In what would end up being Alex Trebek’s final Thanksgiving message, the longtime “Jeopardy!” host said to “keep the faith” during the pandemic, reminding fans that there are still “many reasons to be grateful.”
“You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing right now, there are many reasons to be thankful,” Trebek said. “There are more and more people extending helpful hands to do a kindness to their neighbors, and that’s a good thing.
“Keep the faith; we’re going to get through all of this, and we will be a better society because of it.”
High on our list of things to be thankful for this year: Alex's Thanksgiving message from today's show. We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/8OlpkSGi9r
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 26, 2020
“Jeopardy!” shared Trebek’s pre-recorded message on Thursday: “High on our list of things to be thankful for this year: Alex’s Thanksgiving message from today’s show. We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!”
On Twitter, the message has been viewed 1.6 million times.
Trebek’s last day in the “Jeopardy!” studio was Oct. 29. He continued to host the quiz show even as he underwent treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. Eighteen months after receiving that diagnosis, Trebek died on Nov. 8 at the age of 80, surrounded by family and friends.
Taped episodes featuring the beloved host will air through the week of Jan. 4, 2021, according to the “Jeopardy!” website. The show will also air 10 of Trebek’s “best episodes” during the weeks of Dec. 21 and 28.
January will mark the end of a “Jeopardy!” era, but not the end of the show. Although “Jeopardy!” is not announcing a longtime host at this time, the show is resuming production with a series of interim guest hosts — beginning with “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” champion Ken Jennings, the Deseret News reported.
Jennings’ first day in the studio is Nov. 30, and his episodes will air the week of Jan. 11, 2021.
“There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January,” Jennings tweeted.
“Alex believed in the importance of ‘Jeopardy!’ and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer, in a recent statement. “We will honor his legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved.”