WATCH: Jeopardy! Returning With Host Alex Trebek And New Role For Ken Jennings
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- "Jeopardy!" is returning for its 37th season, with greater social distance between Alex Trebek and the contestants, and a new role for all-time great contestant Ken Jennings.
The show announced Thursday that a redesigned set for the coronavirus era will allow for the contestants to be further apart and at a greater distance from Trebek, who has continued as host after a diagnosis last year of pancreatic cancer.
"I feel good, and I feel excited because once again JEOPARDY! has demonstrated that it's at the forefront of television programming," Trebek said in a statement. "I believe we are the first quiz show to come back on the air in the COVID-19 era. On a personal level, I'm excited because it gets me out of the house. It gives me something to do on a regular basis, and I was missing that."
Jennings is joining the series as a consulting producer. He'll appear on-air with his own video categories, develop projects and act as a public ambassador for the show.
"Though I've played my last round of JEOPARDY! as a contestant, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to remain involved with my favorite show," Jennings said. "I'm still in on all the action, but I don't have to worry about phrasing things in the form of a question anymore."
New episodes of "Jeopardy!" will return to WBZ-TV starting on Sept. 14.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
