Alex Trebek got a standing ovation as he accepted an Emmy Award as host of “Jeopardy!” — and immediately set the audience at ease, even as he alluded to his cancer diagnosis. Trebek, 78, who announced in March he has advanced pancreatic cancer, told the theater audience Sunday he had been worried that sympathy, rather than merit, might snare him the trophy for best game show host. But then he mulled over what happened last year, after he underwent surgery to remove life-threatening blood clots on his brain. “You think that would have elicited a certain amount of sympathy. But I didn’t win!” he said, drawing roars from the crowd that moments before rose to applaud him. Instead, he said, he realized that maybe he’d been worrying about the wrong thing and instead should emulate Oscar-winning actress Sally Field. ‘’ Advertisement RELATED: ‘Jeopardy!’ host Alex Trebek is feeling good, ‘despite what you may have heard’ » “You guys like me, and you value my work. I tell you if that’s the case, I can live with that,” Trebek said. His voice was thick with emotion, but he was poised and dapper in his tuxedo. At the 1985 Academy Awards, Field famously declared, “‘I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me,” as she accepted the best actress trophy for “Places in the Heart.” “General Hospital” was among the big winners, with a leading five trophies that included best lead actor honors for Maurice Benard. But “The Young and the Restless” won the top drama series award, as well as writing and directing honors. The top drama acting honor went to Jacqueline MacInnes Wood of “The Bold and the Beautiful.” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” won the Emmy for best entertainment talk show, with “Six Dreams” named the best Spanish-language show in the category. “Rachael Ray” received the informative talk show award. “CBS Sunday Morning” was named best morning program, with “Despierta America” earning the honor for best Spanish-language program. “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” with Valerie Bertinelli won the award for best culinary program, with the game show trophy going to “Family Feud.” Advertisement Trebek, who now has seven Daytime Emmys, including one for lifetime achievement, wasn’t the only TV veteran to be honored at the 46th ceremony. Lifetime honors were bestowed on Judith Sheindlin, aka “Judge Judy,” and chef Jacques Pepin. The ceremony also paid tribute to 50 years of “Sesame Street.” While Trebek’s award came during a health challenge for him, it has been a year of highlights for the long-running quiz show he has hosted since 1984. The show aired its first all-star team championship, and it is in the midst of a dazzling performance by contestant James Holzhauer, who has racked up more than $1.6 million in winnings.<doc-sep>While accepting the award, Alex Trebek said he originally worried about winning this year. LOS ANGELES — Alex Trebek received a standing ovation as he accepted an Emmy Award for "Jeopardy!" Trebek, who announced in March he has advanced pancreatic cancer, said he'd worried about winning as best game show host. He was concerned that sympathy might play a role in voting, he said, when contenders should be judged on the merits of their work. But Trebek recalled that he lost last year after he had major surgery for life-threatening blood clots. Since that didn't get him a sympathy vote, the 78-year-old Trebek said he can live with the honor. It's his seventh Daytime Emmy, including a 2011 lifetime achievement award.<doc-sep>The Associated Press LOS ANGELES – Alex Trebek received a standing ovation as he accepted an Emmy Award for "Jeopardy!" Trebek, who announced in March he has advanced pancreatic cancer, said he'd worried about winning as best game show host. He was concerned that sympathy might play a role in voting, he said, when contenders should be judged on the merits of their work. But Trebek recalled that he lost last year – after he had major surgery for life-threatening blood clots. Since that didn't get him a sympathy vote, the 78-year-old Trebek said he can live with the honor. More:'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek shares health update amid cancer battle: 'I'm feeling good' More:James Holzhauer's 'Jeopardy!' winning streak has fueled a ratings streak for the game show It's his seventh Daytime Emmy, including a 2011 lifetime achievement award. Trebek received a warm welcome from the theater audience earlier Sunday evening, when he presented a trophy.<doc-sep>Alex Trebek celebrated his win for outstanding game show host at the Daytime Emmys on Sunday night with a speech referencing his recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The "Jeopardy!" host began with an anecdote about suffering two blood clots last year when he was also nominated for the award. "I have worried about this moment. I was concerned that sympathy might play a big role in the voting this year. I'm not a big fan of sympathy votes. I believe that we should all be judges on the merits of our work," Trebek, 78, said. ALEX TREBEK RETURNS TO 'JEOPARDY!' HOSTING DUTIES AFTER PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS "But then I started thinking back to last year. Last year I was nominated, and I had just had major surgery to remove to two life-threatening blood clots on my brain. You would think that would have elicited a certain amount of sympathy," he joked. "But I didn't win!" 'JEOPARDY!' CHAMP JAMES HOLZHAUER SAYS ALEX TREBEK HAS A POTTYMOUTH "You guys like me, and you value my work. I tell you if that's the case, I can live with that." 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE' HOST PAT SAJAK SENDS LOVE AND SUPPORT TO ALEX TREBEK Trebek later told The Hollywood Reporter backstage, “The reception I got from the audience was extremely special, very touching. We all know what’s going on in my life and I alluded to that in my remarks and I’ve been very blessed to discover how many people our show has influenced in their lives." ALEX TREBEK CONFESSES TO 'DEEP SADNESS' FOLLOWING PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS He continued, "'Jeopardy!' has become a special institution in Americana. And it has been a force for good, a force for knowledge, a force for the best kind of reality television if you think about it. Anybody can succeed, anybody can win a lot of money. Just ask James Holzhauer.” Trebek revealed in March that he is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP He said Saturday of his fight against the disease, "As you all know, survivorship is measured starting from the date you are diagnosed with cancer and on that scale — my gosh — I’m a 62-day survivor. Give me a break. But I’m working on it. And I promise you this: That if I become a 22-year survivor, you will all be welcomed at my 100th birthday.”<doc-sep>
Alex Trebek has certainly won the respect of his peers. The longtime “Jeopardy!” host, 78, who announced in March that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding game show host Sunday night, earning a standing ovation from those at the ceremony. After his name was announced, Trebek gave an acceptance speech that was both touching and humorous. Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Goes to Alex Trebek @Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/NjfPcYiPsI — Daytime Emmy Awards (@DaytimeEmmys) May 6, 2019 Trebek noted that he hoped he wouldn’t win because of a sympathy vote, saying, “I’m not a big fan of sympathy votes.” He then recalled how he was nominated last year after he had a pair of blood clots removed from his brain. “You would think that would’ve elicited a certain amount of sympathy,” he said as the crowd roared. “But I didn’t win!” Alex Trebek poses with his Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding game show host at the ceremony in Pasadena, California, on Sunday. Getty Images He then referenced Sally Field’s famous 1985 Oscars speech when she exclaimed, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me.” “Maybe I’ve been worrying about the wrong thing, and I should just do what Sally Field did in a different venue many, many years ago and look at this as a sign that you guys like me and that you value my work,” he said to cheers. “If that’s the case, I can live with that.” Sympathy or not, there’s no denying that Trebek, who has hosted “Jeopardy!” since 1984, is a TV legend. He has now won seven Daytime Emmys, including one for lifetime achievement. Last month, he updated fans when the show wrapped its 35th season, saying that he plans to return. “I’ve always tried to be straight with you and I’m not going to stop now,” he said. “So despite what you may have heard, I’m feeling good, I’m continuing with my therapy and we — by we, the staff — is already working on our next season, the 36th year of ‘Jeopardy!’”