Fun keeps Alex Trebek playing ‘Jeopardy!’

updated 6:10 p.m. ET June 6, 2007

BURBANK, Calif. - The hoopla over Bob Barker retiring as host of “The Price Is Right” has Alex Trebek thinking about his own future.

The 66-year-old host of “Jeopardy!” is in his 23rd year presiding over the syndicated quiz show. Barker called it quits Wednesday at 83 after 35 years of giving away cars and vacations.

“I don’t have anything to prove anymore, nor does Bob, although it is fun doing the show,” Trebek told The Associated Press. “That’s really what determines my longevity on ‘Jeopardy!’ — as long as I consider it a fun job to go to and I do.”

Trebek and Barker are both nominated for outstanding game-show host at the Daytime Emmys on June 15. Trebek won for the second time last year; Barker has 17 trophies, including a lifetime achievement award.

Trebek began his career in 1961 as a newscaster at the CBC in his native Canada. Four years later, he became a game-show host before moving to the United States in 1973 to host an NBC game show.

“My wife mentioned recently that when I’m not taping, I tend to fump around a little, like, ‘What am I going to do today?”’ Trebek said Tuesday. “But if I have the show to go to two days a week, it anchors my life and that’s good.”

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