Ken Jennings Just Rewatched The Moment Alex Trebek Shocked Him With No Pants On Jeopardy!: ‘He Just Leapt At The Opportunity.’

by

Jeopardy! is famous for being a challenging and highly respected game show, but it’s also had its share of playful moments. Host Alex Trebek was known for occasionally wearing costumes while reading clues, but one time he really surprised everyone by appearing on stage without pants! Current host Ken Jennings recently revisited this memorable incident and shared the story behind Trebek’s daring prank.

The game in question occurred in 2005 during the taping of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, with Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and Jerome Vered competing. The current host took a trip down memory lane recently and seemed almost as surprised to see a bottomless Alex Trebek as he must have been that day 20 years ago. Check out Jeopardy!’svideo on Instagram:

A post shared by Jeopardy! (@jeopardy)

A photo posted by on

Alex Trebek rocked a hairstyle that was surprisingly ahead of its time! It was basically business in the front and a party in the back – a look that wouldn’t become popular until about 15 years later and is now known as the ‘Zoom Mullet’.

Ken Jennings pointed out that viewers watching at home didn’t see the full picture during that taping. The cameras focused on the game show host from the chest up, leaving many wondering about a question they hadn’t even considered: What kind of underwear did Alex Trebek wear?

This wasn’t a typical case of someone standing up quickly after a video call. The host’s movement was a reaction to the intense pressure of a highly competitive Jeopardy! match between two of the show’s most successful players, as Ken Jennings described:

It was a complete shock when it happened! Early on, we used to joke about how complicated it was getting dressed for the show – we’d all wear dress pants for no particular reason. We even said, ‘Let’s just do the show without pants, it would be easier!’ Then, Alex just spontaneously decided to go without pants one day, and nobody said a word! It’s still one of my favorite memories from all my time on the Jeopardy! set.

Is Ken Jennings’ famous ‘What is a hoe?’ answer a runner-up for most memorable game show moment? Apparently not!

It’s wonderful that Alex Trebek overheard the contestants talking about not being visible from behind the podium and decided to do something about it. As Ken Jennings explained in a video, the contestants essentially left Trebek to handle the problem himself because:

None of us did our part.

Seeing Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter so happy was a highlight – Ken even cheered for the host after a moment that relieved some of the intense pressure during the taping.

Ken Jennings tries his best to make contestants feel comfortable and enjoy their time on the show – he even jokes around a lot! But unlike the unique Alex Trebek, Jennings would never go to extremes like performing without pants. Trebek really was special.

Students can now watch Jeopardy! on Hulu for just $1.99 a month with a special student discount! Normally $11.99, eligible college students save 75% on Hulu’s With-Ads plan. Simply verify your student status at a qualifying US college or university to enjoy this discounted subscription throughout your education. See the deal now!

Find out when Jeopardy! is on TV in your area, or watch episodes the next day on Hulu or Peacock if you have a subscription.

Read More

2025-12-12 21:39