To carry off the name Buzzy, you need to have character, you need to have style and having the smarts doesn’t hurt either. Given the nickname “Mr. Personality” by Alex Trebek, and with his positive attitude, awesome round glasses and champion pedigree, Buzzy Cohen, the new guest host for the upcoming Tournament of Champions pulls the name off.
Jeopardy! Champion Buzzy Cohen will be back on our screens come May 17, hosting fifteen of Jeopardy!’s top competitors as they vie for the $250,000 grand prize in this year’s Tournament of Champions.
This group of 15 will be made up of the winningest (I’ll take ‘Sounds like Made Up Words’ for $1000, thanks Buzzy) competitors to grace the Jeopardy stage between the 2019 TOC and the end of 2020.
Jeopardy! Champion and Fan Favorite Buzzy Cohen to Host Upcoming Tournament of Champions
Also included in the prestigious tournament will the most recent Teachers Tournament and College Championship winners. Along with the quarter million main prize, second place getter will walk home with $100,000 and third gets $50,000.
The grand prize will be matched and donated to the Hope of the Valley Trebek Center for the Homeless. This charity assists up to 300 people per year with shelter, mental health services, job training and placement, substance abuse counseling, life skill training and medical care.
A $250,000 injection of cash flow sounds like it could go a long way to do a lot of good, just as Alex would want.
Sadly, Brayden Smith, who earned a spot in the TOC, passed away in February 2021 at aged 24 as a result of complications from surgery.
Smith’s obituary noted that his lifelong dream was to be on Jeopardy! The five-time champion was one of the last significant contestant appearances of Alex Trebek’s 36 year tenure as host.
Affectionately referred to as “Alex’s Last Great Champion,” on social media, it was said at Brayden’s memorial that he ws looking forward to returning to Jeopardy! to compete in the tournament.
Brayden’s absence will be acknowledged during the two week tournament.
As for Buzzy, who won hundreds of thousands thanks to his Jeopardy! appearances, his hosting gig signals his retirement as a competitor as he will no longer be eligible.
“Buzzy has been where each of these champions is, so we think it’ll be comforting for the contestants to see a familiar face behind the lectern,” Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards, who had his own highly successful stint as guest host, said.
“We will miss seeing him compete, but we look forward to seeing how he uses his quick wit and personality as guest host.”
Make sure to tune into the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, May 17 on NBC.
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