Ken Jennings may owe his career to Alex Trebek, but the “Jeopardy!” champ-turned-presenter now reveals it’s Pat Sajak he’s trying hardest to emulate.
The 49-year-old show host recently appeared on actor Justin Long’s “Life is Short” podcast, where he analyzed both the late Trebek and the longtime, soon-to-retire “Wheel of Fortune” helmer’s hosting styles.
“Alex was such a genius at being the host of ‘Jeopardy!’ —you really cannot do better than that… But as a kid I was always like, ‘Pat’s more fun, Pat jokes around with the three people,’” Jennings said.
“I’m a little more of a Pat Sajak where I’m like if I say one more thing, please end it with a joke,” he continued of his own hosting style.
“Whereas Alex was very much like ‘OK, helium balloons, all right. How about you?’” he described Trebek’s interactions with contestants.
Jennings added, “I want to make it less painful than it was for me as a viewer.”
The Post has contacted reps for Jennings for comment.
Jennings and “Big Bang Theory” alum Mayim Bialik have officially been splitting hosting duties since last fall, following Trebek’s death in July 2022.
However, Bialik has been largely absent from the show since the start of the writers and actors strikes earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest will get a chance to front “Wheel of Fortune” when Sajak retires from “Wheel” in 2024.
Vanna White will continue on as the show’s resident letter-turner, after months of rumors of tense contract negotiations.
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