Jeopardy Host Plans to Beat His Sickness

Screengrab via Jeopardy.com
Jeopardy host Alex Trebek

Edita Bardhi

Opinion Editor

Jeopardy, a game show that quizzes a group of three contestants of their knowledge toward chosen topics, has been aired on television since 1967.

The creator of the game show, Merv Griffin, launched Jeopardy in 1964 and host Alex Trebek has truly flourished its popularity since 1987.

For 32 years, Trebek’s dedication to the game show has been outstanding.

Generally, game shows (and reality television) go through numerous hosts and hostesses before they are officially over.

Yet, Jeopardy is one that has only had two hosts (Art Fleming being the first) while also surviving five-plus decades worth of seasons.

That is a record.

As a consistent viewer of Jeopardy, I am fond of Trebek’spositive attitude on the game show.

Calm and optimistic.

In the middle of March, Trebek announced he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

As soon as I learned this, I was like, “Oh my, our friend is sick.”

Generally, I am not familiar with game shows; however, Jeopardy has been one that I couldn’t escape from.

It seemed like no matter where I was, whether at home, in a waiting room, at a restaurant, in the hospital or someplace else, Jeopardy could be found on television.

In addition to its familiarity, Jeopardy always seemed to be one that brought everyone together.

In other words, people would enjoy their time despite whether they liked each other, had a bad day or were simply bored.

As long as Jeopardy was on, everyone was smiling and having a good time.

To think that Trebek is a cancer victim hurtful.

Aside from being on air for so long, Trebek’s dedication for the game show and his fans shown greatly through a video he conducted.

In this video titled, “A Message from Alex Trebek,” he spoke out to all his fans, explaining his condition and informing them that he will beat cancer.

“Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week, I have been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I am going to fight this,” said Trebek.

He continued, “And I am going to keep working and with the love and support of my family, my friends and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.”

See? That is the Trebek that everyone knows of.

Calm and optimistic.

Moreover, Trebek will remain as host of Jeopardy.

Yup, you heard me. The popular game show will still be seen on television.

For us viewers, that is great news; however, for Trebek, that must be pressuring.

His contract as host of Jeopardy expires in 2022.

This means that he must stay strong for another three years.

Surely, if you are a consistent viewer of Jeopardy you would know that the show airs six days a week – that’s a lot of episodes to host let alone create.

Hopefully, Trebek can overcome the cancer.

Email Edita at:

ebardhi@live.esu.edu