winners

Alek Trebek ‘Concerned’ His 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards Win Due to Sympathy Vote

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

Alek Trebek Afraid Daytime Emmys Win Due to Sympathy Vote