ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - As guest host of Jeopardy! this week, St. Louis native and sports broadcasting icon Joe Buck picked a local charity that the show will donate money to based on how well the contestants perform.
Buck will be hosting the show Aug. 9-13, which is the final week of the show's 37th season. All summer long show has been searching for a replacement for the late host Alex Trebek, by enlisting guests such as Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric, Dr. Oz and others. Buck will be on the NBC show at 4:30 p.m. CT all week.
As part of his appearance, Jeopardy! is making a donation based on the cumulative winnings of all contestants who compete during his week of shows to KidSmart, a non-profit organization in St. Louis that aims to empower children in need to succeed by providing free essential tools for learning.
Buck has been working with the charity for nearly two decades and has helped more than 90,000 local kids in need.
He was asked who is most excited about is appearance as guest host.
"My mom. My mommy. She's 81, an avid watcher, somebody who was a huge Alex Trebek fan," Buck says. "So when I told the family I think she probably reacted with the most enthusiasm, but really everybody was."
He says there's something special he hopes to bring to the role.
“I think that anybody that came in as guest host wants to put their own stamp on it,” Joe said. “If mine is having some fun along the way, trying to loosen it up, trying to have fun with the contestants, maybe have fun with one of the clues. But I think my wants and my personality take a backseat to the game which is how it should be."
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