Who Will Host 'Jeopardy!' After the Death of Alex Trebek?

George Alexander Trebek, known to millions as Alex Trebek, died peacefully at the age of 80 on Sunday, November 8, 2020. The longtime host of ABC's popular game show Jeopardy! had been battling stage four pancreatic cancer since March 2019. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by family members and friends at his Los Angeles home. The Canadian-American was loved by all who have watched Jeopardy! over the past 37 years.

Trebek was under contract to host the game show until 2022. Even though he has died, millions of his fans can still watch the show. He finished taping all 35 shows in October that will air through Christmas Day with Trebek hosting posthumously. New episodes might start taping by the end of 2020 with a new host. So, who will it be?

Sony Pictures, which produces Jeopardy!, told Newsweek that the company does not intend to share details about right now out of respect for Trebek. However, that will not stop people from speculating who would be a contender for the coveted position. Some people are betting on who it will be. A petition has been submitted for one contender. Whoever does get the position will have some big shoes to fill.

Ken Jennings

Ken Jennings' photo is shown above along with a photo of Trebek. It is not surprising that Jennings tops the list of contenders. At 46, he is the highest-earning American game show contestant ever. He holds the longest streak on Jeopardy! after 74 consecutive games and winning $2.52 million along with other show-setting records. He was the $1 million winner of The Greatest of All Time title.

Jennings is at the top of the list because he already has a close connection with the show. He became a producer this season and a consultant where he presents pre-taped segments for some of the questions for contestants. Therefore, it wouldn't make sense for him not to be a contender.

SportsBetting.ag listed Jennings as the favorite to land the job. Adam Burns, a sportsbook manager at the website and at BetOnline.ag, told CBS News that Jennings is a "no brainer" to be the next host.

Tom Bergeron

Tom Bergeron, 65, is no longer hosting Dancing with the Stars after 15 years and receiving one Emmy for his hosting skills. He was replaced by Tyra Banks this season. His millions of fans have not gotten over his abrupt dismissal. Therefore, Bergeron would make a lot of people happy if he became the next host of Jeopardy!

Other than having experience as a host, Bergeron has the personality and the ability to relate to the contestants as Trebek did.

Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper, the two-time Emmy-winning journalist and host of Anderson Cooper 360, is smart enough to host Jeopardy! with ease. The one thing that might keep Cooper, 53, from the job is that he loves what he is already doing. It might be a difficult decision for him to give up the job he has.

George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos, 59, ABC's news anchor and political commentator is said to be lobbying for the position. This surprises some people because George loves the job he already has. His career has always been in politics. It would be hard to get used to not seeing him at the anchor desk on Good Morning America.

Alex Faust

Alex Faust, 31, knows his sports and does a good job reporting play-by-play for teams. Some might think being a sports broadcaster has prepared him for a job like Jeopardy!" People on social media are already calling him the next Alex Trebek, and he is not correcting them.

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton has been touted to be the next host of Jeopardy! by some. He has been the longtime host of Reading Rainbow and an actor in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Burton, 63, is definitely smart enough to host the game show, according to over 50,000 fans who have petitioned for him to get the position. Even though he is high on the list of contenders, officials at Sony might not base their decision on a petition no matter how many signatures it has.

Laura Coates

CNN legal analyst Laura Coates has the best odds to be the next host of Jeopardy! among the women, according to some lists of contenders. Coates, 40, already has a talk radio show on SiriusXM. Additionally, she is an adjunct law professor position at George Washington University School of Law and author of the 2016 legal guide, You Have the Right: A Constitutional Guide to Policing the Police."

Some Less Likely Contenders

An international gambling website has posted a list of people who might be a good host. The odds include astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, actor Neil Patrick Harris, The Price is Right host Drew Carey, actress Rosie Perez, ESPN senior writer Mina Kimes, journalist Katie Couric, late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel, Ryan Seacrest, co-host of Live with Kelly and Ryan, Pat Sajak, longtime host of Wheel of Fortune whose show currently comes on before Jeopardy! during ABC's primetime hour.

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey's name is low on the list. From watching Family Feud and some of Harvey's other shows, many people know the 63-year-old comedian has poor communication skills, an inability to pronounce and remember names, a habit of cursing on the air and sharing unclean jokes.

List Expected to Grow

The list of contenders is expected to grow before Sony offers someone a contract. So, don't be surprised when you see other names added.

Until there is a new host, enjoy the taped episodes with host Alex Trebek until Friday, December 25, 2020.