“The long time host of Jeopardy, he
was adored by millions before losing his battle to cancer on November 8, 2020.”
“Who was Alex Trebek?”
Was there ever an easier question? Ya know, it's weird.
When I talk about entertainment and the influences I've had I always think of
Trek, Wars, Harry Turtledove, many Baen authors, etc. If I really stop and think
about it (and I try not to. My mama always said that thinkin' gets you in
trouble.) the three entertainers I've watched the most over the years are Pat
Sajak, Vanna White, and Alex Trebec.
As a kid growing up, if I wasn't out of the
house working (I got my first job at fourteen) or at band rehearsals/performances or chasing some young lady around, etc. I was in front
of my TV at seven PM and wouldn't move for an hour, because it was
Wheel of and Jeopardy time. Once I wasted all of my money buying
vowels, it was time to win them all back questioning answers. Some nights I
owned. Some nights, I'd have been better off reading a book in my bedroom. I
always had fun though.
Jeopardy was always an awesome show, but it was also kind
of weird. There have been soap operas since before there was a Jimbo. Sports
have been extremely popular on both TV and radio for decades as well. Game shows
have been popular basically forever as well, but... Well...
The Dating Game (or the 90's equivalent Studs) and the
Newlywed Game covered romance, which a lot of geekish types aren't all
that comfortable with or good at. Producers of The Price is Right have
admitted publicly for decades that that pick people for their enthusiasm
standing in line. Screaming “Big money, no Whammies, STOP!” doesn't exactly
require a nerdish IQ, although there were some very intelligent players. Even
solving words on Wheel of Fortune was never really all that hard.
But
Jeopardy...
Ah, Jeopardy.
For Jeopardy, you have to pass a test just to get an audition. Then you
have to pass the audition by proving that you can answer the questions under
pressure. You can't fake your way through something like that. Anyone who has
been on Jeopardy as a contestant (other than some of the celebrities) is
one of ours. They're geeks, They're nerds. They're tribe. And listen, I love Pat
Sajak. I had one of my earliest celebrity crushes on Vanna White. I used to go
to my buddies house during my lunch hour at school to watch Bob Barker. I love
Drew Carey. (I even read Dirty Jokes and Beer) Chuck Woolery is welcome
to stop by any time he wants. Steve Harvey is my guy. But Alex Trebek... Alex
Trebec was one of us. He was the guy who had the questions that only we could
answer.
Anyone can look at “E-T MY S - - -R T S” and know that the answer is
“Eat my shorts” but how many people can give you five different “Q Foods”? Most
of the guys on The Dating Game couldn't answer the question “What would
we do on a date?” when they knew it was coming. Yes, your eighteen year old kid
can listen to a bunch of other people bid big numbers and decide to bid a
dollar, but can they regurgitate the principles of fiction in question form
before the other competitors can? (And yes, I've seen questions that stumped the
competitors. I always get a chuckle and remember that I'm not alone in not
having all the answers.)
I was at a con once (CONfusion in Dearborn, Michigan)
and one of the panelists -I want to say it was Brandon Sanderson – made a
statement to the effect that “We're nerds. We like to be experts on things.” He
was right. If you can run five straight in a Jeopardy category you are an
expert in that subject. Sports fans like to point to statistics to argue over
who the best athlete in a given sport/at a given position were. I am here to
tell you that, short of an amazing academic CV or appearing on a documentary
there is no way to get better nerd cred than to say “I won an episode of
Jeopardy.” We don't really care so much about total money, just the fact
that you've done it. Honestly. Especially since in my case I've met more NBA
Championship winners (Rick Mahorn and Tayshaun Prince) than I have
Jeopardy winners (none).
If there is a nerd heaven – and Dear Lord, I
hope there is – it's going to be Alex Trebec standing at the gate. There is
going to be a trivia question to get in. Don't worry, he'll know your areas of
expertise, but he's still not going to let you in until you get it right and
answer in question form. And when he lets you in, he'll be smiling while you hum
the Jeopardy theme song. Or whistle it. I'll probably whistle the thing, but
whatever works, right? The important part is just to enjoy the ride. That's what
Jeopardy was really all about. People enjoying watching other people compete in
an arena that many of us felt more comfortable in than we ever could on an
athletic field. Prime time television will never be the same. Even though
Jeopardy will continue, we've lost an icon. People my age, especially nerdish
types like myself, my age have lost yet another piece of our childhood. Life
will go on as it always does, but we'll still remember him. So Rest in Peace Mr.
Trebek. Your fans will miss you. At least know that you were one of my two
favorite Canadians. (The other one being the shooter bar girl at Jokers back in
the day. I wonder if she's single...) I'll catch you on the flip side. Save a
spot for me. I'll be the guy making dad jokes and sporting an Honorverse cosplay
with Spock ears. I know where you'll be. A: It's former Jeopardy host
Alex Trebec's natural habitat. Q: What is behind the podium? See you there,
brother.
Hi! I've done the in person audition (Portland, Oregon) and they were fun both times. Still never got called, though, and still hope to one of these days. But I still spend most weekday evenings shouting answers both right and wrong at the TV. Oh, and I hate to be nitnoid about it, but you posted the same content twice.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you're costing me money. I've just read SO LITTLE AND SO LIGHT, and now I can look forward to blowing some money some more of Ms. Hoyt's works. You dirty rat you--and thanks.
Awesome. My work here is well...
ReplyDeleteNot done, but at least properly started.