“Simply the best.”
“Jeopardy!” honored late host Alex Trebek on his final episode hosting the show with a 90-second video montage showcasing …
“Simply the best.” “Jeopardy!” honored late host Alex Trebek on his final episode hosting the show with a 90-second video montage showcasing his best vintage moments, infamous contestant quips and that megawatt smile through the years, set to Peter Allen’s “Once Before I Go.” The show released the tribute, which is set to air on TV right after the episode, early on Twitter and YouTube for fans to savor the moment. Friday marked the day fans have been dreading: the culmination of the last week of episodes Trebek filmed before he died on Nov.8 at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. On Twitter leading up to the final episode, “Jeopardy!” loyalists have tweeted a flurry of crying emojis, noting they were not prepared for their final time with the beloved, witty and snarky but polished host who has been the game show’s shining light since 1984. The final week of episodes was scheduled to air during the week of Christmas, but Sony pushed them back so fans could have more time to enjoy their final moments with Trebek. But for the beloved host of “America’s Favorite Quiz Show” gone too soon, there truly is never a good time to say goodbye — although his memory lives on forever in his many epic moments. “Jeopardy!” producer Sony Pictures Television said the special tribute would honor “the life and work of the man who captained [‘Jeopardy!’] with skill, style, and sophistication for 36+ years,” according to a statement released by the company. The tribute was slated to air at the end of the show, before the credits, but was released early. It included funny moments from the show, including Trebek dressed as Kiss’ Gene Simmons and the Statue of Liberty, some of his most notorious quips with contestants and even vintage footage from his earliest days — with a mustache — on “Jeopardy!” 37 years ago. The tribute concluded with Trebek saying, “So long,” many times over the years — as he always did — and a dedication to Trebek: “Forever in our Hearts, Always our Inspiration.” Famous contestants also paid their respects to Trebek ahead of his final episode. “After more than thirty-six years and 8,200+ shows, Alex Trebek’s last game of ‘Jeopardy!’ airs today. That’s more Tonight Shows than Carson did, three times as many Daily Shows as Jon Stewart,” wrote all-time winner and new interim guest host Ken Jennings. “Alex was always a familiar TV face, but it was so gratifying during the last years of his life to see him universally recognized as the national treasure (or bi-national treasure!) that he was. We’re always going to miss him. Thanks for everything, Alex.” “I’m still not ready to say goodbye to Alex Trebek, but I will try,” James Holzhauer, the third-highest-earning contestant, wrote on Twitter.
