Alex Trebek has already thought about what he will say for his final “Jeopardy!” broadcast -- and he will only need about 30 seconds to get out the words.
“It’ll be a significant moment for me,” Trebek said in an interview with ABC News. “But 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.’"
Trebek has hosted the long-running trivia show since 1984. He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March and vowed to keep hosting the show for as long as he is physically able.
The show is gearing up to air its “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” tournament starting Monday, which Trebek will host.
Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, and James Holzhauer will compete in an epic television event that you cannot miss! Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time begins January 7 at 8|7c on ABC. #JeopardyGOAT pic.twitter.com/g5tB0IOclP
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) December 28, 2019
He has spoken candidly about his treatment and received an outpouring of support from fans since announcing the diagnosis.
“I have learned something in the past year and it’s this: We don’t know when we’re going to die,” Trebek told ABC News. “Because of the cancer diagnosis, it’s no longer an open-ended life, it’s a closed-ended life because of the terrible. Survival rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of that, and something else that is operating here, people all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I’m alive, about the impact that I’ve been having on their existence.”
Trebek did not share any information about who his successor might be.
“Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me, because I have no say whatsoever,” Trebek told ABC News. “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. And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”
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