'Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time' fans get emotional over Alex Trebek's cancer battle, call him the 'true GOAT'

Though his cancer went into remission in the middle of last year, Trebek later revealed that it was back
UPDATED JAN 8, 2020
Alex Trebek (ABC)
Alex Trebek (ABC)

It has been an emotional time for fans of 'Jeopardy!' and the gameshow's longtime host, Alex Trebek. After Trebek's fight with cancer was announced last year, fans have been closely following his battle. Though his cancer went into remission in the middle of last year, Trebek later revealed that it was back.

This year, in a bid to crown the ultimate 'Jeopardy!' champion, a limited series of 'Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time' is airing on ABC featuring the three most successful contestants —Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings, and James Holzhauer. The first show aired on January 7 with Ken Jennings dominating the night.

Of course, it was Trebek that had fans emotional, with many wondering how long the host will continue to host the game show. One fan wrote, "Why I love Alex Trebek. He never made the show about him. He was enthusiastic and passionate about Jeopardy and the fans took to him because of it, not because he had some goofy catchphrase or interjected some personality and personal life stuff into the show."

James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings, and Brad Rutter on 'Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time' (ABC)

Another wondered whether the 'Greatest of All Time' tournament would be Trebek's last time hosting 'Jeopardy!'. The fan wrote, "I’ve been sucked in by the Jeopardy tournament of champions, aka #JeopardyGOAT, and I feel like this is an elaborate sendoff for Alex Trebek and I’m not crying you’re crying."

Another fan tweeted, "I hate to see Alex go, but we all know his health is bad. He's going to pick a show to retire from Jeopardy and take the last 30 seconds to say his goodbye. I think it should be the final of this GOAT tourney. What better way to go...because Alex is the true GOAT! #JeopardyGOAT."

Some fans think that the tournament should serve as a platform to find the next host of 'Jeopardy!'.

One fan tweeted, "Jeopardy GOAT tournament should be a tryout for the eventual successor of Alex Trebek. Such a great format and the questions are made for Champions #JeopardyGOAT." Another opined, "The @Jeopardy greatest of all time tournament is just a front for Alex Trebek to pull a Willy Wonka and find the rightful heir to the jeopardy throne."

The next episode of 'Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time' will air on January 8 on ABC at 8/7c.

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