“He’s Got an Iron Will” Departing “Jeopardy!” Producer Shares Update On Alex Trebek’s Cancer Treatment
Yesterday, the long-time "Jeopardy!" executive producer Harry Friedman announced he would be leaving the show. But his colleague of nearly three decades, Alex Trebek, is staying on, despite facing advanced pancreatic cancer.
Harry Friedman, 72, has been producing “Jeopardy!” since 1997, and all the while, he’s worked alongside the beloved host and American TV icon, Alex Trebek. Yesterday, Sony Pictures Television announced that Friedman will be stepping down from the role, and in a new interview, Friedman shared that he and Trebek, 79, are going to miss working with each other.
Harry Friedman (left) with Alex Trebek at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 28th season of “Jeopardy!” in 2011. (Image source: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images).
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Friedman shared that one of the reasons that Friedman is stepping down from his role as executive producer for “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” after so many years is that he and his wife have had a couple of health challenges.
Trebek, too, has been facing health challenges. In March, the beloved “Jeopardy!” host publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer—a cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat. Only 3 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live for five years, and most of them live only 3-6 months.
Alex Trebek (Left) and Harry Friedman have been working with each other for nearly 25 years.
But in spite of poor prognosis, Friedman said that his long-time colleague is doing well.
“Alex is remarkable in many ways, not the least of which is he’s got an iron will and an unequaled determination to beat this,” Friedman said. “He underwent several rounds of chemo and that brought his numbers down. They were around 1,000 at one point and now they’re down into the high teens.”
Though Friedman did not specify what these numbers were counting, his update confirms what Trebek himself shared with People in May—that his chemotherapy treatment had shrunken his pancreatic cancer tumors a “mind-boggling” amount. This is rare for patients with Trebek’s type and stage of cancer; according to Dr. Allyson Ocean, a Medical Oncologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center, chemotherapy drugs often have a hard time penetrating pancreatic cancer tumors. In a previous conversation with SurvivorNet, Dr. Ocean explained that the reason for this is in part that pancreatic cancer tumors are surrounded by something called “stromal tissue,” which acts as a barrier to chemotherapy and radiation.
Alex Trebek was recently seen out and about after having lost hair due to cancer treatment. He’s acknowledged wearing a wig (right) for “Jeopardy!” tapings.
Another reason that pancreatic cancer is so tough to treat is that it tends to be diagnosed late, after it’s already spread to other parts of the body, as it has for Trebek. At earlier stages, pancreatic cancer rarely causes any pain or symptoms, meaning doctors and patients don’t necessarily have a reason to suspect it’s there.
But while chemo and radiation don’t tend to be all that effective in treating late-stage pancreatic cancer, there are some instances where it is, and according to Friedman and Trebek himself, Trebek’s cancer is one of those cases.
In another interview in May, Trebek shared with the Canadian Broadcast Company that if his cancer responded well enough to chemo, he might be a candidate for a new, cutting-edge treatment called immunotherapy, which would empower his body’s own immune system to attack his cancer cells. For immunotherapy to be an option, pancreatic cancer tumors have to have specific characteristics in their genetic makeup. This, too, is rare, but according to Trebek, his cancer may have the unique gene mutation to make this a possibility. Though Trebek has not shared whether the “mind-boggling” results from his chemo were indeed enough to make him a candidate for immunotherapy, the star was optimistic when he shared the possibility.
In the months since announcing his diagnosis, Trebek has indeed received an outpouring of support from his fans and the viewers who have welcomed the iconic host into their homes on their television screens for over 35 years.
“As you all know, survivorship is measured starting from the date you are diagnosed with cancer,” Trebek said. “And on that scale, my gosh, I’m a 62-day survivor. Give me a break…But I’m working on it. And I promise you this: That if I become a 22-year survivor, you will all be welcomed at my 100th birthday.”
Trebek’s wife, Jean Currivan Trebek, has been a pillar of strength and support during her husband’s cancer journey. (Image source: People)
How Did Trebek React to the News of Friedman’s Departure?
Trebek and Friedman have been working with each other for nearly three decades, so the long-time executive producer leaving will likely be a big change for Trebek. According to Friedman, though, Trebek was supportive when he heard the news.
Trebek (left) and Friedman have received many awards for “Jeopardy!”
“He certainly understands,” Friedman said. “He was respectful of it and of course we’re going to miss working together but he was very supportive, as were [“Wheel of Fortune” hosts] Pat [Sajak] and Vanna [White].”
Pat Sajak, left, Harry Friedman, Vanna White and Alex Trebek at the 2018 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame Awards Robb Cohen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Friedman will officially leave “Jeopardy!” after the upcoming season 36, which will air in September. As of now—and despite his difficult journey with pancreatic cancer—Trebek himself will stay on the show, continuing to bring his infectious positivity to tens of millions of viewers.
Harry Friedman, 72, has been producing “Jeopardy!” since 1997, and all the while, he’s worked alongside the beloved host and American TV icon, Alex Trebek. Yesterday, Sony Pictures Television announced that Friedman will be stepping down from the role, and in a new interview, Friedman shared that he and Trebek, 79, are going to miss working with each other.
Harry Friedman (left) with Alex Trebek at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 28th season of “Jeopardy!” in 2011. (Image source: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images).
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Friedman shared that one of the reasons that Friedman is stepping down from his role as executive producer for “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” after so many years is that he and his wife have had a couple of health challenges.
Trebek, too, has been facing health challenges. In March, the beloved “Jeopardy!” host publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer—a cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat. Only 3 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live for five years, and most of them live only 3-6 months.
Alex Trebek (Left) and Harry Friedman have been working with each other for nearly 25 years.
But in spite of poor prognosis, Friedman said that his long-time colleague is doing well.
“Alex is remarkable in many ways, not the least of which is he’s got an iron will and an unequaled determination to beat this,” Friedman said. “He underwent several rounds of chemo and that brought his numbers down. They were around 1,000 at one point and now they’re down into the high teens.”
Though Friedman did not specify what these numbers were counting, his update confirms what Trebek himself shared with People in May—that his chemotherapy treatment had shrunken his pancreatic cancer tumors a “mind-boggling” amount. This is rare for patients with Trebek’s type and stage of cancer; according to Dr. Allyson Ocean, a Medical Oncologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center, chemotherapy drugs often have a hard time penetrating pancreatic cancer tumors. In a previous conversation with SurvivorNet, Dr. Ocean explained that the reason for this is in part that pancreatic cancer tumors are surrounded by something called “stromal tissue,” which acts as a barrier to chemotherapy and radiation.
Alex Trebek was recently seen out and about after having lost hair due to cancer treatment. He’s acknowledged wearing a wig (right) for “Jeopardy!” tapings.
Another reason that pancreatic cancer is so tough to treat is that it tends to be diagnosed late, after it’s already spread to other parts of the body, as it has for Trebek. At earlier stages, pancreatic cancer rarely causes any pain or symptoms, meaning doctors and patients don’t necessarily have a reason to suspect it’s there.
But while chemo and radiation don’t tend to be all that effective in treating late-stage pancreatic cancer, there are some instances where it is, and according to Friedman and Trebek himself, Trebek’s cancer is one of those cases.
In another interview in May, Trebek shared with the Canadian Broadcast Company that if his cancer responded well enough to chemo, he might be a candidate for a new, cutting-edge treatment called immunotherapy, which would empower his body’s own immune system to attack his cancer cells. For immunotherapy to be an option, pancreatic cancer tumors have to have specific characteristics in their genetic makeup. This, too, is rare, but according to Trebek, his cancer may have the unique gene mutation to make this a possibility. Though Trebek has not shared whether the “mind-boggling” results from his chemo were indeed enough to make him a candidate for immunotherapy, the star was optimistic when he shared the possibility.
In the months since announcing his diagnosis, Trebek has indeed received an outpouring of support from his fans and the viewers who have welcomed the iconic host into their homes on their television screens for over 35 years.
“As you all know, survivorship is measured starting from the date you are diagnosed with cancer,” Trebek said. “And on that scale, my gosh, I’m a 62-day survivor. Give me a break…But I’m working on it. And I promise you this: That if I become a 22-year survivor, you will all be welcomed at my 100th birthday.”
Trebek’s wife, Jean Currivan Trebek, has been a pillar of strength and support during her husband’s cancer journey. (Image source: People)
How Did Trebek React to the News of Friedman’s Departure?
Trebek and Friedman have been working with each other for nearly three decades, so the long-time executive producer leaving will likely be a big change for Trebek. According to Friedman, though, Trebek was supportive when he heard the news.
Trebek (left) and Friedman have received many awards for “Jeopardy!”
“He certainly understands,” Friedman said. “He was respectful of it and of course we’re going to miss working together but he was very supportive, as were [“Wheel of Fortune” hosts] Pat [Sajak] and Vanna [White].”
Pat Sajak, left, Harry Friedman, Vanna White and Alex Trebek at the 2018 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame Awards Robb Cohen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Friedman will officially leave “Jeopardy!” after the upcoming season 36, which will air in September. As of now—and despite his difficult journey with pancreatic cancer—Trebek himself will stay on the show, continuing to bring his infectious positivity to tens of millions of viewers.
