Alex Trebek is back at work taping the new season of “Jeopardy!,” five months after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
In a new video for “Jeopardy!” viewers, Trebek said his chemotherapy treatments are “over” and he’s “on the mend.”
A spokeswoman for the show confirmed that production of season 36 is now underway.
The new episodes are slated to begin airing on local TV stations on Sept. 9.
“Let me tell you, it’s going to be a good year,” Trebek said in the video.
Alex is back in action! Join him on September 9 for the premiere of Season 36. pic.twitter.com/Vdv9t9vxDE
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) August 29, 2019
Trebek revealed in March that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“It’s in keeping with my long-time policy of being open and transparent with our Jeopardy! fan base. I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health,” he said at the time.
“So, therefore, I wanted to be the one to pass along this information. Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” he continued.
He added later that he planned to beat the cancer.
“Now, normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m gonna fight this, and I’m gonna keep working,” he said at the time. “And with the love and support of my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.”
A month later, in a video posted by Jeopardy!, he told fans: “Despite what you may have heard, I’m feeling good. I’m continuing with my therapy.”
“I wanted once again to thank you for your continuing messages of encouragement and support, particularly the many cards I’ve received from young people. I’m touched beyond words,” he added. “I look forward to seeing you once again in September with all kinds of good stuff.”
He continued to tape episodes for season 35—featuring James Holzhauer’s remarkable winning streak—while undergoing treatment in the spring.
At the time, he quipped that “I have to” beat the disease “because under the terms of my contract, I have to host ‘Jeopardy!’ for three more years.”
He has since made appearances in public, including at the Daytime Emmy Awards in May and the 2019 NHL Awards in June.
Ahead of the 36th season, Jeopardy! has been holding auditions.
Some 2,500 people made it through the online test and some of them were in Chicago earlier in August meeting with show producers.
Maggie Speak, one of the producers, told ABC 7 that Chicago “is the city of big shoulders and big brains, apparently.”
The CNN Wire and Epoch Times Zachary Stieber contributed to this article.
