An Afternoon with Alex Trebek

One year, in a departure from our much-loved wilderness adventures, we made a trip to the bustling urban metropolis of Los Angeles for one reason: to see Alex Trebek.

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  Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy!

It is a great honor to share our afternoon in the Jeopardy! world, a world that, sadly, Alex Trebek left this week after a noble fight with pancreatic cancer. Canadian born and raised, Alex Trebek was America’s Favorite Game Show Host.

It was 2013 and Jeopardy’s 30th year–a popular American question-answer television quiz show. They were taping five shows a day, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. We had signed up for an afternoon in the Jeopardy! studio, driven eight hours, and the next day watched the television taping of two consecutive shows.

This television show took place like most, in a sea of concrete lots in the land of Hollywood.

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Athena and I stood in a long line, and eventually a studio employee gave us instructions and led about 50 of us into the building. It was essentially a warehouse, a labyrinth of narrow hallways and plywood walls.

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  The line for Stage 14, Sony Pictures Television Studio

For purposes of keeping the show’s questions and winners a secret, we were not allowed to take photos or have our phones on.

This television show, like most, was taped live; i.e., the show is performed live with only a few minor post-edits.

Jeopardy! has been on the air for 37 years and has accumulated more Emmy awards (35) than any other game show. Alex Trebek has also won seven Emmys for outstanding game show host and a Peabody Award as well.

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  Jeopardy’s trophies

It was easy to see what made him outstanding.

They led our parade to the audience seating where we saw contestants on stage rehearsing with a pseudo-host.  The three contestants were getting familiar with their signaling devices and answering fake questions, while production staff and sound engineers bustled around adjusting microphones, cameras, and lights. 

We were now the studio audience and our job was to clap loudly and not utter any other sound.

When it was time, the countdown started:  Five, Four, Three, Two….   

All overhead lights were extinguished and bright pink lights flooded the stage. An “On the Air” light flashed on. The Jeopardy! theme song, as familiar to me as a lullaby, blasted the studio. 

Johnny Gilbert at his lectern shouted out in his booming voice, “This Is Jeopardy!”

I was so excited I thought I was going to explode. 

Then Alex Trebek came onto the stage in his energetic happy-go-lucky walk, smiling and thanking all who were present.

Johnny Gilbert gestured for us to clap. I looked around and saw the whole studio audience smiling broadly and clapping heartily.

Although there is much illusion in the world of television and film, one thing was authentic from the start: Alex Trebek.

During the commercial breaks he came over to us. Handsome and personal, he was dressed in a dapper suit and fine leather loafers. He entertained us with his dry humor and self-deprecating jokes. Told us personal things, like his favorite color (gray), answered all our questions.

At one point, in answer to a question, he nimbly tap-danced for an impromptu half-minute. 

At 7:30 that morning Mr. Trebek had received the material for all five shows of the day.  With 61 clues and answers per show, and five shows, he facilitated 305 questions a day in front of a live audience and nine million TV viewers. 

He hosted over 8,000 Jeopardy! shows.

He covered questions and answers spanning all of the world, gliding seamlessly over accents and pronunciations, making jokes, and connecting to everyone in their living rooms.

What was most clear to me as we sat in that audience: he worked so hard and made it look so easy.

Before the show began, we were also introduced to Johnny Gilbert. He was the announcer and had been working beside Alex Trebek on the Jeopardy! stage for three decades. He was friendly and outgoing and somehow made us want to do anything possible to make the show go perfectly.

We were also introduced to the Clue Crew and the eight judges.

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  Jimmy McGuire, Sarah Whitcomb Foss, Alex Trebek, Kelly Miyahara

Once when a contestant answered a question, but not quite right, there was a quiet stirring of researchers and judges in the darkened sidelines, and within seconds the correct answer was announced.

Several hours later, after the shows were done, we were escorted into the front room and allowed to take photos. Mock contestant booths and a cardboard Alex kept us all busy. Before exiting, we were given a post card with the dates when “our” shows, #6749 and #6750, would air.

Two months later, on schedule, we watched “our” shows on TV.

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  Athena, mock contestant

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  Jet and Athena with cardboard Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek made everything look easy, it was part of his panache. But until Jeopardy!, his broadcasting career was a whirlwind of cancelled shows and long commutes across international borders. He spent the first decade of his career hustling for work.

He got his start on Jeopardy! while filling in for the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” pre-Pat Sajak.

Over the years he became a cultural icon, his enthusiasm was contagious and his consistently smooth style was charming. He hosted contests, other game shows, and often appeared as himself in movies. He gave much of his time and fortune to the world.

The question is: Who was the most remarkable game show host of all time and will be deeply missed?

The answer is: Who is Alex Trebek.

Written by Jet Eliot.

Photos by Athena Alexander.

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  Television studio lot at Sony Pictures in Culver City, CA

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