tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4166669803029785828..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: RIP Alex TrebekBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64117944407782489692020-11-11T11:17:29.106-08:002020-11-11T11:17:29.106-08:00I won once on JEOPARDY! in BOSTON in 1998. I think...I won once on JEOPARDY! in BOSTON in 1998. I think Alex was a little out of synch - he couldn't get into the hotel because there were a massive anti-Bill Clinton and anti-Ken Starr demonstrations outside where Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and others were having a fundraiser.<br /><br />But on set, he was a proRoger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43529361026132756672020-11-10T22:36:11.777-08:002020-11-10T22:36:11.777-08:00I rarely get sad about public figures deaths. Even...I rarely get sad about public figures deaths. Even when they were figures whose worked I enjoyed.<br /><br />Alex's death actually choked me up. I'm 38. I watched him since I was a boy sitting on my mom and dad's lap. To me he was just someone who would always be there. A human version of those Californian redwoods or sea turtles.<br /><br />My dad has been sick this year and I can't visit him due to covid so I'm sure that is playing a big role. <br /><br />Rest in peace, Alex.<br /><br />BTW: I loved his cheers cameo. Cliff scares me. You too, huh.<br /><br />LMAO. Whoever wrote that came up with a great line. It is always fun to have a stranger show up on a long-time show. They can often represent how a real person would view these character. Cliff was two steps removed from Travis Bickle. He scared me too.slim2120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26384519374077752612020-11-10T10:55:16.184-08:002020-11-10T10:55:16.184-08:00I was a contestant on the show back in the 90s and...I was a contestant on the show back in the 90s and though I didn’t get to spend much time with him, all the nice things people have said are true. Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42421772099700036102020-11-09T23:43:21.834-08:002020-11-09T23:43:21.834-08:00I was also at the Randall Munroe interview Ken did...I was also at the Randall Munroe interview Ken did, and have seen him both do other interviews and be interviewed. He's got the quick wit and poise necessary to be the host. But if they don't already have a host lined up, it wouldn't surprise me if Jimmy and Sarah from what's left of the Clue Crew filled in as "Emergency Holographic Hosts". If not Ken or them, I suspect Brad Rutter (who is already LA based and has done some show business work) would be interested and do a good job. Outside of J!, I think John Hodgman would have the wit and smarts to do a good job (for those into academic snobbery, he was singer Jonathan Coulton's suitemate at Yale).Tom Gallowaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77204267144609195282020-11-09T10:19:54.515-08:002020-11-09T10:19:54.515-08:00The Alex Trebek episodes will run through Dec 25. ...The Alex Trebek episodes will run through Dec 25. When asked when he would retire, he said he ask for 30 seconds at the end of the show and say he was retiring. I have to believe that by his last taping that he knew he was at the end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78630523696061669162020-11-09T09:56:38.626-08:002020-11-09T09:56:38.626-08:00I hate this year. And why does it seem pancreatic...I hate this year. And why does it seem pancreatic cancer is never diagnosed before it reaches Stage Four?<br /><br />A lovely tribute, Ken.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80250222252836672522020-11-09T09:26:19.931-08:002020-11-09T09:26:19.931-08:00Indeed, Trebek said he got his share of "you&...Indeed, Trebek said he got his share of "you're-no-Art-Fleming" letters early in the run of the syndicated revival in 1984.<br /><br />Sadly, Fleming succumbed to the same disease--pancreatic cancer--that claimed Trebek. Fleming was 70 when he died in 1995, twenty years after NBC cancelled the original "Jeopardy!" Kevin FitzMauricenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83292384991666081942020-11-09T08:35:59.489-08:002020-11-09T08:35:59.489-08:00I was lucky enough to be on Jeopardy! twice. I los...I was lucky enough to be on Jeopardy! twice. I lost the second day by $54.00, and I'll never get over it. Alex was kind enough to laugh at my opening anecdote, and said on the air that I "set us up beautifully." He was so welcoming and warm that I felt like we were friends, and I guess that was the basic beauty of the man: EVERYONE felt that way.<br /><br />On the second day one of the categories was something like "Bands and Their Leaders." The answers were things like ..."The Mysterions" Obviously, the question is "Who is Question Mark?" Simple, right?<br /><br />I buzzed in on "The Gang". Of course, the question is "Who is Kool?". I missed it. I said "Who is Spanky?" because I was thinking of "Spanky and Our Gang," a late 60's band with a couple of hits who were about a tenth as popular as "Kool and The Gang".<br /><br />It was bad enough that I missed it, but Alex's sort of disappointed "No, we're looking for bandleaders here," broke my heart, and suddenly, all I wanted in the world was to earn his respect back by reminding Alex that yes, certainly I was stupid, but I wasn't a TOTAL moron. I mean, There WAS a bandleader named Spanky, I just had the "Our" and the "The" mixed up.<br /><br />I thought about that for a few minutes - Really threw me off.<br /><br />Also - I didn't get a single "Daily Double" that game. <br />And my shoes were sort of uncomfortable. <br />And it was kind of cold in the studio.<br /> And....Russell Walkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476641077359098148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44880737206103180272020-11-09T06:39:07.587-08:002020-11-09T06:39:07.587-08:00Among the many other things that you could say abo...Among the many other things that you could say about him was that he had a sense of humor about himself AND, not surprisingly when one takes into account the multitasking nightmare of having to host a game show, he had great comic timing, in my humble opinion. Not only did he have a funny cameo in the gone-too-soon "Pacific Station" starring Robert Guillaume and Richard Libertini, he also did a nice turn on "Cheers".<br /><br />FRIDAY QUESTION: Could you post or re-post any anecdotes about the Cheers Jeopardy! episode?<br /><br />Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850672682992802562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54735654927541090942020-11-09T06:28:46.593-08:002020-11-09T06:28:46.593-08:00I hope it's not rude for me to say that...I...I hope it's not rude for me to say that...I'm sure some people felt that way when Alex first stepped into Art Fleming's shoes.Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60782773622898133592020-11-09T06:25:20.021-08:002020-11-09T06:25:20.021-08:00It's rare to see someone so gifted and sophist...It's rare to see someone so gifted and sophisticated be so humble and down to earth. What a treasure. RIP.<br /><br />He had great comic timing. A favorite clip:<br />https://youtu.be/zcBc2XV1ijYAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466932184113943306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88242186291685331292020-11-09T04:01:25.263-08:002020-11-09T04:01:25.263-08:00I was so saddened to learn of his passing. The sho...I was so saddened to learn of his passing. The show will never be the same for me without him.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87446355164802695262020-11-08T21:09:22.059-08:002020-11-08T21:09:22.059-08:00RIP, Alex.RIP, Alex.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30332812167678474652020-11-08T18:29:42.272-08:002020-11-08T18:29:42.272-08:00I was at a book reading where Ken Jennings intervi...I was at a book reading where Ken Jennings interviewed Randall Munro about a year ago. Ken has a lot more talent for this kind of thing than some may think. He's very personable and he's totally devoted to the legacy that Alex created (along with Merv Griffin and original host Art Fleming). He does the audiobook of Alex's autobiography, and the two of them interact on it (as Alex did the part where he met his wife and the chapter on Ken's time on the show) beautifully. If Ken is the choice, the show will be in good hands. <br /><br />No one is going to be Alex Trebek. No one should try. But the show has enough value that it should continue nonetheless. <br /><br />The world needs more people like Alex Trebek. <br /><br />Fun fact from his autobiography. Because he was at the time the only bilingual CBC newsman, he was selected to do some work on the Canadian centennial in 1967. He got to chat with Queen Elizabeth in a reception line for a long time, because she wouldn't move until Prince Philip did, and he was chatting up some pretty women behind Alex in the line. Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38901303085294043182020-11-08T17:16:35.763-08:002020-11-08T17:16:35.763-08:00There are reportedly enough taped episodes to run ...There are reportedly enough taped episodes to run through December 20th. It's going to be feel very weird to see them, but worse to not see them.Charles Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34176105856112075252020-11-08T16:02:59.947-08:002020-11-08T16:02:59.947-08:002020 just won't stop. JEOPARDY was one of the ...2020 just won't stop. JEOPARDY was one of the only tv shows I was allowed to watch growing up, since it was deemed "educational". I haven't watched it lately, but, strangely enough, have thought about it a lot over the past week, thanks to seeing so many of those SNL "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketches that were posted when Sean Connery died. I'll now probably have dreams about "those" versions of the two of them duking it out in the afterlife. Which, now that I think about it, will probably be the next set of internet memes (and possibly a future skit as well).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5970511723936644082020-11-08T15:53:17.359-08:002020-11-08T15:53:17.359-08:00Here's an episode of Cheers from 1990 with Cli...Here's an episode of Cheers from 1990 with Cliff Clavin on Jeopardy.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/botdmsQilnUDavidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81396852376194771572020-11-08T15:03:49.654-08:002020-11-08T15:03:49.654-08:00I was on "Jeopardy!" several years ago.....I was on "Jeopardy!" several years ago... he was a class act, through and through.BADuBoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636112468577949243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45027264339563470242020-11-08T13:54:09.136-08:002020-11-08T13:54:09.136-08:00Alex was indeed an inspiration. Alex was indeed an inspiration. Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3702395765666816682020-11-08T12:57:03.787-08:002020-11-08T12:57:03.787-08:00The BUZZR network has been showing episodes of CLA...The BUZZR network has been showing episodes of CLASSIC CONCENTRATION from the 80’s. He was just as good on that show as he was on JEOPARDY - although it is strange seeing him wearing sweaters for some episodes instead of suits.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78788295424716116912020-11-08T12:47:05.360-08:002020-11-08T12:47:05.360-08:00Ken Jennings? Oh, no.Ken Jennings? Oh, no.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41579440530752023382020-11-08T12:37:32.248-08:002020-11-08T12:37:32.248-08:00Sorry to hear that. Thought he was doing so well. ...Sorry to hear that. Thought he was doing so well. -KateStubblejumpers Cafehttp://stubblejumperscafe.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23409522688442557932020-11-08T12:14:24.199-08:002020-11-08T12:14:24.199-08:00A very classy and bright chap, who will be missed....A very classy and bright chap, who will be missed. JEOPARDY will never be the same for many of us.maxdebrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011731115062645854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53348326711409445052020-11-08T12:03:58.757-08:002020-11-08T12:03:58.757-08:00Beautifully stated, Ken. Beautifully stated, Ken. Frederic Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16092073035980930082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26817941829412834772020-11-08T11:32:57.404-08:002020-11-08T11:32:57.404-08:00Good man.
He will be missed, more than you think.
...Good man.<br />He will be missed, more than you think.<br />Good luck to the new host.normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794603165354675721noreply@blogger.com