Fans of Jeopardy! will have one more chance to see unaired episodes of the TV game show with the late Alex Trebek as host.
The final episodes featuring Trebek will air on the week of Jan. 4 “in order to give his millions of fans a chance to see his final appearances,” according to a statement provided by show producers on Friday.
“Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards said. “We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.”
Trebek died at the age of 80 in November after more than a year of publicly battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer while he continued hosting the show.
Trebek, who hosted the game show for 37 years, became synonymous with Jeopardy!, and in a nod to the complications that come with replacing a TV icon, the show will feature a cast of rotating hosts, beginning with former champion Ken Jennings, whose own record, 74-game winning performance on the show captured the hearts and minds of people across the United States.
“Though a long-term replacement host will not be named at this time, Jeopardy! will return to the studio with a series of interim guest hosts from within the Jeopardy! family, starting with Ken Jennings,” a statement from the show read.
