No one knows the show better.
“Jeopardy!” champ Ken Jennings is among those who will play guest host to the long-running game show, which will introduce a lineup of “interim guest hosts” in the wake of Alex Trebek’s passing.
Sony Pictures Television announced Monday that Jennings, 46, will be the first in the series of guest hosts, according to the Wrap, when the show resumes production on Nov. 30.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
The first batch of shows hosted by guests will air the week of Jan. 11.
While Jennings, who won the “Greatest of All Time” tournament in January and holds the all-time record for most consecutive games won, will be the first up, he has not been named the replacement, despite much speculation from fans.
“A long-term replacement host will not be named at this time,” the press release added. Sony added that additional guest hosts will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Trebek died Nov. 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He first announced his diagnosis in March 2019 and continued hosting the show until his last day in the studio on Oct. 29. Episodes he filmed through then will continue to air the week of Jan. 4. His final episode was slated to air on Christmas Day, but Sony said it extended the air date “in order to give his millions of fans a chance to see his final appearances.” The show will also celebrate Trebek with his best episodes during the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.