NAPERVILLE, IL — James Holzhauer’s reign as “Jeopardy!” champ may have ended in defeat Monday, but the game began on a positive note. Before what would be Holzhauer’s final game, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, thanked Holzhauer’s daughter for a special gift she sent him.
Trebek flashed a smile at the camera, showing viewers a handmade Get Well card that Holzhauer’s 4-year-old daughter, Natasha, had made for him. The card featured a crayon drawing and brought a ray of cheer to the show.
“I want you to express my thanks to your beautiful little daughter, Natasha, for having made this Get Well Card for me,” Trebek said, adding, “That was very sweet of her.”
Last week, Trebek said some of his tumors have shrunk by 50 percent and that his response to treatment has been “mind-boggling,” adding that he is in “near remission.”
Before Holzhauer was defeated by Chicago librarian Emma Boettcher, he said his daughter was upset about the thought of him losing. To comfort her, he promised they’d throw a party if he lost, which prompted her to get upset about him winning.
Talk show host Karen Dumas also took to Twitter to speculate that Holzhauer lost on purpose so he could go home to spend more time with Natasha.
Since going public with his cancer diagnosis in March, Trebek has been showered with support from viewers throughout the world. Trebek has hosted “Jeopardy!” since 1984 and plans to continue hosting at least until his contract is up in three years, despite his diagnosis.
Trebek’s diagnosis put the spotlight on “Jeopardy!,” as did James Holzhauer’s 32-game streak, which saw the Naperville native securing the top 10 spots for highest winnings in a single game.
Holzhauer also earned the No. 2 spot for highest total earnings and longest consecutive game streak on “Jeopardy!,” with many viewers speculating that he could break the records Ken Jennings set in those categories in 2004. Holzhauer fell just short, winding up with total winnings of $2,462,216 in 32 games.
Holzhauer was defeated by Boettcher Monday after trailing behind her in Final Jeopardy. Jennings still holds the record, having won $2,520,700 in 74 games.
The record-breaking champ’s fame-making “Jeopardy!” run also began with a nod to his daughter. When Holzhauer broke his first record for single-game winnings, he wagered just enough money so that his total would be the same as his daughter Natasha’s birthday, Nov. 9, 2014.
He added a message that read, “Happy birthday, booger.”
This gentle and sweet demeanor helped Holzhauer win over the hearts of many “Jeopardy!” viewers, who enjoyed the quirky way he wrote his name, the secret shout-outs he gave to family members, and even the grace with which he lost, high-fiving new champ Emma Boettcher.
Holzhauer took to Twitter after the game to share a characteristic quote that is worth remembering:
“Thanks for the support and remember to be good humans.”
Watch the video to see the adorable card Natasha made for Trebek: