For years, many have speculated about Ken Jennings as the likely successor to Alex’s position. After all, he’s played the game many times, and he clinched the Greatest of All Time title at the beginning of 2020.
It’s unclear if Ken’s stint as the guest host is a trial run of sorts, or if he’ll go back to his clue-reading role. On Jan. 11, Ken took his first turn behind the hosting podium. He got emotional when discussing Alex’s legacy, and viewers all around the world could relate.
“Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life. Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex did this job pretty much perfectly for more than 36 years, and it was even better up close. We were dazzled by his intelligence, his charm, his grace,” the trivia whiz shared.
“Like all Jeopardy! fans, I miss Alex very much and I thank him for everything he did for all of us. Let’s be totally clear: No one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek,” Ken continued. “But we can honor him by playing the game he loved.”
While Ken’s role on the show has been confirmed for some time now, and he was an obvious choice, the others are a bit more surprising.