Alex Trebek gets some bad reviews as debate moderator

Some people thought he talked too much.

• Ed Mahon
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Ed Mahon comes to Spotlight PA from PA Post, where he covered state politics and policy, produced radio stories that were broadcast on public media stations throughout the state and on NPR’s national newscasts, and co-wrote a weekday newsletter. Prior to joining PA Post, Ed worked for six years as an investigative and political reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. His reporting on failures in Pennsylvania’s system for protecting domestic abuse victims was a finalist in the national 2018 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists in the local reporting category. He was also part of a team whose coverage of the criminal justice system, including the aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture by York County prosecutors, received the 2018 G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Before joining the York Daily Record, Ed covered K-12 education at the Centre Daily Times in State College and worked as a stringer for suburban sections of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

 Matt Rourke / The Associated Press

Moderator Alex Trebek speaks during a gubernatorial debate between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican Scott Wagner in Hershey , Pa., Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. The debate is hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Alex Trebek, host of the game show “Jeopardy!”, moderated the first and only scheduled debate in the Pennsylvania governor’s race.

Some of the reviews — at least on Twitter — weren’t so great.

“I appreciate that #alextrebek did a lot of homework to prepare for this debate. I don’t appreciate the fact he feels the need to show everyone what he’s learned about PA,” wrote U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat.

Meanwhile, Drew Crompton, a top lawyer and aide in the Republican-controlled state Senate, wrote: “This was the first time I have watched a debate and was embarrassed by and for the moderator. Sensibility came from those answering the questions not from the person asking them.”

The Monday debate between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican Scott Wagner  took place at the Hershey Lodge as part of an annual dinner for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Matt Rourke / Associated Press

Alex Trebek, left, moderates a gubernatorial debate between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, center, and Republican Scott Wagner in Hershey, Pa., Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. The debate is hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

At the start of the debate, Trebek told the crowd that he was afraid some people would leave thinking he was biased against a candidate.

“I am very nervous. But I accepted it. And I accepted it on the condition that I could get to do, do it my way,” Trebek told the crowd.

He said he wanted to host a different kind of debate. He said he wanted it to be a conversation, one that would allow him to prod and challenge the candidates. But he said there was only one rule.

“I will not tolerate any booing or hissing, not even if you direct it at the candidates,” Trebek said to laughs.

But near the end of the debate, after Trebek cut off discussion of a severance tax on natural gas drilling, there were some boos.

“I think they were booing you,” Wolf told Trebek.

The moderator reminded the crowd that he started the debate with a no booing or hissing rule.

“And now you’re directing it at me,” Trebek said.

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