Alex Trebek To Host ‘Jeopardy’ Through 2022 After Signing New Contract
If you’re a fan of the television game show Jeopardy, you can breathe a sigh of relief because host Alex Trebek isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
In fact, Sony Pictures Television has just renewed its deal with the longtime game show host through the 2021-22 season, as reported by People Magazine.
The 78-year-old television legend had noted this past July that he was considering retiring from Jeopardy after his contract was up. During an interview with TMZ’s Harvey Levin on Fox News Channel’s OBJECTified, Trebek said there was a “50/50 [chance] and a little less” that he will return to the popular, long-running game show after his contract expired.
“I mentioned to our producer not so long ago that the fellow that does play-by-play for the Los Angeles Kings — they should consider him,” he told Levin. That would be Alex Faust.
At the time, Faust responded to Trebek by stating on Twitter, “I guess there are worse ways to randomly see your name show up on TMZ! I’m flattered by Mr. Trebek’s kind words, and delighted to hear he’s a big @LAKings fan!”
Trebek has hosted the program since 1984.
Also signing new contracts were the longest-running hosting duo in game show history, Pat Sajak, 72, and Vanna White, 61, of Wheel of Fortune fame. They recently resigned their deals through the year 2022.
“Pat, Vanna, and Alex are simply the best. Night after night, they seamlessly entertain generations of fans on two of the most beloved television programs on the air. We are thrilled that they’ll continue to do so through 2022,” Sony Pictures Television chairman Mike Hopkins said Wednesday in a statement, as reported by People.
Wheel of Fortune is currently celebrating its 36th season in syndication.
Jeopardy has been on the air for 35 seasons.
Trebek’s Jeopardy ranks as the Guinness World Record holder for most Emmy wins by a TV game show, having scored 34 golden statuettes.
Surprisingly, Sajak and White’s Wheel of Fortune game show is the most-watched program on television, per People.
The nighttime series reaches an audience of more than 26 million weekly viewers, as noted by Nielsen. The program was launched in 1983 and made household names of Sajak and White and is known and trademarked as “America’s Game.”
Sony has also inked streaming deals for Jeopardy with both Hulu and Netflix revealed the Hollywood Reporter. By the end of their current seasons, Jeopardy and Wheel will have produced more than 15,000 episodes, said THR.
