Katie Couric is about to become the next guest host of “Jeopardy!”
The award-winning journalist will have a turn behind the “Jeopardy!” hosting lectern March 8-19, keeping the beloved quiz show running in the wake of Alex Trebek’s death.
“Alex was a legend, revered by all of us,” Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer, said in a statement, according to the Deseret News. “I want to thank our guest hosts, who will not only help all of us celebrate his great legacy, but also bring their own touch to the show.”
Couric’s upcoming stint as guest host comes after appearances from “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” champion Ken Jennings, who hosted for six weeks, and Richards, who wrapped up two weeks of hosting Friday.
“It is such a thrill to be here guest hosting a show I’ve watched for years, and a real honor to help as we recover after Alex,” Couric said in a statement, the Deseret News reports.
During her time on “Jeopardy!” Couric will make a donation to Stand Up To Cancer. The donation will equal the cumulative winnings of the contestants on the games she hosts, and will specifically go toward pancreatic cancer research, according to a news release sent to the Deseret News.
Couric is also currently working on a memoir that will be published in the fall of 2021, according to the release.
Following Couric, Dr. Mehmet Oz will host starting March 22. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will then take the reins on April 5, the Deseret News previously reported.
Additional guest hosts include Anderson Cooper, “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, Dr. Sanjay Gupta — chief medical correspondent for CNN — “Big Bang Theory” actress Mayim Bialik and “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker, according to the Deseret News.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Richards said some of these guest hosts will be considered for the permanent slot, although the show is in no hurry to name an official replacement at this time and may not announce a new host until the new season starts in September.
”Let’s make sure we get someone we are going to feel even better about in a decade than we do this year,” Richards told USA Today.