It's been a while since we've gotten an update from Alex Trebek about his ongoing battle against stage four pancreatic cancer. The longtime Jeopardy! host has been out of the public eye since the quiz show went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, he recorded a short video message for his dedicated fans to share some exciting news.
In the video message, Trebek shared that his cancer treatments are "paying off." Even though the treatments "fatigue" him a "great deal," Trebek says his "numbers are great" and he's "feeling good." He told viewers that he even managed to write a memoir while undergoing his latest round of treatments, which will hit shelves later this summer.
Not only has Trebek kept busy while Jeopardy! is on hiatus by writing his upcoming memoir, he's also been recording an introduction for a special vault episode of the game show set to air in the near future. According to Trebek, the vault episode of Jeopardy! will go into the show's archives to highlight memorable moments from the show's 36-year history, including the series premiere. Trebek notes he's exciting to show the first episode he ever hosted, including showing off his old mustache.
Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards released a statement about the retrospective look at the show, as well. "What is incredible about Jeopardy! is that it has historical importance while remaining culturally relevant today," he said. "I know our fans will love the nostalgia while still enjoying the gameplay. A lot has changed over the years - the set, the pace of the game...the mustache! - but the ability to play along is timeless."
According to ABC7, Jeopardy! producers went through nearly 8,000 episodes of the show and selected the 20 "most compelling" competitions from show's history. Many of these episodes haven't been seen since their original airing, as well, which will be a real treat for longtime fans of the show.
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