Alex Trebek Gets Emotional Standing Ovation While Receiving Daytime Emmy Award For 'Jeopardy!'
Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek received his sixth Emmy for outstanding game show host on Sunday, and it also marks his seventh overall Emmy with his 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.
We may as well hand the gentleman an additional award for best acceptance speech of the night at the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards.
The 78-year-old TV game show host has been undergoing treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer since announcing his diagnosis in March.
As he was greeted by a standing ovation, Trebek quickly expressed that he was concerned about winning based on sympathy.
"Ever since the nominations came out, I have worried about this moment," he said, with the prized statuette in hand.
"Let me explain.'You were worried about winning?!' Yeah. I was concerned that sympathy might play a big role in the voting this year."
Alex Trebek got a standing ovation as he accepted an Emmy Award as host of "Jeopardy!" — and immediately set the au… https://t.co/2gwTe6lRIO— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) 1557140083.0
"Let me finish," he interrupted as the audience audibly murmured in protest.
"I'm not a big fan of sympathy vote."
He told his peers that he wanted to be recognized based strictly on merit.
"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, received a standing ovation as he… https://t.co/gDqaYdLopp— CNN (@CNN) 1557153064.0
But then, the affable host switched gears and injected some levity with his trademark wit.
He reflected back on being nominated last year and had major surgery.
"Last year, I was nominated. I had just had major surgery to remove two life-threatening blood clots on my brain. You would think that would have elicited a certain amount of sympathy! But I didn't win!"
The audience erupted with laughter and applause, through tears.
The Canadian native concluded his speech by referencing another celebrity's response from her 1985 Oscar win and applied it towards accepting his Emmy.
"So maybe I've been worrying about the wrong thing and I should just do what Sally Field did in a different venue many, many years ago, and look at this as a sign that you guys like me and that you value my work. If that's the case. I can live with that."
You can watch a clip of Trebek's emotional speech in the tweet, below.
Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Goes to Alex Trebek @Jeopardy https://t.co/NjfPcYiPsI— Daytime Emmy Awards (@Daytime Emmy Awards) 1557108174.0
Twitter was moved by his emotional and humorous acceptance speech.
@CNN Who is the most outstanding, resilient, humurous, long-lasting game show host ever? You already know. Final answer. ❤🙌— Dream Jordan, YA Author•DMs🚫 (@Dream Jordan, YA Author•DMs🚫) 1557153253.0
@GMA @Jeopardy Who doesn’t love Jeopardy, and its host?— Nicola (@Nicola) 1557141859.0
@DaytimeEmmys @Jeopardy Way to go, Mr. Trebek. 😃👍🏻 https://t.co/ICPZzNH1Ad— Chris (Rad) Finch 6 (@Chris (Rad) Finch 6) 1557137499.0
Trebek was assured there was no sympathy votes necessary, as he deserved his win.
@DaytimeEmmys @Jeopardy You do not need sympathy always had my vote😍— Meg Eash (@Meg Eash) 1557111894.0
@DaytimeEmmys @Jeopardy Truly deserves it! 😊— Kevin Solomon (@Kevin Solomon) 1557161898.0
Fans also wished him well as he continues his battle with cancer.
@DaytimeEmmys @Jeopardy Hope you beat Cancer Alex and congrats on winning a Daytime Emmy.— Teddy Furstman (@Teddy Furstman) 1557110006.0
I'll take "Things That Make Me Cry" for $200, please.
Alex Trebek Opens Up In Candid Interview About His Struggles With 'Deep Sadness' Over His Cancer Diagnosis
Since announcing his cancer diagnosis in March, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has carried himself with the same graceful charisma that made him a television icon,.
Behind the scenes, however, Trebek's battle with cancer has been much harder than he's been letting on.
Fans were stunned back in March when the 78-year-old game show legend revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
But even in the midst of his devastating personal news Trebek was comforting fans, promising to fight on.
"I'm going to fight this, and I'm going to keep working. Keep the faith and we'll win. We'll get it done."
Behind the cameras though Trebrek's struggle with cancer has been far more challenging.
On Wednesday Trebek opened up during an interview on Good Morning America, revealing the "deep sadness" he's felt surrounding his diagnosis.
.@Jeopardy host #AlexTrebek to @RobinRoberts after being asked how he is doing: “My oncologist says I’m doing well… https://t.co/6e0IAt04cW— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1556711029
"My oncologist says I'm doing well even though I don't always feel it," Trebek admitted to Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, who is a cancer survivor herself.
"I've had kidney stones, I've had ruptured discs, so I'm used to dealing with pain, but what I'm not used to dealing with is the surges that come on suddenly of deep, deep sadness — and it brings tears to my eyes."
"Chemo takes it out of you. I mean, I feel so weak all the time, and that's not a good place to be."
"I go in and I sit down. I joke with the nurses and I'm there for an hour and a half while they inject all this stuff into me. Then I go home and I have a good day, and then the next day for no reason that I can fathom, it turns south on me."
You can watch the full interview below.
'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek opens up about cancer battle l GMAwww.youtube.com
True to his character though Trebek is remaining optimistic about his diagnosis and greatly credits the support he has been receiving from fans for keeping him upbeat during these difficult times.
"I've had so many contacts from people who have survived cancer for 10 years, 12 years, 14 years. I am now a 30 day cancer survivor. I'm going to catch up to those other people. They have been an inspiration me."
And Trebek is already looking forward to getting back on the air to begin his 36th season as Jeopardy! host in the fall.
"Hopefully everything is going to turn out well and I'll be back on the air with original programming come this September."
Many fans were inspired by Trebek's candid interview and the iconic host's continued grace and poise even in the face of his diagnosis.
@GMA @Jeopardy @RobinRoberts Nothing but love & respect for him -- He is always so gracious. Keeping him in thoughts & prayers. <3— 𝓡𝓸𝓬𝓴-𝓝-𝓡𝓸𝓵𝓵-𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵 ♫ (@𝓡𝓸𝓬𝓴-𝓝-𝓡𝓸𝓵𝓵-𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵 ♫) 1556720018
@GMA @Jeopardy @RobinRoberts Grace under pressure. Positive attitude. Example for all of us.— Greg Helms (@Greg Helms) 1556716352
@GMA @Jeopardy @RobinRoberts brave,fearless,gutsy,strong,dashing defiant,hero like, ......."Who is Alex Trebek"? God bless u Alex !— Heather L Holden (@Heather L Holden) 1556734980
@GMA @Jeopardy Enjoyed this interview with #AlexTrebek. Such an elegant man & a class act. I wish him all the best! #Jeopardy— ♥️🇺🇸🎼🎨Jo1393🎨🎼🇺🇸♥️ (@♥️🇺🇸🎼🎨Jo1393🎨🎼🇺🇸♥️) 1556743578
And fellow cancer survivors added their support, encouraging Trebek to keep fighting the good fight.
@GMA @Jeopardy Alex, 11/12.. I was diagnosed with Stage IV non Hodgkin’s lymphoma.. had a 3% chance of survival.… https://t.co/NMdCQCsC8M— Jen (@Jen) 1556733867
@GMA @Jeopardy Keep fighting Alex, I'm a 5 yr survivor of Pancreatic Cancer and know all about how brutal a disease… https://t.co/4YwbYOa56m— JoeMarino (@JoeMarino) 1556762505
@GMA @Jeopardy @RobinRoberts #AlexTrebek My husband is an over 13 year survivor of Pancreatic Cancer. It has been… https://t.co/GOL2dr8T9n— Mary C. Sanchez (@Mary C. Sanchez) 1556727509
From his 35 years on television to his ongoing battle with cancer Trebek has been a source of inspiration for millions, and we all wish him the best.
@GMA @Jeopardy Alex, you have been apart of the fabric of our lives. Jeopardy challenged kids even from low income… https://t.co/z01jdCZ49b— Jeneen Fields, PhD (@Jeneen Fields, PhD) 1556723631
@GMA @Jeopardy Thank you for being real about cancer and what it takes from you physically and emotionally. It’s mo… https://t.co/AzRy5TyDDK— Andrea (@Andrea) 1556745840