New York – March 21, 2011 – The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced in New York that the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to game show hosts Pat Sajak of Wheel of Fortune and Alex Trebek of Jeopardy!. The Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on June 19th, 2011 on the CBS Television Network.
“Who of us has not laughed and been entertained by the unique and ever present game shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!?” asked NATAS Chairman, Darryl Cohen. “Both Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek are household names that are synonymous with these game shows that Americans have enjoyed welcoming into their living rooms for well over twenty-five years. In honoring Pat and Alex, we’re honoring not only two of the great game shows throughout the history of television, but two individuals whose talent and personality have given us an additional reason to tune in and watch. With both of these stars as our honorees, we’re looking forward to an exciting and entertaining show televised live from Las Vegas.”
Pat Sajak is in his 30th year as host of Wheel of Fortune. He joined the series in 1981, when the show aired on network daytime television. The top-ranked syndication version made its debut in 1983, with Sajak at the helm. Since then, he has earned three Emmy Awards, a People’s Choice Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Currently in his 27th year as host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek remains one of the most recognizable and well-respected personalities on television. Trebek has challenged and entertained millions of viewers worldwide with more than 6,000 exciting episodes since Jeopardy! debuted in 1984. He has won five Daytime Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Game Show Host” and has earned a coveted star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the prestigious Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto, making him one of only a handful of people honored by both the United States and Canada.
Sajak was born and raised in Chicago, where he broke into broadcasting as a newscaster and announcer at a small radio station. “I was very lucky in that I always knew that I wanted to be in broadcasting,” says Sajak. “My early heroes were people like Arthur Godfrey, Dave Garroway, Steve Allen and, especially, Jack Paar. They helped shape what a television personality was, paving the way for so many others.”
He joined the Army in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam. There, he spent a year-and-a-half with Armed Forces Radio in Saigon — and, like Robin Williams in the feature film of the same name, he started each day by shouting, “Good morning, Vietnam!” Following his discharge, Sajak spent time at another small radio station in Murray, Ky. After a year, he decided to move to the nearest big city (Nashville) and enter the television business. Sajak was hired by WSM-TV as a staff announcer, eventually expanding his role to talk shows and weather reporting. There, he was spotted by a talent scout for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles and, in 1977, he joined that station as its weatherman. Four years later, he was chosen by Wheel of Fortune’s creator, Merv Griffin, to assume hosting duties on the series’ network daytime edition. In 1983, the nighttime version of the show was launched, and it has been one of the top-rated syndicated television program ever since.
Trebek was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, earning two degrees in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. Interested in a broadcasting news career, he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), Canada’s premier network, where he covered national news and special events for radio and television. With the growing popularity of game shows, he segued into the role of host.
Trebek was first noticed by American viewers in 1973 when he hosted the NBC game show Wizard of Odds. After several other hosting roles, Trebek was chosen as host of Jeopardy! in 1984. He was a hit with viewers and established Jeopardy! as one of the highest-rated quiz shows in television history. Trebek remains impressed with the series’ fast-paced nature and the contestants’ level of knowledge. “It continues to be unlike any series on television,” says Trebek. “The format is an exciting concept that challenges people to think quickly and make split-second decisions under pressure.”
The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards is a presentation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in cooperation with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy® Awards will be held on Friday, June 17th, 2011 at the Westin Bonaventure in Downtown Los Angeles.
Note: the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences New York office oversees the Daytime Awards.
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