Alex Trebek‘s final week of Jeopardy episodes started off with an emotional message from the late host. During the opening moments of tonight’s episode, which was filmed just 10 days before Trebek’s death in November, the host addressed the audience with words of inspiration and hope.
“This is the season of giving. I know you want to be generous with your family, your friends, your loved ones,” he began. “But today, I want you to go one step farther. I want you to open up your hands, open up your hearts to those who are still suffering because of COVID-19, people who are suffering through no fault of their own.
“We’re trying to build a gentler, kinder society, and if we all pitch in just a little bit, we’re gonna get there,” Trebek told viewers.
Trebek’s message stuck with many Jeopardy viewers, who remembered the host for his compassion, intelligence and class. “Wow Alex Trebek’s speech to start tonight’s Jeopardy. Such an inspiration,” one tweeted. Another wrote, “Of course Alex Trebek began his final week of shows by giving a message of sticking together because so many people are suffering due to Covid. I’m crying at Jeopardy! again.”
In an interview on The Today Show earlier this morning, Jeopardy executive producer Mike Richards praised Trebek for his touching speech, recalling the day they filmed the episode in the studio. “In this very special unbelievable final week, he comes out and gives a talk about the importance of togetherness and sticking together and that the world is struggling but that we have to get through it together,” Richards said. “We had chills. There are specific moments in Jeopardy when you clap, and then there are moments when you are quiet. There’s not that many people in the studio because of COVID, and we all burst into applause. We were so moved that we had to applaud.”
Trebek’s final week of Jeopardy episodes will air every night this week at 7/6c on ABC, concluding with his last new episode on Friday, Jan. 8.
