Alex Trebek Hints At 'Jeopardy!' Exit

LOS ANGELES, CA — What is “Jeopardy!” without Alex Trebek?

The world may soon find out. The legendary gameshow host shocked the entertainment world Sunday when he told Fox News' "OBJECTified" he’s unlikely to return to the show when his contract expires in 2020. The odds, he said, are 50/50, "and a little less.” By 2020, he’ll be an 80-year-old, who spent 36 years giving the questions to answers.

Trebek added that he still enjoys doing the show but wants to make an "intelligent decision" about when to call it quits. Trebek took a break from the show earlier in the year for brain surgery, so fans may have had some inkling that he would consider retirement.

But if some find it hard to imagine anyone else hosting “Jeopardy!,” Trebek isn’t one of them. He named two people he could envision at the helm of the long running quiz show: The LA Kings young play-by-play announcer Alex Faust, 28, and CNN legal analyst Laura Coates.

Trebek wouldn't be the first legend Faust has replaced. He took over Hall Of Fame Kings announcer Bob Miller, who held the job for 44 years.

For his part, Faust was taken by complete surprise.

“I guess there are worse ways to randomly see your name show up on TMZ!,” he tweeted. “I’m flattered by Mr. Trebek’s kind words, and delighted to hear he’s a big @LAKings fan!”

Photo Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock