On Wednesday, a shocking bit of news hit the country and the world, seemingly out of nowhere. Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek announced he has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The 78-year-old Trebek decided to disclose this to a stunned “Jeopardy!” fanbase as part of his commitment to being “open and transparent” with the audience.
Needless to say, one Google search on pancreatic cancer survival rates feels like a shot to the soul of everyone who grew up with the show. According to pancreatic.org, the one-year survival rate of all stages combined is 20 percent. It drops to 7 percent for five years.
The last three generations have grown up hearing Trebek’s classic opening, “Thank you Johnny, thank you ladies and gentlemen.” It has invited Americans of all backgrounds to come join a very high-end academic club for 30 minutes every evening. “Jeopardy!” has changed the lives of contestants ranging from children to college students to self-described slacker and former record store employee Brad Rutter (who would go on to be the highest-earning game show contestant of all time). What has set Trebek apart from other game show hosts, and other television figures, can be summed up in one word: trust.
Almost every conversation in our society today, especially on social media, has been polarized and politicized. Bring up the last names of presidents, celebrities, or news anchors, and you’ll get close to a 50/50 reaction. Now let’s look at the tributes pouring in upon Trebek’s announcement:
Tough to hear Alex Trebek is fighting cancer. Very good guy, TV icon no question. Prayers for Alex and his family.
— Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) March 7, 2019
Alex Trebek was so wonderful to me when I was competing on @Jeopardy against @ananavarro and @alfranken. I came in, sigh, last (yes Ana?), but he made me feel like a winner. I’m rooting and praying for you Alex! https://t.co/I0dF5FSHlZ
— Sunny Hostin (@sunny) March 7, 2019
Sending Love & Prayers To Alex Trebek??.I’ve Been Playing JEOPARDY With Him Since I Was In My 20’s,..Ahhh..30’s,
?Hhmm…40’s?,..50’s?, OMG..60’s?
I’LL NEVER BE TOO OLD TO
PLAY.
SON Used To Say
”Cher…You’re Such a Kid”??— Cher (@cher) March 7, 2019
Let’s just say there aren’t many things Bill O’Reilly will agree on with a co-host of “The View” and Cher.
Trebek has also set in place an enormous heart for charity, working with the USO, World Vision Canada, and funding the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue at the University of Ottawa. The forum works to “expose students to a wide range of diverse views, through speeches, public panels, events and lectures,” something sorely lacking on campuses today.
“Jeopardy!” has represented a show presenting one of the best virtues America has to offer: equality of opportunity. If you know your trivia, you know your trivia, and you can compete and hopefully win.
I will always treasure the memories I have of my great uncle coming for dinner every Thursday. One of the few shows we really could bond over and have a rousing competition with was “Jeopardy!”
If Trebek’s terrific sense of humor (especially with sports-related questions and rap lyrics), philanthropy, and open embrace of contestants and audience members of every IQ isn’t proof enough, one man who can be carved into the Mount Rushmore of “Jeopardy!” players, Ken Jennings, sums up Trebek’s lasting legacy as this era’s trusted voice by comparing him to another:
I’ve said this before but Alex Trebek is in a way the last Cronkite: authoritative, reassuring TV voice you hear every night, almost to the point of ritual.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) March 6, 2019
Neil Dwyer is a graduate of the University of Miami, a political and sports broadcaster, and a freelance writer.
