JEOPARDY! scored a huge win last week regarding American iconography with the announcement of an Alex Trebek Forever Stamp.

While every Jeopardy! fan was thrilled, some took issue with the stamp itself, saying the design could have been punched up.

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Late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek who tragically died in 2020Credit: Getty

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USPS commemorative Alex Trebek stamps which will be available July 22Credit: USPS
USPS announced that the late Alex would be honored via the next Forever Stamp.

Now-host Ken Jennings introduced the huge honor during a recent Friday’s episode of the game show.

The stamps feature a clue that reads, “This naturalized U.S. citizen hosted the quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’ for 37 seasons.”

Underneath and upside down is the answer written in the show’s signature format: “Who is Alex Trebek?” (Alex was born in Ontario, Canada.)

As is the case with most Jeopardy! announcements these days, fans had thoughts – yes, about the stamps.

‘MOST BORING STAMP IN HISTORY’

Fans took to Reddit arguing that the stamp would have been even more nifty—and a proper tribute—if Alex had actually been included in it.

While Alex is on the pane of the stamp sheet, the actual stamps don’t include him.

“Okay, it’s great Alex Trebek is being honored with a stamp, but it’s got to be one of the most boring stamps in US Postal History,” one user wrote.

“Alex only appears on the pane, with the actual stamp being a Jeopardy!-style clue about him.

“This seems more like a stamp commemorating the Jeopardy! 60th Anniversary than Alex himself,” they closed.

Another agreed, “Since most people will only ever encounter this stamp when they see it on their mail, I agree that it would have been nice for him to actually appear on the stamp itself.”

A third defended, “That said, his name is there and it’s about him and at the end of the day, it is a nice honour for him to receive.”

Others felt the commemorative stamps would have also been better if each one were a different clue.

“Also, there isn’t any variety, every stamp is the same clue lol but still amazing honor,” a fourth social media user wrote.

WHAT IS: ICONIC!

Other than a few misgivings, it’s hard to deny that this is a huge deal.

The new Forever Stamp will be publicly released by the USPS next month and will pay tribute to the longtime Jeopardy! host who died of pancreatic cancer in 2020.

The stamp resembles the blue-and-white clue panel on the iconic trivia show.

The stamps will be sold as a set of 20 that resembles the game board.

Categories include “entertainment” and “famous Alexes,” alongside a photo of Trebek himself (all of this, however, is only on the pane).

The USPS will issue the stamps beginning on July 22 at 4 p.m. Pacific time. A sheet of 20 will cost $14.60.

They are currently available for pre-order on the USPS website.

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The USPS stamp was called out for not featuring Alex’s face – one fan called it ‘the most boring stamp ever’Credit: USPS
Meanwhile, the Forever Stamp is also forever rising in price.

Forever Stamps are set to increase in price from 68 cents to 73 cents in July, which has infuriated citizens.

It’s also not even the first time stamp prices have raised this year, as they were 66 cents in January.

The tribute comes as Jeopardy! celebrates its 60th year on air after debuting on March 30, 1964.

KEN JENNINGS’ SALARY

Now-sole host Ken is reportedly tied to a $4 million contract as host, having taken over for Alex permanently.

The U.S. Sun previously reported that his contract isn’t long-term just yet.

Ken is happy to take a pay cut to ensure he remains a host for decades to come, just as Alex was for 36 years.

“Jeopardy! is Ken’s religion; he lives it, and he breathes it, and despite all the outside pressures, he’s not going to mess this up,” the source shared.

“What he really wants more than anything is to stick around and make this position work for the long run.

“And if that means making less money to ensure his longevity, you can bet your life he’d be game.

Of course, Ken is already comfortable. He made $2.5million from his still-record 74-game run as a contestant, $4.3million including tournaments.

HOST HAVOK

Ken holds the record for the longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive wins in 2004.

Alex hosted the show’s modern iteration from 1984 until November 2020 after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.

After his death, things got a bit chaotic, as viewers know all too well.

After a series of guest hosts, officials announced that producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim would be taking over as co-hosts.

Jeopardy! Host Timeline

Jeopardy! has had a tumultuous history regarding hosts after the death of the iconic Alex Trebek in 2020. Here are all of the hosts since the game show’s inception in 1964.

Art Fleming – 1964 to 1975, he was the original host of the daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.

Alex Trebek – 1984 to 2020, the late, great Alex hosted Jeopardy!’s modern iteration for 36 years until his death from pancreatic cancer.

Guest hosts – 2020 to 2021, Jeopardy! tested out a series of guest hosts for week or two-week stints, including Anderson Cooper, LaVar Burton, and Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Richards – 2021, he was named host for one week before resigning amid controversy. He was the show’s executive producer at the time.

Mayim Bialik – 2021 to 2023, when Mike was announced as the show’s new host, Mayim was chosen to host tournaments and primetime specials.

Mayim and Ken Jennings – 2022 to 2023, 74-time champion Ken (the longest-winning contestant ever) joined Mayim as a guest host and they split hosting duties.

Ken Jennings – 2023 to present. Last December, Mayim announced on Instagram that she would “no longer” host Jeopardy! after a lengthy hiatus, having stood with the writer’s strike, and Ken was named sole host.

Ken now helms all editions of Jeopardy! including Celebrity Jeopardy!, the nightly show, and other primetime specials like Masters.

However, in August 2021, Richards resigned over sexist resurfaced comments and Ken stepped in to split hosting duties with Mayim.

In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim and Ken would continue to host together for season 39 by switching off.

However, after the show’s summer 2023 hiatus, it was revealed that Jennings would take over as the permanent host for season 40.

Mayim announced in a personal Instagram message in late December 2023 that she would “no longer be hosting” the show.

“As the Holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she began her post.

“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”

Jeopardy! cobbled together a similar-looking Instagram message an hour later, and it has since been reported that Mayim broke the news without consulting the show first.

Ken later said he “understood” the decision as shows “don’t have two hosts.”

Now, Ken helms all facets of Jeopardy! including specials and spinoffs.

In another interview, he said plainly, “I look forward to 37 more years of doing it [hosting], when I’ll be a very, very old man.”

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Now-host Ken Jennings introduced the stamps on Jeopardy! on FridayCredit: USPS

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Ken Jennings – former winningest contestant – with his predecessor Alex TrebekCredit: Getty