Jeopardy champion Jackie Fuchs describes the “Uncle Alex” she knew, some of the filler phrases he used, and what TV viewers couldn’t see in the studio.
Him taking my hand and asking me how I felt after I’d had a hypoglycemic scare during my fifth episode. His explaining to one of my competitors who’d gotten off to a blazing start, only to falter in the second half, that it was her buzzer technique and not her knowledge that had been her downfall. How he’d made us feel that it was cool to geek out over “Star Wars” or to collect Barbie dolls or to be interested in whatever we were passionate about.
He reportedly said the game show would carry on without him one day, but who could fill his shoes? In this moment when the contestants tied at $16,000, Alex showed his love the game with a quick laugh.
May he rest in peace.
I was very fond of Alex Trebec, but he isn’t the only person who could host the show. Long ago, when I was a kid, Jeopardy had its original incarnation with a genial host named Art James. When the show was revived, I couldn’t imagine anyone filling Art’s shoes.
I didn’t know he wasn’t the original host.
That would be Art Fleming
You are correct. Should have looked it up.