You’d think no one on the planet would be surprised to hear Alex Trebek won Outstanding Game Show Host at the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards, least of all Alex Trebek himself. However, as the Jeopardy! host explained during his acceptance speech on Sunday, he suspected voters might feel inspired to give him the award because of his recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis, not due to the fact he is a titan of daytime TV and a one-man game show institution. “I was concerned that sympathy might play a big role in the voting,” Trebek explained. “I’m not a big fan of sympathy votes. I believe we should all be judged on the merits of our work.”
Luckily for him (and for us), the Jeopardy! host eventually decided to go full Sally Field with it. If voters really wanted to give him the pity vote, Trebek reasoned, they should have done it in 2018. “However, I started thinking back to last year,” Trebek joked. “Last year, I was nominated. I had just had major surgery to remove two life-threatening blood clots on my brain. You would think that would have elicited a certain amount of sympathy, but I didn’t win!”
Concluded Trebek, “So maybe I’ve been worrying about the wrong thing. I should just do what Sally Field did in a different venue many, many years ago and look at this as a sign that you guys like me, and that you value my work.” Joked the host, “If that’s the case, I can live with that.” Of course, Trebek isn’t the only 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards winner. In fact, you can read the list of this year’s other winners below.
Outstanding Drama Series
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Maurice Benard, General Hospital
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Hosts
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, Live With Kelly and Ryan
Outstanding Entertainment News Program
Daily Mail TV
Outstanding Culinary Program
Valerie’s Home Cooking
Outstanding Game Show Host
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Outstanding Informative Talk Show
Rachael Ray
Outstanding Information Talk Show Host
Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda
Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
Hayley Erin, General Hospital
Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series
Kyler Pettis, Days of Our Lives
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Vernee Watson, General Hospital
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Max Gail, General Hospital
Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series
Patricia Bethune, General Hospital
Outstanding Game Show
Family Feud
Outstanding Morning Program
CBS Sunday Morning