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\"Let’s be totally clear: No one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek, but we can honor him by playing the game he loved,\" he concluded, before getting into the game.

Jennings is the first guest host to take the reins after Trebek's emotional final episode aired on Friday. Trebek died in November at age 80 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a promotional video released before the show, Jennings, who has served as a consulting producer this season and won the title of greatest of all time last year, admitted, \"Honestly, I’m with the audience. I don’t want me out here. I want to see Alex out here. I know exactly how they feel when they see anybody else behind this lectern.\"

Ken has come a long way from his contestant days. Here are Ken's thoughts from behind the lectern as first in a series of guest hosts. pic.twitter.com/0HaxSv8mmW

— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) January 11, 2021

\"I’m just happy to fill in and help out,\" he added.

A permanent successor for Trebek has yet to be officially announced. In the meantime, \"Jeopardy!\" will continue to rotate a series of hosts.

Executive producer Mike Richards said in a statement, \"By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.\"

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