A 2018 TMZ interview with Alex Trebek reveals that the former Jeopardy! host wanted Coates to replace him as the game show host, however his wishes never materialized.
Video has resurfaced of former Jeopardy host Alex Trebek saying that he wanted CNN legal analyst Laura Coates to be his successor.
Who Alex Trebek wanted to replace him.
It’s all coming together now… pic.twitter.com/sklq9QZQbu— ⭐️ with a Y ⭐️ (@wyntermitchell) August 19, 2021
Despite his wishes, executives appointed Mike Richards as the new host of the long-standing show.
In defense of the late host's wishes, fans took to Twitter to lament show executive's decision.
I would really like to know why Alex Trebek's choice, @thelauracoates never even got a shot.https://t.co/pKGja475LD
— Lisa Hamner (@lisa_hamner) August 19, 2021
Why didn't @Jeopardy just go with the wishes of the man whose job they needed to fill??
— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie) August 19, 2021
Also, shoutout to Alex Trebek for naming a Black woman (Laura Coates) to be his successor. https://t.co/sbDQKlrdhU
She would be freaking awesome! I'd love to watch her!!! pic.twitter.com/sOKJglhQfN
— Susan (@MileJunkieRuns) August 19, 2021
Alex Trebek said @thelauracoates would make a great replacement as host of JEOPARDY. She wasn't even given an audition. There's a story.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) August 19, 2021
Jeez. Alex Trebek even *requested* Laura Coates as his replacement.
— Cassiopeia7🎨 (@deepblue27) August 19, 2021
Yet, we still ended up with douchebro as host. Way to tarnish Trebek and Jeopardy's legacy ... https://t.co/PvGJp5wXHL
One user said they weren't a fan of Richards hosting Jeopardy.
The criticism comes as the new host is facing backlash for alleged sexist comments he made in the past while hosting a podcast.Gross. He should not be hosting Jeopardy. Plus I've just learned Alex wanted Laura Coates to be his successor https://t.co/RLZu1mjK9p
— Really? (@ohhhreallyyeah) August 19, 2021
In 2013, Richards hosted a yearlong podcast called The Randum Show where he was accused of sexually harassing his co-host Beth Triffon and calling her names like, “booth ho” and “boothstitute,” the New York Post reported.
The 46-year-old host apologized this week for his remarks, however, his past actions have left people upset and confused as to why Trebek’s 2018 wishes to have Coates replace him were ignored.
I love Alex, an earthly angelic man. I hate how they're disrespecting him. He spent a lifetime honoring Jeopardy, with zero controversies, and this is what happens after he dies? Laura Coates deserves her moment in Jeopardy. She was his crowned princess.
— IntheCut-CM (@inthecutcm) August 19, 2021
I would have loved to have seen Laura Coates in the mix during the search for a new Jeopardy host, albeit a performative one, as folks are now learning. https://t.co/7a5rGilPmj
— Tammi “Did you wash your hands?” Sparks 👋🏾🧼🧴 (@tammirsparks) August 11, 2021
You’d think #Jeopardy could have at least have given *Alex Trebek*’s choice a TRY.
— shediac (@shediac_) August 19, 2021
“Video resurfaces of Trebek saying he wanted Laura Coates to replace him as ‘Jeopardy’ host” https://t.co/BkqPhdBgPP
Before Alex passed, he said he would like Laura Coates to host.
— Tiffany (@LarelleTIff) August 19, 2021
Oh well. https://t.co/Ab1qYiqvT7
In a TMZ interview, Trebek stated that he would like for Los Angeles Kings announcer Alex Faust or Ben Mankiewicz, the host of Turner Classic Movies, to fill the role of Jeopardy's host once he stepped down. He was then asked who would he want as a female successor, to which he named Coates, Yahoo! News reported.
Shortly after the interview, Coates tweeted she was “humbled” that the late game show host even knew who she was and that he believes she would “be a great host of my fave game show ever that I grew up watching.”
Incredibly honored & humbled @Jeopardy Alex Trebek 1) knows who I am 2) thinks I'd be a great host of my fave game show ever that I grew up watching w/ my family & still watch w/ my own kids (who saw him say this & now think I'm a genius) #Dying https://t.co/qdMxWc9g5e via @TMZ
— Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) July 30, 2018
Since the resurfacing of the interview clip, Coates hasn’t responded, however, on Wednesday, she tweeted one of her favorite quotes from Trebek which stated “Don’t tell me what you believe in. I’ll observe how you behave and I will make my own determination.”
{{ fullArticle.subTitle }}