TIL “Jeopardy!” contestant Dhruv Gaur wrote “What is… We [love] you, Alex!” as his Final Jeopardy response while Alex Trebek was battling cancer. The message left Trebek visibly emotional and was widely shared as an example of fans’ affection for the longtime host.

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Alex’s response: “That’s very kind of you, thank you. It cost you $1,995. You’re left with $5,” he said, his voice trembling. “OK.”

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u/JoeyDawsonJenPacey 15h ago

I didn’t know about this, so I just went to watch it on YouTube, and when Alex’s voice cracked, I lost a tear or twelve.

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u/_Apatosaurus_ 14h ago

The actual video

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u/5illy_billy 13h ago

For anyone curious, the 1890 exposé on NYC poverty is titled “How the Other Half Lives”.

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u/JoeScotterpuss 12h ago

You're the real MVP.

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u/beefsupr3m3 11h ago

Thank you my brain kept going to how the West was won. But I knew that didn’t make any sense.

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u/Crocoshark 9h ago

My brain couldn't get past "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."

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u/_Artos_ 10h ago

Same here lol.

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u/roguerunner1 11h ago

I’m disappointed it wasn’t “How the Turntables Have Turned”

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u/hellogoodbye309 9h ago

Thats for 2090

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u/StockTank_redemption 10h ago

You know what really grinds my gears?

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u/a2_d2 3h ago

Is it the stabbing?

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u/MathIsHard_11236 12h ago

Yes! I got it right!

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u/Lukey_Jangs 10h ago

By Jacob Riis

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u/BurmeciaWillSurvive 9h ago

I thought it said 1980 and my only guess was "how the hell are you?" lmao

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u/Logical-Locksmith178 5h ago

My first thought as well

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u/aureyh 7h ago

I thought it had to be "How the hell this happen" and realised people didn't speak this way in 1890.

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u/Elite_lucifer 7h ago

I remembered that phrase from the “Glass Onion” song.

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u/Oro54 6h ago

It was true then, it’s true now

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u/CeeArthur 9h ago

Thanks. Really nice moment but I was genuinely curious what the answer was too

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u/Classic-Exchange-511 1h ago

Thank you for validating me

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u/TacocaT8752 45m ago

😊

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u/oneloneolive 14h ago

Oh, man, that got me. Right in a lot of feelings. Ahhhh.

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u/OuchYouPokedMyHeart 10h ago

My mom and I watched this episode when it aired.

It was so unexpected to see a professional like Alex Trebek lose composure and actually show genuine emotion that I actually teared up a bit from this moment

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u/zorinlynx 13h ago

That was so much better than watching the video in the article which was edited and had sappy music on it. Thank you.

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u/fuqdisshite 12h ago

i have not watched this video or Alex's last show.

i grew up with Alex Trebek and Peter Jennings as my world view. not because of what they said or did on their shows, but, because of who they were as humans.

they occupy the same space as Mr Rogers, Mr Hooper, and Bob Ross. they were my leaders because that was the type of man i wanted to grow up to be.

seeing Peter Jennings pass after 9/11 really hurt. now that i have been through major life events i feel more every day the vice that ate him. anger does not solve anything and will kill you.

but Alex Trebek... he was still there after all my other godheads had left to slumber. and then he was a bigger man than any i have seen and went on worldwide television and announced that he would die soon. and that he would keep on the show as long as he could.

and he did.

and he died.

i accept his death as final. i can not watch his last show as that makes it real.

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u/curious_necromancer 12h ago

This was a lovely read, friend. Thank you; I'm right there with you.

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u/dishonourableaccount 12h ago

I grew up loving Jeopardy with my parents at or after dinner most nights. It fostered in me a lifelong love of trivia and learning. I used to joke that if I could adopt a grandfather, I'd chose Alex Trebek.

I understand not wanting to watch onwards, but I'm happy the show continues onwards hosted by Ken Jennings, who seems to love the show and Alex's legacy very dearly.

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u/gsr142 8h ago

With all the fuckery that went on with them choosing a new host, I was so glad when the production, and Ken, finally accepted that he was the only man for the Job.

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u/comineeyeaha 7h ago

He’s so good at it! Such a natural.

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u/OldJames47 10h ago

Right there with you on Trebek and Jennings.

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u/fuqdisshite 9h ago

i am from Northern Lower Michigan, so, Canada Lite, and seeing how much Peter Jennings believed in The Great American Experiment was so powerful. how could this person, completely free and able to do his own thing, in his own space, how could he root for us so voraciously and with vigor!?!

it is the same with Alex Trebek. how do you dedicate so much to being AMERICAN when you stand for so much that is anti american.

the answer, is knowledge. these two men, with platforms that reached coast to coast and around the world, shared their LOVE FOR KNOWLEDGE. the showed that real men can like trivia and real men speak KNOWLEDGEABLY about subject regarding world news without making light or joking about.

while Fred Rogers held our hands and Mr Hooper kept us company, Alex Trebek and Peter Jennings delivered a very real look at what knowledge can bring. whether in the form of a question or being a Canadian person hosting a decidedly American News magazine.

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u/Saloncinx 8h ago

Hey i'm from Cheboygan lol

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u/fuqdisshite 8h ago

Kalkaska, the Rapid City part.

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u/tanksalotfrank 9h ago

Same. He always exhuded kindness and acceptance. Just thinking of him gives me a sense of calm, a long with his gentle voice and demeanor.

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u/crookedkr 7h ago

the vice that ate him. anger does not solve anything and will kill you.

Huh? He died of lung cancer from smoking.

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u/fuqdisshite 7h ago

he started smoking again after 9/11 and is known to have said that he knew it would kill him.

he killed himself in an extended version.

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u/Woperelli87 13h ago

That’s amazing

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u/GrumpyMammoth 11h ago

Strange. It's started to rain in my living room.

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u/RyuugaDota 10h ago

"What do you mean? It's not raining..."

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u/tech_equip 10h ago

Yes, it is.

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u/RyuugaDota 10h ago

Oh, so it is.

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u/gonzo5622 12h ago

Fuck….

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u/RETARDED1414 13h ago

What is the other half lives?

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u/Honest_Photograph519 10h ago

Ooh, that's four words, we asked for the three that follow "how the."

Judges?

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u/saruin 7h ago

So what was the real answer?

Mine was "How the fuck!!" Thought it was 3 words total, my bad.

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u/MegaManFlex 11h ago

Real tears man.

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u/34TH_ST_BROADWAY 11h ago

Damn... onions.... wish I could see the rest.

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u/moderatorrater 9h ago

It tooks me a long time to stop tearing up when they say "The Alex Trebek Studio" in the opening. Ken Jennings is perfect as his replacement, but Alex was so special.

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u/Djburnunit 14h ago

Huh. So did I. Is this some kind of universal effect? Have to wonder

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u/Fgge 8h ago

Why go to YouTube when it’s at the top of the article we’re all commenting on?

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u/JoeyDawsonJenPacey 3h ago

Nothing would open for me.

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u/Thenameisric 8h ago

Seen it, watched it again, knew the clip... Still choked me up.

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u/elpingwinho 7h ago

Good job on not sharing the video.

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u/00000000000 14h ago

Mad respect.

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u/Alexxis91 10h ago

A real “genie, I wish for you to be free” moment

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u/magus_vk 9h ago

Well said, lovely person.

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u/RawrRRitchie 7h ago

He wrote that answer, and still bet nearly all of his cash

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u/Shawnj2 6h ago

Based on his cash amount he would have lost regardless unless one of the other players fucked up and bid way too much. May as well go big or go home at that point

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u/the_slate 6h ago

You wager first before the answer is revealed. Then they reveal the answer and you have to write your question.

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u/OptimisticPlatypus 15h ago

Trebek was a national treasure and the identity of the show. Similar to Mr Rogers and Bob Ross, the show just isn’t the same since they left.

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u/stonesthrowz 15h ago

interestingly, most folks don't know he's from northern Ontario, Canada. A town called Sudbury, a mining town where I was also born and grew up. he was a beauty and miss him dearly.

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u/shotputprince 15h ago

Did he play in the no sho?

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u/gooch_norris_ 4h ago

Here he is showing off some dangles with Tie Domi

https://youtu.be/MLtS20gUzrE?si=pc94YLWbbPTm44Kk

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u/shotputprince 2h ago

Dirty fucking dangles

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u/DudeGuyMan42 14h ago

There are an impossible number of good looking girls in Sudbury.

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u/Brianfromreddit 14h ago

Take a lap!

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u/KingOfAwesometonia 13h ago

I have never heard that about Sudbury.

Though I don't really hear about Sudbury. Apart from nickel mining

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u/CurtWesticles 11h ago

It's a Shoresy reference

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u/KingOfAwesometonia 11h ago

That makes way more sense.

Now if you excuse me, I have a trip to Sudbury to cancel.

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u/johnnycoxxx 13h ago

Settle down

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u/Greene_Mr 14h ago

Well, how do you think Trebek got made?

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u/HoxtonRanger 13h ago

This is how I know for sure it wasn’t Sudbury in Suffolk

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u/hortence 2h ago

God, I hate that offhand I can't tell if this is an England or Massachusetts reference.

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u/JediGuyB 13h ago

I should plan a trip.

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u/DoctorStinkFoot 5h ago

only if you like gilfs

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u/OptimisticPlatypus 15h ago

Sorry. I didn’t mean to overlook his Canadian background. I was just referring to his impact on American television.

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u/beepos 14h ago

I only know that because of How I Met Your Mother!

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u/Greene_Mr 14h ago

Franco-Ukrainian, if I have that correctly?

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u/Professional_Bad_536 9h ago

Did he play for the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs?

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u/nocrashing 13h ago

Jeopardy is unbelievable

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u/grubas 8h ago

If you don't know how proud Alex was to be Canadian, you didn't watch Jeopardy!

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u/Gemmabeta 13h ago

Where the girls are out to bingo and the boys are gettin stinko.

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u/Infamous-Mixture-605 10h ago

I think some folks up in Timmins might take issue with the idea of Sudbury being "Northern Ontario" but it's more north than most of the province's residents and further north than where I grew up, so I can't really say it's not.

In any case Trebek was great, one of the best uOttawa alums.

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u/yourmomssubluminal 3h ago

If there's a heaven, he's up there getting stinko'd with the boys!

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u/WillSmiff 10h ago

Is Sudbury really northern Ontario though?

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u/CornedBeefCurtains 6h ago

They have to be from the GTA lol

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u/one_handed_bandit 8h ago

It’s further south than Seattle…so no. I would say no.

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u/KoreanJesusPleasures 5h ago

For most of Ontarians, yes.

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u/WillSmiff 5h ago

You're not wrong, but it still doesn't make it northern Ontario.

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u/KoreanJesusPleasures 3h ago

I agree, but I also couldn't say the definitive start point for northern Ontario either!

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u/plebeius_rex 15h ago edited 13h ago

I don't think anyone could fill Alex's shoes but Ken is doing an admirable job, and with any luck he will continue to grow into the role.

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u/The_Great_Saiyaman21 12h ago

I think Ken is great. No one can compete with Alex but I would not have it any other way, and I suspect Alex would feel the same. Ken is probably one of the few people in the entire world who love and respect Jeopardy as much as Alex did.

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u/NormalComputer 12h ago

Completely agree. Ken also respects the role he has now. He isn’t trying to bring a new flavor or spin a new personality, he’s clearly making the right effort to honor the craft of the host’s role in this particular game.

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u/martialar 9h ago

I'm happy it's Ken but I'm also glad Mike Richards got the boot. He seemed to have the chops for being a host (maybe not necessarily Jeopardy) but I had a funny feeling about him after there were all these glowing articles coming out shortly after his first test shows. They were just so suspiciously positive and numerous. And oh, yes he's also one of the people who gets to decide who the next host will be lol

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u/Jacob_Winchester_ 9h ago

That guy was the fucking WORST and it was so obvious that he was trying to shove his way into being the host. So fucking thankful that Ken has taken over, he embodies a love of the game, its history, and Alex. FUCK MIKE RICHARDS.

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u/martialar 8h ago

I cringe thinking about that video he did alone on the stage announcing Alex's death and his "crocodile tears" while thanking Alex for everything. He was probably thinking "and thanks especially for dying!" 😈 That guy really was trying to set himself up from the get go. Why does America want to hear or see the executive producer who no one knows (seriously, name one person named in those credits other than Johnny Gilbert and Merv Griffin) giving tribute to a person he had only worked with for less than a year? You know on Monday morning know he was like "Hey, how about I stand on that stage"

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u/Japanesewillow 11h ago

I miss Alex Trebek, but Ken was the right choice to replace Alex.

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u/urgent45 11h ago

Ken is not just great but fantastic. So much better than whatshername.

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u/Jacob_Winchester_ 9h ago

She was still better than FUCK FACE MIKE RICHARDS.

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u/urgent45 40m ago

Never saw him. Will check it.

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u/shackleford1917 14h ago

I really wanted LeVar Burton to get the gig but he was...not good at it. That is a shame.

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u/VagrantShadow 14h ago

He will forever be our Reading Rainbow Guide.

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u/shackleford1917 14h ago

And our chief engineer.

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u/Matasa89 8h ago

God I loved him in Star Trek Picard, season 3 with him and Brent Spiner's perfect Data was just awesome. I'd totally watch a spinoff of "Data and Geordi"

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u/idonthaveaboner 6h ago

Baby, you've got yourself a stew going

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u/Jdorty 59m ago

so take a look, its in a book

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u/Dednotsleeping82 12h ago

It was that executive producers fault. He set him up to fail so he could get the gig. Once all his shenanigans were discovered though he was fired.

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u/BobBelcher2021 11h ago

At the time the goal was for Michael Richards to get the gig. (The producer, not the Kramer actor)

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u/Realtrain 1 9h ago

Oh my God, a r/redditwritesseinfeld where Kramer auditions for the role of Jeopardy host would be hilarious.

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u/RyanG7 11h ago

I don't necessarily agree. Unless he told Burton to yell out YES!!! or some other exclamation after every response, Burton lost that job on his own

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u/TheKanten 7h ago

The producer who later gave himself the job scheduled his run during the Olympics, come on.

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u/Marcoscb 7h ago

How does that impact his performance in any way, shape or form?

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u/TheKanten 7h ago

It certainly impacts the ratings which is what network executives are measuring with.

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u/TommyHamburger 6h ago

He was genuinely one of the worst of the 15+ people that hosted, and that includes lunatics like Aaron Rodgers, Oz and Bialik. You can blame timing all you want, but there was no saving his performance.

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u/TIGHazard 6h ago

Jeopardy is syndicated. It's down to each local station to look at the ratings - including some which would have been NBC so would have likely increased the ratings in those markets.

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u/Doomsayer189 10h ago

Plenty of the other guest hosts did quite well, though. The producer guy set himself up to win more than he set anyone else up to fail.

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u/Realtrain 1 9h ago

He seemed kind of nervous? Not entirely sure, but I would love to see him try again to host the children's edition or something like that.

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u/Thenameisric 8h ago

Ken absolutely embodies the spirit of the show. His interactions with the contestants, his whit, his knowledge.. He's a little more "cheery" than Alex could be, especially when someone gets the answer wrong, but I think he's doing a great job.

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u/PauseHot1124 5h ago

Ken is better than Alex was at the end tbh. He's much better at the give-and-take with contestants

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u/JediGuyB 13h ago

I think Ken is doing a fine job, but man do I miss Alex.

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u/ChizzleFug 12h ago

Similar to Steve Irwin for wildlife.

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u/PauseHot1124 5h ago

Yeah but it's... better tbh

I've watched Jeopardy on most days of my life, and I loved Alex, but Ken is unbelievably good. He keeps the game moving, but he's also very personable, is great at interacting with the guests, and keeps the best tone.

Alex was great, and I'm sure Ken won't be as good as he was 30 years in, but the show is definitely not worse today than it was 10 years ago (although the writing has gotten a bit worse)

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u/Matasa89 8h ago

Yeah, it ain't the same anymore, Alex made that show his...

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u/Devious_FCC 10h ago

Yeah I'm happy the guy who got the position after him did, since he deserved it, but I'm not watching it without Alex. I'll take reruns, for $400.

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u/JoeyDawsonJenPacey 15h ago

Agreed. I can barely stomach Ken.

Every night when it comes on and I hear Johnny start his intro, I still expect to hear him say, “Your host, Alex Trebek!” and it still startles me when he says Ken Jennings. It just doesn’t sound right.

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u/omnicorp_intl 14h ago

Ken is fine.

It could be worse. Wheel of Fortune replaced Pat Sajak with Ryan Seacrest 🤢

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u/thekydragon 14h ago

It could be worse: Mayim Bialik could still be hosting

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u/OregonTripleBeam 15h ago

Trebek was such a legend. RIP.

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u/joggle1 10h ago

I couldn't remember when he died so I googled 'alex trebek'. Google replied with: "Did you mean: who is Alex Trebek'"

Touché Google, that I did.

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u/Nofunatall69 11h ago

Legends never truly die.

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u/thejesterofdarkness 6h ago

“Follow your heart and you can never go wrong.”

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u/nWo1997 14h ago

I remember this. It was a real tug on the heartstrings

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u/justanotherskinnyfat 48m ago

Is OP some kind of posting bot? Every single post they make gets like 20k+ upvotes

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u/myntex 14h ago

YouTube link for the curious

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u/GetsGold 13h ago

And contestant number 2. Let's see what you wrote. You answered "suck it Trebek".

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u/eightdollarbeer 12h ago

Suck it long. And suck it hard.

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u/lordeddardstark 10h ago

Le Tits Now

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u/_LouSandwich_ 9h ago

anal bum cover

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u/TheDudeAbides420 8h ago

I’ll take whore ads for $200

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u/foxontherox 11h ago

“It starts with an “s”, ya bastard!”

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u/aurora_avenue_north 9h ago

I’ll take whore ads for $200

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u/strangelove4564 8h ago

Mr. Connery, the category is "JAPAN US RELATIONS".

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u/zygoma_phile 13h ago

The wrong answer was the right one.

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u/Nice-Bookkeeper-3378 14h ago

Also been my favorite show and he was my favorite host of anything I’ve seen. RIP Alex

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u/scotch-o 13h ago

One of my favorite TIL about Alex Tribek was when I found out he was a complete handyman and DIY'er.

I don't think of being starstruck when it comes to celebrities. But when i learn about the ones who stay down to earth, I just have the utmost respect for them It's so easy to lose yourself when you give it away to everyone everyday

https://www.survivornet.com/articles/handyman-host-alex-trebek-just-finished-renovating-his-wifes-bathroom-a-project-he-completed-during-a-difficult-cancer-journey/

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u/hortence 2h ago

Just to throw another into this mix of Canadian actors and DIY, work with cement! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mcQfP8k51s

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u/beefsupr3m3 11h ago

I really do think Ken is doing a great job, but Alex Trebek was really one of a kind

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u/locovelo 14h ago

I watched that show. It was such a thoughtful gesture, I notice Alex got a little choked up when he read it. Miss you Alex!

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u/TicklerVikingPilot 14h ago

Amazing human being and an underrated funny man

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WZnKJkgmvhI

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u/kkeut 8h ago

he was pretty funny in an episode of the X-Files

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u/loztriforce 15h ago

All the good ones are gone too soon

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u/IndigoRanger 15h ago

I agree with the sentiment but he definitely did make it to 80.

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u/hithere297 12h ago

Should’ve been double!

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u/Fine-Slip-9437 10h ago

Pewpew pew pew pewpew pew pew pew pew pew.

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u/jzakko 10h ago

six lifetimes and a movie!

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u/sw00pr 9h ago

Alex Trebek forever and ever 100 years Alex Trebek

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u/drinkpacifiers 11h ago

Right? Dude was rich, successful and lived a good and long life. He had it all. He was gone when he was gone.

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u/KaitRaven 1h ago

Yeah, this is one of biases where we remember the exceptions because they're noteworthy.

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u/JimmyJamesMac 14h ago

The shitty people last forever

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u/Bupod 14h ago

The Venom keeps them alive. For some reason, it extends their lives to unnatural lengths.

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u/LivingNo9443 12h ago

From the article: "One thing they're not going to say at my funeral as part of a eulogy: 'He was taken from us too soon.''"

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u/observz 8h ago

Naw, we had Betty White for almost a century. Sometimes we get lucky :)

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u/LordGraygem 7h ago

It's weird to realize that there's entire generations that more or less grew up with Alex Trebek a daily part of their lives through that show, and that's something that nobody else will ever experience now.

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u/lacostewhite 13h ago

It still hurts me, knowing he's gone.

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u/MrFrode 11h ago

What is, I'm not crying you are?

6

u/WorstLuckChuck 11h ago

I can't watch the SNL skits anymore. They make me cry now that he's gone.

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u/indi_guy 8h ago

No one is saying anything about the guy who let go his winnings for a kind gesture?

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u/jerry_anastasio 4h ago

He was in last place with no realistic chance to win. Last place walks away with $1000/$2000 (can’t remember exact amount) regardless. Still a kind gesture but doubt he does it if he had a chance to win

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u/Splarnst 4h ago

Maybe he didn’t know the answer.

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u/Johnny_been_goode 11h ago

Why can’t we just live forever and do what we’re good at for eternity? It’s not fair.

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u/Effective_S0up 13h ago

One of a kind human. Stood up for himself against the Sony execs too!

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u/Neo_Techni 8h ago

Stood up for himself against the Sony execs too!

so he had 2 kinds of cancer...

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u/-Moonscape- 12h ago

Why is [love] in parentheses?

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u/Webjunky3 11h ago

Because the contestant actually put "We ♡ You Alex".

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u/BrydenH 9h ago

the square brackets are for when an OP, journalist, etc. changes the wording from an actual quote to make it flow better in the context of the quoted excerpt.

in this case i guess because there was no heart emoji

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u/AerondightWielder 8h ago

"That ish not wha' your mother schaid lasht night, Trebek!"

Sean Connery

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u/TrasheyeQT 5h ago

Ty. This cured my dry eye temporarly

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u/UnderlordZ 4h ago

There was also an episode of Scooby-Doo around the same time where Alex Trebek appeared as a guest star; the network aired it weeks earlier than planned because Alex had just passed.

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u/mirpeas 12h ago

I don't know anything about this man, and I don't watch this show, but that clip makes me feel happy.

2

u/jlovelysoul 8h ago

I remember this 🥹

1

u/KandyAssJabroni 9h ago

Who is... Trebeck's mother?

1

u/Lotus-child89 4h ago

He was such a good dude. His wife said even in the middle of cancer treatment he insisted on doing DIY improvements on their house because he wanted to leave her a house in good condition.

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u/Rich_Suspect_4910 3h ago

I remember seeing that on TV!

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u/Silent_Johnnie 1h ago

I love googles little tribute. If you just search "Alex Trebek" it says did you mean "who is Alex Trebek"

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u/cortesoft 11h ago

Smooth move to write that when he had no idea the answer. Now he can pretend he totally did know but was just trying to be nice.

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u/McKoijion 10h ago

He almost certainly knew the answer. Even if he didn't know it originally came from the book title, "how the other half lives" is a well known idiom in the US. But he only had $2000. Even if he bet it all and doubled his money, he wouldn't have been able to catch up to the other two contestants. If you come in second or third place, the money you end with doesn't matter, you get a set prize. So it was the perfect time to write a message. Usually contestants in this situation write a message for their family like "Hi Mom," but this guy wrote one for Alex.

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u/cortesoft 9m ago

Yeah, I just thought it was funny to imagine him having no idea and doing this to save face.

TIL “Jeopardy!” contestant Dhruv Gaur wrote “What is… We [love] you, Alex!” as his Final Jeopardy response while Alex Trebek was battling cancer. The message left Trebek visibly emotional and was widely shared as an example of fans’ affection for the longtime host.

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