Alex Trebek’s ‘Cheers’ Cameo Showcases the Late ‘Jeopardy’ Host’s Many Talents

Host, actor, activist — Alex Trebek could do it all. While he was best known for his decades-long tenure on Jeopardy, the beloved host also appeared in various TV shows over the years, including Cheers and The Golden Girls. On Sunday, a clip of Trebek on Cheers went viral as fans across the world mourned his tragic death. The scene in question showcases Trebek’s quick wit and affable nature, two traits that served him well throughout his 36 years on the show.

In Season 8, Episode 14 (“What Is… Cliff Clavin?”), Cheers ventures away from the show’s iconic bar and heads to the Jeopardy set, where mailman Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) was set to participate in a remote taping in Boston. Cliff is initially intimidated by his impressive competition, but he gets a major break when the categories are revealed: Civil Servants, Stamps From Around the World, Mothers and Sons, Beer, Bar Trivia, and Celibacy.

Playing himself, Trebek offers Cliff a chance to pick the first category. “Cliff, can I get you to pick a category and an amount?” says the game show host. “Why don’t you pick any one you want,” replies the Cheers regular. “I am feeling lucky today. Woo-hoo!”

Cliff’s knowledge of the categories serves him well, and he heads into Final Jeopardy with a commanding lead. However, when faced with the final clue — “Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz, and Lucille LeSueur” in the “Movies” category — he finally falters. He ultimately guesses “Who are three people who’ve never been in my kitchen,” an answer that leaves Trebek scratching his head.

“No, I’m sorry. That is wrong,” says Trebek. When Cliff pushes back, insisting that Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, and Joan Crawford have never been in his kitchen, the Jeopardy legend really gets going. “Well, I’m sure they haven’t, but obviously that’s not what we were going for when we wrote up that clue,” he tells the combative contestant.

Of course, that isn’t Cliff’s only Jeopardy misstep. As Trebek explains, the mailman simply had to wager $21,600 or less to win the game, but of course, he bet “$22,000 big ones!”

“You bet it all! Cliff, why would you do something like that?” asks the concerned host. “Because I know that those people have never been in my kitchen!” replies Cliff, earning big laughs from the audience. “You can ask ’em — come on, Tony Curtis is still alive! Get him on the phone!” Classic Cheers.

Trebek, 80, passed away on Sunday morning after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. The show has said that his final day in the studio was October 29, and his last Jeopardy episode will air on December 25. In the meantime, you can watch his Cheers cameo on Peacock, Hulu, or CBS All Access.

Where to stream Cheers