Tag Archives: Jeopardy

The Kindness of Alex Trebek

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.