More than two months after Alex Trebek’s death, “Jeopardy!” finally got the chance to say goodbye. A video tribute to the host concluded Friday’s episode of the quiz, the last Trebek filmed for pancreatic cancer claimed his life on November 8.
The 90-second montage, set to Hugh Jackman singing the Peter Allen song ‘Once Before I Go’, is a light-hearted and laughable reminder that shows Trebek’s changing outlook during his 36 years as a host, mustache and no, with black hair and gray, with suits from several decades.
It celebrated the crazy moments of the mostly average Trebek, showing him verbally sparring with participants and arm wrestling with one.
“You really make me feel that I am insufficient,” he says to a minor participant. “Sorry about that,” she answers boldly.
Trebek is shown walking without pants in one clip on set, dressed as the Statue of Liberty in another and wearing the costume of a Trojan soldier in another.
A clip of the presenter in which he declares “I don’t dance” is shown amid scenes in which he dances over the years.
However, the tribute is still sad and sentimental, as Jackman sings’ It’s so hard to say goodbye when there’s so much unspoken in your eyes’ and ‘Once before I go, I’d like to let you know that I would do all over again. “
And in its final moments, it shows Trebek by standing out through the decades and saying repeatedly, “Goodbye, everyone.”
Trebek died on November 8 at the age of 80, but had pre-recorded shows several weeks in advance that were still airing. He continued to work for nearly two years after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, remaining in place on the stage where he had become an institution since 1984.
The show continues next week with a range of interim hosts, starting with veteran “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings.
The last Trebek episodes of the week kicked off Monday as the host urged viewers to give to others suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re trying to build a softer, kinder society, and if we all pitch just a little bit, we’ll get there,” Trebek said.
His last shows were originally scheduled for Christmas week, but they were postponed until this week to raise awareness of the broadcast.
The episode contains holiday elements, such as the ‘Christmas Movies’ category.
In one of the last of the more than 500,000 clues Trebek gave participants in his more than 8,200 episodes, he says:
“In fact, this heartwarming Frank Capra classic is about a disgraced financier having an incredibly rough Christmas Eve.”
The correct answer: “What is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?”
Trebek was apparently unsure that Friday’s episode would be his last when it was taped.
The show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, told NBC’s “Today” show on Monday that Trebek was “an absolute warrior” during his last recording sessions, despite being in “immense pain.”
At the end of the episode, before the video tribute, Trebek says “see you again next week”.