Jeopardy kept us on our toes … thanks to Alex

Alex Trebek has been a part of our television viewing for many years. Some grew up watching Alex with dark hair and snazzy clothes back in the early 70s on Concentration. I didn’t. I didn’t see the old Concentration shows until recently when I started watching old game shows. On the old shows, I seem to be able to keep up with the action, know some of the answers, and generally come off as a more intelligent person.

Jeopardy was never one of those “easy” shows. I watched it as a kid when Art Fleming was the host. Little cards were slid over the “answers” from backstage, and there was hardly anything electronic, except for that twelve-inch round screen in our television console which was about the size of a dishwasher. Art Fleming had a great voice, and I really liked the show. Just remembering to make the “answer” in the form of a question was exciting. My brother and I would sit around the television reminding each other to make it in that form … delighted when we could get an answer.

We had a Jeopardy board game which we got one Christmas. The box contained a red plastic game board with removeable dollar amounts. (Don’t hold me to this, it’s been at least fifty years.) The game questions were printed in some color that made them show up when they were slid behind the red plastic. Not only did I not know most of the answers, but I also didn’t know the magic that drove that game.

The answer booklet disappeared for a time, and my brother got smarter. That’s just the way it goes when you are thirteen and he is fifteen. So, Jeopardy was part of our coming of age. Smart was important, but fast was even better. I think we had a bell or a clicker to opt in. I would have done better if Alex Trebek had been reading the questions to us … like on television. That game board was small, and … my brother read faster.

In watching Alex Trebek over the last few months, I realized he was more than a game show host. In addition to enjoying the contestants, Alex wanted to make them better. On the re-runs of the old Concentration show, he gives suggestions as to how to win. “Now, pay attention. That rebus (puzzle picture) uses some of the same pictures over and over. Notice … what that arrow is pointing at? It’s “hell” not the Devil.” When people are trying to match the names of the vehicles they are trying to win, he urges them to “calm down, go quickly, and don’t get confused.” They are on national television. He is the host who will not make any more if they win or lose, but he’s in there “lecturing” about good game technique.

At that time, we didn’t realize how smart the man was. But as the years went on, and he moved over to Jeopardy, we realized that he spoke (or pronounced) several languages, knew a lot about historical figures, understood complicated science, and could read clearly and concisely even during the last days of his fight with Pancreatic Cancer.

The show will go on with other hosts … Ken Jennings will take his turn. I’m not sure than anyone can really replace the handsome, suave, brilliant man that made the show such a favorite. As we watch these last five shows that were taped about ten days before he died, we are in awe. We will miss him.