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Alex Trebek delivered a robust message about togetherness and giving on Monday evening’s “Jeopardy!” — one of many final episodes the beloved host recorded earlier than he died at age 80 on November 8 following a battle with stage 4 pancreatic most cancers.
“You’ll recall that about a month ago, I asked all of you to take a moment to give thanks for all of the blessings that you enjoy in your lives,” he mentioned. “Now, today, a different kind of message. This is the season of giving. I know you want to be generous with your family, your friends, your loved ones.”
He continued on with a problem for followers who’ve watched his present for over 8,2000 episodes.
“But today, I’d like you to go one step further. I’d like you to open up your hands and open up your hearts to those who are still suffering because of COVID-19. People who are suffering through no fault of their own,” he mentioned. “We’re trying to build a gentler, kinder society and if we all pitch in — just a little bit — we’re gonna get there.”
His closing episode, slated to air Friday, will embody “a special tribute to the life and work of the man who captained America’s Favorite Quiz Show with skill, style, and sophistication for 36+ years,” in response to an announcement from “Jeopardy!” producer Sony Pictures Television. The final week of episodes was scheduled to air in the course of the week of Christmas, however Sony pushed them again, so followers might get pleasure from their closing moments with Trebek.
Mike Richards, the sport present’s govt producer, said on NBC’s “Today” that the monologue viewers watched Monday evening gave the crew chills — they usually instantly erupted into applause.
“In this very special, unbelievable final week, he comes out and gives a talk about the importance of togetherness and sticking together and that the world is struggling but that we have to get through it together,” mentioned Richards. “We had chills. There are specific moments in ‘Jeopardy!’ when you clap, and then there are moments when you are quiet. There’s not that many people in the studio because of COVID, and we all burst into applause. We were so moved that we had to applaud.”
Richards additionally revealed that Trebek, who first introduced his most cancers prognosis in March 2019, was hospitalized the week earlier than the final batch of episodes had been filmed. The Canadian host’s final day of filming was October 29, 2020.
“He was an absolute warrior,” Richards instructed “Today.” “And what he was able to do by getting himself back to the set to tape those final episodes … it was Herculean. He was in enormous pain, he was 10 days away from passing away, and you will not sense any of that in these episodes.”
Trebek, who’s survived by spouse, Jean Currivan Trebek, and two youngsters, additionally insisted that the ultimate week of tapings not be canceled, Richards mentioned, regardless of his hospitalization.
“He calls me and he says, ‘Mike, I’m going to be fine. I’ll be in to tape. I was able to eat Jell-O today,’” Richards recalled. “And I went, ‘Alex, that’s great, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be ready to host five episodes of a game show, which is an enormous amount of effort.’ And he said, ‘Do not cancel. I will be there.’ ”
So far, “Jeopardy!” has not but introduced who will take over the long-running recreation present host’s place — though some names have been floated, together with the likes of George Stephanopoulos. However, there will probably be a number of interim hosts that will probably be acquainted to “Jeopardy!” followers, together with champ Ken Jennings, who not too long ago apologized preemptively for previous “insensitive” tweets — which many consider to be him clearing his title earlier than taking up formally.
As for Trebek, Richards mentioned he did supply some options however shied away from giving an all-out suggestion, as an alternative choosing Sony Pictures Television to make the ultimate alternative.
“He had mentioned a couple of names, but he wanted to stay out of that, and he knew that we would do a good job looking for people and that we would find someone,” Richards mentioned. “No one was going to replace him and he knew that. As humble as he was, he knew there was no chance of that. And that it’s someone smart and incredible that loves the show, that’s what he wanted.”
Back in January 2020, Trebek mentioned he would want however a mere 30 seconds to offer his closing sign-off message to followers, who’ve watched him grace the display screen as a relaxing however witty pressure on the fast-paced recreation present since 1984.
“I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people, ‘Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me … then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success,’ ” he mentioned. “And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”
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