Alex Faust, Laura Coates, Ken Jennings: Who will replace Alex Trebek as the host of “Jeopardy!”? The correct answer won’t be known until 2020 at the earliest, but Trebek hinted that he might not renew his contract when it expires in two years, opening up the betting possibilities.
Trebek, 78, recently told TMZ’s Harvey Levin on his Fox News Channel’s “OBJECTified,” show that he was thinking about retiring in two years.
“Fifty-fifty and a little less,” Trebek said when asked about the possibility of leaving the show he has hosted since 1984 in 2020. The popular question and answer game show first debuted in 1964 and aired until 1975 hosted by Art Fleming. A nighttime version briefly ran from 1978 to 1979, but it wasn’t until Trebek took over in the ’80s that the show became so culturally significant.
Who Are Early Frontrunners?
When asked who he could see succeeding him, Trebek had two suggestions. The first was Alex Faust, a relative surprise since he has no experience as a game show host.
“I mentioned to our producer not so long ago that the fellow that does play-by-play for the Los Angeles Kings,” Trebek said, “they should consider him.”
That remark was enough for BetDSI to put up odds on who the next host would be, with Faust as the top prospect at 8/1. The 28-year old just replaced an icon in Bob Miller, who called Kings games for 44 years. He was honored that Trebek thought that highly of him, and took to Twitter to show his gratitude.
But before Faust gets the job, Trebek suggested it might be time to see a woman as Jeopardy! host.
“There is an attorney, Laura Coates,” Trebek said. “She’s African-American and she appears on some of the cable news shows from time to time.”
Coates, who frequently appears on CNN as a legal analyst, is also at 8/1, and said it would be something she would love to do. She went on Twitter as well to express her feelings about the show and Trebek.
Who Are Game Show Hosts?
Others that have been mentioned and have made their way onto the betting boards include past champion Ken Jennings at 10/1 and comedian Drew Carey, who currently hosts “The Price Is Right,” at 12/1. The internet sportsbook also listed “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak at 30/1, and jokingly put President Donald Trump at 100/1.
For the next two years, though, Trebek will remain on television, and even when he leaves will always be associated as the host of the show. The personable Canadian said one of the reasons he believes he has lasted as long as he has is his natural curiosity.
“I’m curious about everything,” Trebek once said. “Even subjects that don’t interest me.”
He even predicted years ago what he envisioned what he would do after he retired.
When I finish as the host of “Jeopardy!” I’m going to go up to Taft in central California,” Trebek said. “They have a small college there that teaches you about oil drilling.”