Canadians are rightly proud of Alex Trebek, the host of the US-produced quiz show, Jeopardy!, since 1984. He doesn't make a big deal out of being a Cancuck from the hard-bitten mining town of Sudbury ON, but, unlike some frostbacks who've made it big in Tinseltown, he doesn't hide it either. His erudite but mild-mannered and wholesome persona has won him won him respect wherever the show is seen.
In his native land, he consistently ranks in near the top of "10 Most Trusted Canadians" polls. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 2017 and got his place on the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2006. South of the world's longest undefended border (TM) he has won five Emmy awards and earned the Daytime Emmy Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Yesterday, following his principles of openness and honesty, he made a sad announcement on Jeopardy's YouTube channel. Here it is.
Stage 4 is the final stage of pancreatic cancer and generally means the disease has spread to other parts of the body, typically the liver, lungs or bones. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is just three per cent. But M Trebek vowed that he's going to fight it! In the video he says, "With the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease."
Besides, the 78-year-old quipped, he has to remain host of Jeopardy! for some time yet, because his new contract, signed in October, requires him to continue his role until 2022!
Walt, who regularly watches Jeopardy! to yell answers at his TV set [and to berate the contestants for their ignorance -- I've seen you! Ed.] wishes Alex many more years!
Footnote: Before finding fame and fortune in Hollywood, M Trebek worked for the Canadian Broadcorping Castration. One of his duties, in the late sixties, was to host a high school quiz show called Reach for the Top. It and he were parodied more than once on the award-winning Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV. Here's a sample, featuring Eugene Levy as "Alek", with contestants including the late John Candy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Rick Moranis, Joe Flaherty and the late John Candy -- all of them Canucks except for the Yankee Flaherty who later became an honorary frostback, kind of... eh.
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