Ken Jennings taking over as interim Jeopardy! host
Record-holding winner among those to temporarily replace Alex Trebek, who died Nov. 8
Jeopardy! record-holder Ken Jennings will be the first in a series of interim hosts replacing Alex Trebek when the show resumes production next Monday.
Producers announced Monday that Jennings, who won 74 games in a row and claimed the show's "Greatest of All Time" title in a competition last year, will host episodes that will air beginning Jan. 11.
A long-term replacement for Trebek, who died of cancer on Nov. 8, will be named later.
"By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers," the show's executive producer, Mike Richards, said.
The show is in its 37th year of syndication. It is still airing shows that Trebek filmed before his death.
Art Fleming hosted earlier editions of the game show, including the original Jeopardy! that debuted in 1964 on NBC and aired for a decade.
Richards said that Jeopardy! will air repeat episodes for the holiday weeks beginning Dec. 21 and 28, meaning Trebek's final week of shows will air starting Monday, Jan. 4.
Jennings' episodes begin on Jan. 11.