Gene Simmons Pays Surprising Tribute To Alex Trebek – ‘That Guy Had A Potty Mouth’

It’s been two months since the legendary “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 80, but he is still missed by millions of fans to this day.

Trebek had a wholesome image and was typically thought of as being prim and proper. That’s why it’s come as a major surprise that KISS frontman Gene Simmons recently spoke out to say that Trebek “had a potty mouth.”

Perhaps this is what Simmons is talking about. Here’s found footage from many years ago highlighting some of Trebek’s foul language. Cover your ears if you don’t want to have your memory of Trebek tainted — it shows his crass side, but is awfully funny, too.

Gene Simmons Describes Alex Trebek

In a new interview, Simmons revealed that he paid a visit to the set of “Jeopardy!” for Halloween in 2018. And, he got the chance to spend some time hanging out with Trebek behind the scenes.

Check out this video where Alex dressed up for Halloween:

“People only knew Trebek from television, but when the cameras weren’t rolling, the guy had a potty mouth,” Simmons recalled. “We traded lots of, as they used to say in the 1800s, off-color jokes. He was a funny guy and very kind and brave. I said, ‘You’re going to be putting on KISS makeup.’ [He said,] ‘Okay, let’s go.’”

“And we’re both immigrants. He was from Canada, I’m from Israel,” the rocker continued. “And it was this kind of [joint feeling of], ‘What an amazing country, where there are no limits to the heights you can achieve in America.’ And you can’t do that in Canada or Israel, no matter how ambitious and hardworking you are, there’s a ceiling. You can only go so far.”

“Merv Griffin, who was actually was over my house once, not only created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, he also wrote the music to both of them,” Simmons added. “Who else has got a history like Trebek? I haven’t heard anybody say a bad thing about him. Lovely guy.”

Related: Pat Sajak And Vanna White Discuss Alex Trebek’s Legacy Before His Final Two Episodes Air

‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Launch Petition

Fans of “Jeopardy!” launched a petition to have the stage where the iconic game show is filmed named after Trebek.

The Change.org petition reads:

“On November 8, 2020, George Alexander Trebek passed away at the age of 80 after an 18 month battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He inspired millions of his fans ever since he started hosting the syndicated version of ‘Jeopardy!’ in 1984 and hosted over 8,300 episodes in 37 seasons on the program. His Canadian personality made the show unique and with his ability to fluently speak 17 different languages he was known internationally for his talents on television.”

“To have Alex remembered forever I hereby write this petition to Sony Pictures Studios, Jeopardy Productions Inc., CBS Media Ventures and Sony Pictures Television Studios to dedicate Stage 10 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California in loving memory of Alex Trebek, for example, The Alex Trebek Memorial Stage at Sony Pictures Studios,” the petition added.

Related: The Touching Moment From ‘Jeopardy’ Host Alex Trebek’s Final Episodes That You Won’t See On TV

‘His Legacy Will Live On Forever’

The petition went on to say that Trebek was watched by “millions of fans over 37 years and his legacy will live on forever.”

“Godspeed, Alex Trebek. We love you, then, now and forever,” it concluded. “Having Stage 10 dedicated to him would be the ultimate posthumous honor. Thank you, Alex.”

At the time of this writing, over 21,000 people have signed the petition. Rest in peace, Alex Trebek!