FROM THE ARCHIVE: Behind-the-scenes of 'Jeopardy!' with Alex Trebek in 1997

"We have new contestants and new material every show. So there is a challenge there in keeping up with the contestants."

ByCheryl Jennings, Justin Mendoza KGO logo
Friday, January 8, 2021
Interview with 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek: November 16, 1997
In this edition of "From The Archive," ABC7 News interviewed the late Alex Trebek and got a behind the scenes look of "Jeopardy!" in a story that aired in 1997.

CULVER CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- The late Alex Trebek's final episode as iconic host of Jeopardy! will air on Friday on ABC7 exactly two months after passing away from cancer.

Trebek fought a public battle with the disease before succumbing to stage four pancreatic cancer last November. He was 80 years old.

RELATED: Did you meet Alex Trebek on Jeopardy? We would like to hear your memories

Trebek hosted Jeopardy! since its debut on daytime syndication in 1984. He holds the Guinness World Record for Most Game Show Episodes Hosted by the Same Presenter hosting more than 8,200 episodes.

"We have new contestants and new material every show. So there is a challenge there in keeping up with the contestants," Trebek told retired ABC7 News anchor Cheryl Jennings in 1997.

SEE ALSO: 'Jeopardy!' opens with touching tribute to Alex Trebek

Executive producer Mike Richards opened the show Monday night with a message to the audience about the legendary host's death.

He continued to host the popular quiz show after his cancer diagnosis in 2019.

In this edition of "From The Archive," ABC7 News spoke to Alex Trebek and got a behind the scenes look at one of America's most popular television shows in a story that aired on November 16, 1997.

You can check out more episodes of "From The Archive" on the ABC7 Bay Area app on Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

Click here to check your local listings to see when "Jeopardy!" airs in your city.