Some Advice for Jeopardy and Alex trebek

A few years back, Hugh Jackman and Jerry Seinfeld were having a friendly conversation. Jackman, who was considering an offer from Marvel about the future of Wolverine, Jackman’s signature role, asked what he should do. Seinfeld, who knew more than a little about leaving at the top of one’s game told him: “Leave a little in the tank.” Jackman worked things out with the producers, and exited his signature role in Logan, one of the greatest comic book based movies in history (and the first to get an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.)

I found myself pondering this when it comes to Alex Trebek and his circumstance. He is suffering from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and while he remains determined to beat the odds, it is hard to imagine him doing so. That said, I would give the same advice to Trebek that Seinfeld gave to Jackman: leave on top.

Even before his diagnosis came, there were indications that this season might be the ideal time for Trebek and Jeopardy to part ways. After all, this is the 35^th Anniversary of the series, which mathematically speaking, is a good number to close on. Earlier this year, the show celebrated it by having a special All-Star tournament, where eighteen of Jeopardy’s  greatest players competed against each other in teams. It wasn’t necessarily Jeopardy’s finest hour (their Battle of the Decades a few years back was probably their greatest tournament) but it did feature some of their toughest clues, some of the greatest contestants, and some truly remarkable games. It was very entertaining.

Another argument that it might be a good time to leave is the most recent competitor – Las Vegas professional gambler James Holznauer. He has already won 22 consecutive games, second only to Ken Jennings for the most in the history. And while he has a ways to go before he approaches Jennings’ all time mark of 74 consecutive wins, he has already set the game show world on fire. On his fourth win, he broke Roger Craig’s single game record of $77,000, becoming the first Jeopardy player to break the $100,000 mark. Roger’s record had stood for nearly a decade. James’ record lasted all of six games. No Jeopardy champion had ever come close to $100,000 in a single game. James has done it five times so far.  And he has already won $1.6 million dollars, which will kind of make the idea of coming back for the Tournament of Champions $250,000 grand prize, sort of a redundancy. There is a real possibility that he will breaking the competitive record of $2.5 million, and maybe even the all-time money record of $4.6 million. He has style and personality that only the great Jeopardy players can match. 

So, here is my humble suggestion Alex. At the end of this year, retire.  Concentrate on beating this disease. The odds may be against you, but then the odds were against anybody cracking the $100,000 mark in a game record. Let’s let the last memories of your time on Jeopardy be happy ones – it’s clear your time with James on stage is enjoyable, and its clearly rejuvenated you a bit. Maybe you do a special tournament when James finally is defeated along the lines of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005, with maybe $3 million as the grand prize. It was good seeing some of the players from the last decade on Jeopardy in the All-Star Tournament, but it would be good to see some of the all-time greats one last time as well. I’m sure Frank Spangengerg and Chuck Forest and Eddie Timanus would be glad to come back to spend more time with you – and of course, win more money.

Now, as to who could succeed you – why not promote from within? Brad Rutter has already set the record for most money won by any game show contest with over $4.6 million dollars. He already lives in LA, he works in Hollywood, and he spent some time as a TV quiz show host while in Pennsylvania. He’s fairly young – probably around 40 – and its hard to argue that he doesn’t know the show as well. And as to whether or not he has the wit and self-deprecation to host the show, well, here’s a story he told when he was in the Battle of the Decades.

“I met with the son of Shane Whitlock… and his parents said, (Declan), this is Brad. He’s won more money than anybody in the history of Jeopardy. And Declan looked at me, and said: “Where’s Ken?!” (huge laughter)  “The story of my life”

He has the personality to be a great host, and the lack of ego to follow in Alex’s footsteps.

So Alex, do what Hugh Jackman did, and leave a little in the tank. We all want you to get better, and you already have millions praying for you. I am certainly one of them.