:35:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > More seriously, Penn Jillette would make a great host for Jeopardy. But he has a regular gig at the Rio in Vegas, so I don’t if that would work. I just don’t see how they could pull this off without him giving up something else. Neat idea though. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/107 "2019-03-17T17:06:18Z")
From what I’ve read, Jeopardy! tapes for only 4-6 days each month, so it’s quite possible for someone to do this and other stuff as well. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/108 "2019-03-17T17:28:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > With due respect, you’re objectively wrong. He pulls the show off really, really well. It runs very smoothly, even granting they can edit it a little. > > Your personal opinion of him as “douchey,” whatever that means, isn’t all that relevant to how well he hosts the show, except insofar as it is in defiance of the majority opinion of the show’s legions of viewers. I mean, you seem to hate the guy based on whatever, and that’s your opinion, but that isn’t a measure of how well a game show host does his job. I’ve seen show hosts who were people I thought were quite likable who just weren’t very good at it. If I personally find him off-putting, am I “objectively wrong” about being put off? Am I not _really_ put off, I just think I am? If a host of _anything_ isn’t likable, personable, and engaging, then by definition he’s not doing his job well. Obviously opinions can vary, and that’s mine. I don’t know about “the majority opinion of the show’s legions of viewers” - I suppose that’s true enough, given how long he’s been on the show. But there is no small number of Dopers who find him off-putting; there have been entire threads about it. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/109 "2019-03-17T17:37:34Z")
Also, something just occurred to me: I’ll bet Trebek reads the Dope. :o ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/110 "2019-03-17T20:48:31Z")
I keep thinking of people who would do well on You Bet Your Life, half hour of chat with a little bit of quiz show mixed in. Obviously they would go crazy doing Jeopardy. Ken Jennings would be a hoot. But ruin the game by answering all the questions first. He’d be good for a week then start mouthing the answers to the contestants. Further, I think the host has to kind of sexless?, maybe not, but harmless? anyway. Anybody currently doing audiobooks and under 40 would do. I really like Wil Wheaton for the job. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/111 "2019-04-11T14:46:24Z")
On a slight tangent, I like this article, in which Ken Jennings writes about the _Jeopardy!_ minor leagues: [The connection between Jeopardy! and NAQT quiz bowl.](https://slate.com/culture/2019/04/jeopardy-quiz-bowl-connection-ken-jennings.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/112 "2019-04-11T15:06:58Z")
Since the thread was revived, I’ll note that the current champion, James Holzhauer, set a new one-day record on Tuesday, winning $110,914. He’s won five games so far with a total of about $298,000. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/113 "2019-04-11T16:22:14Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ll add that he usually opens a mini-interview with a question that is phrased in such a way to make it perfectly clear that he already knows more than a little about the contestant’s area of interest/expertise… This is standard interviewing technique, especially when time is tight. He already knows what he needs to know about each contestant (they provide information before the show), chooses what he thinks might appeal to the audience, and steers the chat in that direction. He doesn’t ask a question to which he doesn’t already know the answer to keep the contestant from going off on tangents. If he already knows something about the field of expertise from personal experience, so much the better. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/114 "2019-04-11T16:32:14Z")
> [@pmwgreen](#): > > Anybody currently doing audiobooks and under 40 would do. I really like Wil Wheaton for the job. Wesley Crusher hosting _ **Jeopardy** _? May you be cast into _Ghe’tor_ for even suggesting such a thing! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/115 "2019-04-11T16:33:53Z")
Barack Obama ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/116 "2019-04-11T16:34:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Wesley Crusher hosting _ **Jeopardy** _? May you be cast into _Ghe’tor_ for even suggesting such a thing! :mad: No, not Wes. [Chaos](https://leverage.fandom.com/wiki/Colin_%22Chaos%22_Mason). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/117 "2019-04-11T17:17:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > This is standard interviewing technique, especially when time is tight. He already knows what he needs to know about each contestant (they provide information before the show), chooses what he thinks might appeal to the audience, and steers the chat in that direction… When I qualified for the show back in the Nineties, we were asked to list five interesting things about ourselves for Alex’s eventual use, if it came to that (for me, it didn’t). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877/118 "2019-04-11T17:32:08Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Barack Obama He certainly has the right combination of gravitas and levity. Maybe this was his intended niche all along! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-replace-trebek-on-jeapordy-vs-who-do-you-want-to-replace-him/830877.md?page=5)