Alex Trebek
Have you ever not known the answer to a very simple Jeopardy! question? Kasia Keen ANSBACH, GERMANY
We were doing some shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and during the commercial breaks I'd go out and talk to the people in the audience. And a little boy stood up and asked, When was the Magna Carta signed? I said 1216. I was off by a year. I know a lot about the Magna Carta, but unfortunately I got the date wrong in front of 6,000 people.
How well do you think you would perform if you were a contestant? Georges-Eric Gaba, MONTREAL
If I were in a contest against my peers--senior citizens--I would probably do fairly well. In a regular game, a good 30-year-old would clean my clock. As you age, your reflexes tend to slow down. So against the younger contestants, Bye-bye, Alex. You're gone. Take home the consolation prizes.
Is there another television show you would like to host? Tracy Ng, COLONIA, N.J.
If they were to bring back Hollywood Squares, I would love to be considered. First of all, you get to sit down as the host, and at my age, it's nice to sit down.
Will there ever be another Ken Jennings? Gerardo Valero, MEXICO CITY
That's a tough one. Ken Jennings wound up winning 74 times. I'm not sure we're going to see that kind of success ever again. He was with us for 4½ months. My gosh, I was spending more time with Ken Jennings than I was with my wife.
What is your weirdest Jeopardy! experience? Phillip Lombardo WANTAGE, N.J.
Before the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, I overheard our three contestants talking before the show. They were saying, You know what we should do to throw Alex off his game? We should take our trousers off. So I took my trousers off, and I walked out without pants. And that really blew them away.
How did you end up landing the Jeopardy! host job? Arun Nagaraj CINCINNATI, OHIO
I had been hosting a number of programs, and Chuck Woolery, who was hosting Wheel of Fortune at that time, had taken ill for a week, so [Merv Griffin's people] asked me if I would come host his show. In 1983 they called and said, We're thinking of bringing back Jeopardy! Would you consider hosting it? I said, Would you consider paying me? And they said yes. And I said I would be happy to do it.
How do you feel about Will Ferrell's impersonation of you on Saturday Night Live? Sandra Rosenberger LAKE CHARLES, LA.
I love the Saturday Night Live sketches. In fact, I was extremely disappointed when Will left. We've never had any contestants as ornery as the Sean Connery character that Darrell Hammond portrays. I've been asked how I would feel if we had Sean Connery on Celebrity Jeopardy! I tell everyone I'd just walk up to him and punch out his lights.
What are you writing on your podium after an answer has been revealed? Are you keeping score? Gerald Ferguson, LORAIN, OHIO
On occasion, the contestants will jump around the board instead of taking a category with the clues in order. So I decided many years ago I was going to cross the clues off so I do not, in error, go back and reread them. I'm pretty good now. I never read a clue that has a big X through it. That's why they pay me the big bucks.
As a proud Canadian, do you have a favorite NHL team? James Lauterhahn, LAS VEGAS