Alex Trebek once cast these names as “Jeopardy!” host; EP explains why Icon didn’t want to pick a replacement



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Over the years, during interviews, Alex Trebek has thrown out names – albeit some jokingly – who could potentially host “Jeopardy!”

However, according to the show’s executive producer Mike Richards, the late television icon never directly discussed his replacement. According to Richards, those conversations will eventually take place, but for now, like many, the “Jeopardy!” the team mourns the beloved host.

“He never mentioned any names to us,” Richards told Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier on Monday. “He really wanted to be the host of the show, when he was the host of the show. So we didn’t say, ‘Hey, what about that person? And that person?’ It was his show until he told us he was going to retire and surprisingly he never did. I think that’s a blessing. “

According to Richards, Trebek – who died on November 8 after a long battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer – however “spoke about what it would take to be a good Jeopardy host!”

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“Typical of Alex. He self-deprecated [and] “It’s not that hard,” Richards said. “Let me tell you, this might be the hardest show to host on TV; 61 hints in 22 minutes, accents, pronunciations, scoring, calling people, deciding on answers. of the need to be someone the audience will respect, it’s believable in the role [and] has credibility … He was so smart you bought him, because you knew he knew the answer too. “

In 2019, the New York Post reported that Trebek had been asked who he thought should replace him as the game show host after him.

“It’ll probably be a woman, someone younger, someone bright, someone nice, someone with a great sense of humor,” he told 92nd Street Y, jokingly, “So I named Betty White.

In 2019, Alex Trebek jokingly `` nominated '' actress Betty White as `` Jeopardy!  '' replacement.  (Photo by David Livingston / Getty Images)

In 2019, Alex Trebek jokingly “ nominated ” actress Betty White as “ Jeopardy! ” replacement. (Photo by David Livingston / Getty Images)

Joking aside, he also reportedly seriously suggested TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, CNN’s Laura Coates, and Los Angeles Kings announcer Alex Faust – he mentioned the latter two in a 2018 interview with TMZ as worthy successors to fulfill his huge shoes as “Jeopardy!”. host.

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“They should consider it,” Trebek told TMZ when asked about retirement Faust, adding that he mentioned the name of the now 31-year-old athlete to one of the show’s producers. Faust has been the play-by-play announcer for the professional hockey team since 2017.

Los Angeles Kings play-by-play announcer Alex Faust has been suggested by Trebek twice.  (Photo by Juan Ocampo / NHLI via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Kings play-by-play announcer Alex Faust has been suggested by Trebek twice. (Photo by Juan Ocampo / NHLI via Getty Images)

He then mentioned 40-year-old Coates. Coates is also the host of “The Laura Coates Show” by Sirius XM and an assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Law, according to his biography.

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As for Mankiewicz, 53, he’s been the host of Turner Classic Movies since 2003.

“There are so many talented people out there who could get the job done,” Trebek said in 2019 at 92nd Street Y in New York City, according to USA Today.

Laura Coates, host of Sirius XM's “The Laura Coates Show”, was also mentioned twice by Trebek.  (Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty Images)

Laura Coates, host of Sirius XM’s “The Laura Coates Show,” was also mentioned twice by Trebek. (Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty Images)

But, according to Richards, the people behind “Jeopardy!” did not “actively sue people” for the concert at this time.

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“We still had our guy and now that’s not the case,” Richards told Entertainment Tonight on Monday. “We’ll end up, in a few weeks, start having these conversations, because we owe it to Alex to keep the show going. That’s the only thing that will propel us, to be honest. That’s when we let’s start to really talk. people and see who can do it. It will take someone with incredible skills. “

Ben Mankiewicz, who has hosted Turner Classic Movies since 2003, was also previously nominated by Trebek.  (Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty Images for WarnerMedia)

Ben Mankiewicz, who has hosted Turner Classic Movies since 2003, was also previously nominated by Trebek. (Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty Images for WarnerMedia)

One thing is certain: “Jeopardy!” will certainly continue as Trebek has asked Richards and others to “promise” that the show will continue even without him.

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“That’s the only thing he made us promise, that this great show wasn’t done,” Richards said. “He didn’t want to be bigger than the show. [He] fought all his time. He said, “This is the show. These are the clues. These are the competitors. Obviously we all think he played an extremely important role in all of this, but that was his opinion. “

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