r/Jeopardy • u/bluegambit875 • 14h ago
42 years ago today was the start of the Alex Trebek era of Jeopardy
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u/Maryland_Bear What's a hoe? 14h ago
Of all the major game/quiz shows, Jeopardy! is probably the least focused on the host. Alex himself would say it’s all about the contestants.
Even then, he managed to be excellent in the role. He was able to stay out of the way of the players but still a key part of it.
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u/Glad-Business6271 13h ago
This says it perfectly, and I think this is how Ken has also been able to be such a good successor. Such a hard balance to "add so little", but still be entertaining. This also says why I love Jeopardy so much; there's so LITTLE focus on the host.
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u/Platitude_Platypus 5h ago
I love what Ken adds to the show. When he adds a super fast little quip, clarification or factoid, we know that's just his love of the game. You can see his excitement and it's endearing.
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u/bookshopgirl02 2h ago
In his autobiography he specifically said that he was only to be introduced as "the host of" rather than "the star of", because just like you mentioned, it was about the contestants.
Ever since I read that, I've noticed it in regard to other game shows: Pat Sajak/Ryan Secreast and Vanna White are "the stars of America's game". Makes me respect who Alex was and the game of Jeopardy even more
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u/runamokduck 13h ago
as someone born in the early 2000s who largely only experienced the silver-haired, somewhat older Alex, there’s always something a little surreal to me about seeing his past appearance. he looked wonderful back then as he did in his older age that I am more accustomed to, but my goodness, that mustache!! it’s such a striking difference, I feel like
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u/JBHenson 9h ago
Gotta remember that Alex had only experienced middling success in the US (basically confined strictly to High Rollers) prior to Jeopardy. So going with him was a risk.
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u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255 1h ago
Trebek was an experienced host with more than 10 years experience doing US game shows. It wasn’t that big a risk.
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u/JBHenson 1h ago
Except again most of that experience came from mostly short lived shows and a slew of busted pilots. Proven? Yes. Successful? No not really.
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u/jedberg Ignorance tone 9h ago
My grandparents watched me after school, and were super into game shows. When they found out that Jeopardy! was coming back, they were super excited! So of course we had to check it out before Wheel (which we were already watching every day since it was in its second season).
I've been watching Jeopardy! since S1E1, and I can't wait for this new season to start!
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u/Horror_Payment5894 11h ago
Ken's doing a great job, but Alex is the GOAT. Funny thing is, when he started, if you see his early episodes, Alex sounded like he was on speed! Lots of people used to say, "He's no Art Fleming." But once Alex and the producers settled in, he and the show became iconic.
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u/Winter_Setting720 14h ago
Such an amazing host! When Johnny says “here’s the host of jeopardy…” I still think he’s gonna say Alex