Ken Jennings hosts 'Jeopardy!' in first episode airing without Alex Trebek
CULVER CITY, CA - JULY 14: Jeopardy host Alex Trebek, (L) poses contestant Ken Jennings after his earnings from his record breaking streak on the gameshow surpassed 1 million dollars July 14, 2004 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Jeopardy Produc
CULVER CITY, Calif. - The first episode of "Jeopardy!"' hosted by Ken Jennings will air Monday.
Jennings will be the first of what the show described as "a series of interim guest hosts from within the 'Jeopardy!' family," to fill the role held by Alex Trebek since its syndicated revival began in 1984.
"By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers," executive producer Mike Richards said.
RELATED:
• Alex Trebek's request in final Jeopardy! episodes: 'open up your heart' to COVID sufferers
• ‘God bless you and goodbye’: 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek has planned his farewell speech
Trebek died Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. The final episode he hosted aired Friday.
Jennings became a "Jeopardy!" consulting producer this season, presenting his own special video categories, developing projects, assisting with contestant outreach and serving as a general ambassador for the show.
Jennings won the "Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time" competition which aired last January. He holds the show's records for most consecutive games won, 74, and highest winnings in regular-season play, $2,520,700.
"Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life," Jennings said in a promotional video for Monday's show. "Like all 'Jeopardy!' fans, I miss Alex very much."
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.