Hey there, friend. You won’t believe the story behind Alex Trebek’s incredible journey to becoming one of the most iconic game show hosts in TV history. In a candid conversation with comedian Paula Poundstone on her “Nobody Listens” podcast, Alex opened up about how his career as a game show host wasn’t exactly part of the grand plan—he kind of stumbled into it. “It happened by accident,” Alex said, explaining that his path to fame was far from conventional.

From Canadian Broadcasting to Hosting ‘Reach for the Top’

Let me paint you a picture. Back in the day, Alex was working for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in Toronto. One of his first big assignments? Hosting a high school quiz show called Reach for the Top. That’s right, before Jeopardy!, Alex was quizzing high schoolers. And guess what? This show wasn’t just a random gig—it actually became a pop culture moment. Years later, Eugene Levy and the SCTV crew parodied it, and Alex couldn’t stop laughing. “Their version of me is hilarious—way funnier than Will Ferrell’s take on Saturday Night Live,” Alex joked. He even noted that Eugene Levy’s portrayal of him, complete with a black mustache and black hair, captured the frustration he sometimes felt with contestants better than Will’s impersonation ever could.

A New Chapter in the U.S.

So, after Reach for the Top wrapped up in 1970, Alex decided it was time for a change. He hopped on a plane and headed to the United States, where he continued to build his career. Over there, he hosted a string of game shows like The Wizard of Odds and High Rollers. But the big break came in 1984 when he landed the role of host for Jeopardy!. At that point, the show was still a relatively small production, and Alex found himself wearing multiple hats. “When we started, I was the producer. We only had six writers, two contestant coordinators, a researcher, a stage manager, and me,” Alex recalled in his chat with Paula. “We were a tiny team back then—probably around 20 people. Now, we’ve grown to over 100!”

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Staying Strong and Humble

Fast forward to 36 years later, and Alex is still at the helm of Jeopardy!. In a heartfelt January interview with Closer Weekly, he shared who he’d like to see take over if he ever decided to step down. Spoiler alert: It’s Betty White. “Betty White would be perfect,” Alex joked, adding a somber note as he revealed his battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. But don’t worry—he’s not planning on leaving anytime soon. In fact, Alex even shared some good news with his fans, telling them that he was nearing remission. “The one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is 18 percent,” Alex tweeted in March. “I’m thrilled to say I just hit that milestone.”

It’s hard to believe that this legendary career all started with a quiz show for high schoolers way back in 1966. Talk about an unexpected journey, right? Alex Trebek’s story is a testament to the power of serendipity and determination.