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EXCLUSIVE: Ken Jennings and the late Alex Trebek share a “Jeopardy!” Special! binding.
The famous contestant reflected on all the time he spent with the longtime host, 80, who died Sunday after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March 2019.
Jennings told Fox News shortly before Trebek’s death that the TV star still maintained her professionalism but was very relaxed and friendly during commercial breaks, which might surprise game show viewers at home.
“He’s still the same kind of authoritative character, whatever isn’t. He’s got that old-fashioned diffuser thing. He’s that kind of old-school gentleman. But I think what is going on. Might surprise viewers at home is that it is not starchy or smug in any way, ”Jennings told us.
‘PERIL!’ HOST ALEX TREBEK DEAD AT 80 AFTER BATTLE WITH PANCREATIC CANCER
“[During commercial breaks] he’s actually cowardly and awkward and tells jokes and he does accents. He is more the goofy uncle than the harsh stereotype of the father, ”added Jennings.
Jennings, 46, first appeared in “Jeopardy!” in 2004 and he is the all-time leader in game shows with a total of over $ 5.2 million, which he has earned from 75 appearances he has made since then.
Alex Trebek and Ken Jennings on “Jeopardy!”
(Eric McCandless / ABC via Getty Images)
The author added that throughout their relationship, he admired Trebek’s actions and learned a valuable lesson from the icon a few years ago.
“I was backstage at a tournament with him and that was before he was diagnosed with cancer, but he was having a bad day. He just felt lousy. But then the music turned on and the announcer said his name and he just turned it to Alex. Trebek and went over there, ”recalls Jennings.
‘PERIL!’ COMPETITORS KEN JENNINGS, JAMES HOLZHAUER MOURN ALEX TREBEK’S DEATH
“I asked him the question later and it wasn’t a performance. You know, he’s someone who feels the best and is the most confident and the most capable when he does his job when he animates. ‘Jeopardy!’ because it’s the thing he’s done the best in the world for the last 37 years, “he continued.” I really admire that … just the idea that the thing you love , the place where you feel at home, can keep you going.
Alex Trebek hosted “Jeopardy!” for 37 years.
(Eric McCandless / ABC via Getty Images)
“I think about this day not only when I’m on TV, but when I’m doing something… I’m working on a book or when I’m doing an interview, you know, I’m just thinking, how does Alex handle that?” He thinks.
Jennings paid tribute to Trebek in a touching message on Sunday.
‘PERIL!’ HOST ALEX TREBEK RECEIVES EMOTIONAL TALKS ABOUT HIS FAMILY’S ROLE IN HIS CANCER BATTLE
“Alex wasn’t just the best at what he did,” Jennings wrote alongside a photo of himself taking a selfie with Trebek. “He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I’m grateful for every minute I was able to spend with him.
Representatives for “Peril!” said in a statement that the show will not announce plans for a new host at this time. They said, “Jeopardy! is saddened to learn that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thanks, Alex.
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Trebek will still appear in pre-recorded episodes for Season 37. He will also appear as the host posthumously until Christmas.
Fox News’s Tyler McCarthy contributed to this report.
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