Alex Trebek Rehearsing His Final ‘Jeopardy’ Episode Amid Cancer Battle
Alex Trebek has revealed he's already rehearsed for his final episode of Jeopardy.
The game show host, 79, spoke with Michael Strahan for What Is Jeopardy?, an ABC special that aired on Thursday, January 2.
During the interview, cancer-stricken Trebek talked about his health and the end of his years-long career, noting his last day on the show he's hosted since 1984 will be a "significant moment."
“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,'" he said. “And I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people: ‘Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever.'"
"But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me … then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success," he said of whoever takes over when he's gone.
Trebek also revealed that his final words to fans would be: "And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.’ “
As RadarOnline.com readers know, Trebek broke the sad news in March that he has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Upon learning the news, he admitted he was dealing with depression and "excruciating pain". Despite his symptoms, he had no intention to stop working — and he even insisted his job gave him purpose.
“When it happened early on I was down on myself,” the host told Good Morning America. “I didn’t realize how fallible each of us is in his or her own way. I don’t even bother to explain it anymore, I just experience it. I know it’s a part of who I am and I just keep going."
“I realize that there is an end in sight for me, just as there is for everyone else…. the thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me, it doesn’t. Other things do, the affect it will have on my loved ones … it makes me sad. But the thought of myself moving on, hey folks, it comes with the territory,” he continued, adding, “As long as I can walk out and greet the audience and the contestants and run the game I’m happy.”
In August, Trebek announced his tumors had shrunk 50 percent, giving him hope, but he had begun another round of chemotherapy by September.
As Radar previously reported, Jeopardy executives quietly have been looking to find his replacement.