Before Passing Alex Trebek Nominated Betty White As His Replacement

Nov 10, 2020 by apost team

Cherished game show host Alex Trebek, who made his way into America's heart with his nightly appearances hosting Jeopardy! for over 35 years, passed away Sunday morning aged 80. He had been battling stage IV pancreatic cancer since 2019. 

While Alex has been the beloved host of the show for decades and simply can't be replaced, Trebek actually nominated someone he thought would be a great successor to him last year—and it's none other than Betty White!

Sunday's sad news came from the show itself, with Jeopardy! tweeting:

"Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex."

Although Trebek had been very open and honest about his diagnosis the past two years, even speaking openly about his mortality, his death still came as a shock—as an emotional shock, that is—to many. 

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While Alex's shoes will be impossible to fill, it does raise the question of who could even be considered as the successor to such an iconic position. Well, we don't need to guess who Alex would have chosen, as he told the world his preference last year. Speaking with reporters at an appearance at New York's 92nd Street Y center, Alex stated:

“It’s probably going to be a woman, somebody younger, somebody bright, somebody personable, somebody with a great sense of humor, so I nominated Betty White," as reported by USA Today.

That takes some of the guesswork out, but since Betty White is turning 99 on January 17, 2021, it seems unlikely she'd come on board as a full-time host. However, perhaps she might drop by as a guest host—anything seems possible at this point. The two had even worked together before on Betty's show Hot in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, among those mourning the loss of Trebek are legendary Jeopardy! alumni Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer, who honored Trebek with their own social media posts as well. Jennings posted a sweet photo of himself with Trebek on Twitter, along with a sweet tribute. 

"Alex wasn't just the best ever at what he did. He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I'm grateful for every minute I got to spend with him," Jenning wrote. "Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy! family—which, in a way, included millions of us."

Meanwhile, James Holzhauer wrote in his tribute:

"It was one of the great privileges of my life to spend time with this courageous man while he fought the battle of his life. You will never be replaced in our hearts, Alex."

Trebek first announced his diagnosis through Jeopardy!'s YouTube channel in March 2019, keeping with his "long-time policy of being open and transparent." The host told fans he had been diagnosed that same week with stage IV pancreatic cancer, an illness that "50,000 other people in the United States" are diagnosed with each year. 

In true Alex Trebek fashion, he told fans he did not plan on stepping down as the host of Jeopardy!—and he remained true to his word until the very end. According to People, his last day in the studio was October 29—just ten days before he died. His final episode is set to air on Christmas day this year. Alex had previously discussed in a television special how his final episode might look, as reported by Country Music Nation:

“It’ll be a significant moment but I’ve kind of, in my mind, rehearsed it already. And what I would do on that day is tell the director, time the show down to leave me 30 seconds at the end, that’s all I want. I will say my good-byes and I will tell people: ‘Don’t ask me who is going to replace me, because I have no say in that whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me for the past 30, however many years, then they will be a success, and the show will continue being a success.”

Despite his heartbreaking diagnosis, Trebek remained positive through and through. Jennifer Tomazic, a journalist at WPXI news who interviewed the late show host this February, spoke of his unwavering positivity in an article she wrote that same month. During their interview, Trebek spoke of how "humbled" he felt as he received messages of support from fans in both the USA and Canada. 

"The response from people all over America and Canada with regard to my current health situation is humbling, really," Trebek said. "I had no idea that our show and myself had such an impact on the lives of so many people out there."

Alex Trebek was born in Ontario, Canada, on July 22, 1940. He first started his career in television in the '60s at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, before moving to the United States in 1973 to work as a game show host. In 1984, Trebek joined Jeopardy! and has hosted the show ever since.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Currivan-Trebek, and their two children, Matthew and Emily.

As the world is still in mourning, the news that Alex himself suggested Betty White sure brings a smile to our faces. Who do you think would be an adequate replacement for him? Let us know in the comments, then be sure to pass this on to your friends.