Speaking with ABC's Michael Strahan, Trebek, who is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, shared how he envisioned his final "Jeopardy!" moments to unfold.
First, he will ask directors to give him 30 seconds at the end of the show to address the audience. Then he will say his goodbyes.
"I will tell people, 'Don't ask me who's going to replace me, because I have no say in that whatsoever, but I'm sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you've shown me for the past 30-however many years, then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success. And until we meet again, God bless you, and goodbye,'" he said, according to Fox News.
During an ABC News special earlier this week, Trebek said his life was "no longer an open-ended life" but "a closed-ended life" because of the "terrible" survival rates of pancreatic cancer.
Trebek also admitted to suffering bouts of depression.
"My oncologist told me one of the symptoms, if you will, of pancreatic cancer is that you get these moments of depression, sadness," Trebek said.
Since announcing his cancer diagnoses in March, Trebek has done his best to keep life as normal as possible while battling the disease.
At first things seemed to be going well and weeks after he began treatment, he revealed he was in near-remission but a sudden change in his condition sent him back for more chemotherapy.
Despite this he has remained positive and determined.
In a heartfelt video in which Trebek shared the news of his diagnoses, he said that, while the prognosis for stage 4 pancreatic cancer was "not very encouraging," he intended to fight it.
Dr. Oz offered words of encouragement to Trebek, who he described as "one of the bravest men out there" who is "strong enough" to overcome his illness.
"I don't think he's putting a brave front on. I think he's made peace that he has a big battle," Oz said. "It's not a wind sprint, it's a marathon. And he's going to keep his eyes looking forward and look for the light," he said.
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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