Aaron Rodgers made a memorable debut as interim host for 'Jeopardy!' Monday night. The Green Bay Packers quarterback won audiences over as soon as he stepped onto the stage, but his performance was overshadowed by a quip from two-time champion Scott Shewfelt, who brought up the incident in which Packers coach Matt LeFleur decided to kick a field goal during the past season's NFC Championship Game.
The crack came during "Final Jeopardy!" with the answer being, "Accepting a lifetime achievement Emmy, he said, 'Just take ... 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are,'" according to NFL.com.
Shewfelt, who was far behind the leader, didn't have the correct response. So instead he took a swipe at Rodgers.
"Who wanted to kick that field goal?" he answered.
"That is a great question, should be correct, but unfortunately for this game today, it's incorrect," Rodgers replied.
The correct answer was "Who is Mr. Rogers."
Rodgers led his Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24, 2021. The game included a controversial decision to go for a 26-yard field goal as the Packers trailed 31-23 with 2:09 left to play.
The Packers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26.
Rodgers is one of several guest hosts to fill in for the iconic host Alex Trebek, who died in November at age 80 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. "Jeopardy!" producers have yet to announce a permanent replacement, but Rodgers has admitted he would not mind being selected for the role.
The reigning NFL MVP made the announcement Monday during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." When asked about shaving his facial hair, Rodgers said he would do it if it secured him a permanent spot on the hit game show.
"If that was a (prerequisite) to get the full-time gig, (I would) have no problem with it. No problem," he said, according to USA Today.
"Did you just campaign potentially, for the full-time gig, right there? You loved the hell out of it, didn't you? You enjoyed your time there doing 'Jeopardy!'?" McAfee replied excitedly.
"I would love to be host of 'Jeopardy!' Yes," Rodgers said.
He made a similar revelation during an interview with The Ringer.
"I’m not shy at all about saying I want the job," Rodgers stated, adding that he would not have to give up football to take on the gig.
"They film 46 days a year. I worked 187 this year in Green Bay. That gives me ... 178 days to do 'Jeopardy!' So I feel like I could fit 46 into that 178 and make it work."
Rodgers said hosting "Jeopardy!" was a "dream job" and he believes he will bring "something different to the stage."
"I’ve been watching it for years and years and years. I respect the show and appreciate the history of it, and also there’s my background of stepping in for a legend and their footsteps," he explained. "I feel like all that combined makes me a pretty good candidate."
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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