Katie Couric will be guest-hosting "Jeopardy!" once Alex Trebek's final pre-taped episodes are aired this week, according to a report. The 64-year-old journalist will be one of the first celebrities to lead the game show for a week before handing the responsibility over to the next guest host, sources revealed to Los Angeles Times.
Last year "Jeopardy!" announced plans for guests to host the show until a permanent replacement is found for Trebek. Ken Jennings, the all-time champion, was named as the game show's first guest host.
"We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues," executive producer Mike Richards said in a statement. "By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers."
Trebek hosted "Jeopardy!" from its inception in 1984 until just days before he passed away on Nov. 8 at age 80 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
In the days leading up to his death, Trebek filmed several episodes despite his waning health. In an interview with NBC's "Today" this week, Richards said it was "herculean" what Trebek did.
"He was in enormous pain. He was, you know, 10 days away from passing away and you will not sense any of that in these episodes," Richards said. "He is strong. He sounds great. He’s funny and he’s amazing."
For Trebek's final episode, viewers can expect "a special tribute to the life and work of the man who captained America’s Favorite Quiz Show with skill, style, and sophistication for 36+ years," according to a statement from "Jeopardy!" producer Sony Pictures Television, per New York Post.
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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