“Jeopardy!” fans won’t have to wait too much longer before the next permanent host is announced.
According to executive producer Mike Richards, when filming for season 38 kicks off in late July or early August, it will do so with its next official host at the podium. This means that this summer fans will learn who will get the chance to follow in the footsteps of the late Alex Trebek.
“I think one of the beautiful things, the blessings that came, if you can call it a blessing, is that he got to really see the outpouring of love and admiration that he gave to the world."
But, for now, that remains a mystery, even to Richards.
Richards told The Wall Street Journal’s podcast “The Journal,” “It’s going to come down to the heads of Sony (Entertainment) to make that decision, ultimately, and it’ll come down to testing.”
“They’ve been a part of it. They know what’s going on in the studio. They’re watching the feed, the tapings. It’s very extensive. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of, as far as testing in its size and scope.”
Fans have been witnessing the audition process for themselves ever since Trebek’s final episodes aired in January, two months after Trebek lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
It will be a difficult act to follow in Trebek’s footsteps. The longtime “Jeopardy!” star hosted the show for 36 years, and many fans believe no one will ever truly replace him.
Trebek’s widow, Jean, recently told “TODAY” host Savannah Guthrie of the impact he had. “I think one of the beautiful things, the blessings that came, if you can call it a blessing, is that he got to really see the outpouring of love and admiration that he gave to the world.
“Some people just, you know, you don’t see that while you’re still embodied, you don’t get to really witness all the love that people feel for you. And I know that that was in and of itself a huge inspiration for Alex.”
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