'Jeopardy!' Picks Ken Jennings As 1st Guest Host

SEATTLE — Ken Jennings will take the reins of "Jeopardy!" in late November, temporarily assuming hosting duties as the beloved game show resumes production following the death of Alex Trebek.

Jennings, who was born in Edmonds and lives in Seattle, holds the record for the longest winning streak on "Jeopardy!" with 74 consecutive wins and took home the most money with over $2.5 million in winnings.

Trebek died Nov. 8 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.

In a news release, the quiz show's producers said a long-term replacement host has not been chosen, and Jennings will be the first in a series of interim guest hosts "from within the Jeopardy! family."

"Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him," said Mike Richards, the show's executive producer. "We will honor Alex's legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challengings clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers."

"Jeopardy!" will air 10 of Trek's best episodes between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, and the last episodes he taped will air in early January. Production on the episodes hosted by Jennings is slated to begin Nov. 30, and they will air starting Jan. 11, 2021.