Question
LOS ANGELES - MAY 5:  Alex Trebek at the 2019  Daytime Emmy Awards at Pasadena Convention Center on May 5, 2019 in Pasadena, CA

What was the first game show hosted by Alex Trebek in the U.S.?

Last updated: July 17, 2025

Before Alex Trebek became the legendary mustache behind "Jeopardy!" for 37 years, he was just another Canadian trying to make it in American television. After building a solid reputation hosting quiz shows up north, Trebek packed his bags and headed to the United States in 1973, ready to conquer the game show world one question at a time. What was the first game show hosted by Alex Trebek in the U.S.?

Correct Answer: The Wizard of Odds

(Source)

NBC took a chance on this smooth-talking philosophy graduate for their brand new program, "The Wizard of Odds." It was Trebek's American debut, though it disappeared faster than a contestant's confidence during Final Jeopardy. The show asked audience members to guess statistical outcomes for cash prizes, which isn't the most exciting premise. NBC gave the show exactly one season before pulling the plug, but it got Trebek's foot in the door. He bounced back the next year with "High Rollers," where contestants got to play with giant dice, which was way more entertaining than statistics about how many people prefer chunky over smooth peanut butter.

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