Will Ferrell will undoubtedly go down as one of the most unforgettable members of the Saturday Night Live ensemble in the entire show's history. Whether he was playing a cowbell or addressing the American people as George W. Bush, he never failed to deliver the laughs. His greatest SNL legacy, however, may have nothing to do with a musical instrument or a past president. No, Ferrell may be best known for his frequent performances as Alex Trebek in Celebrity Jeopardy sketches, often with Darrell Hammond as the villainous Sean Connery and Norm Macdonald as Burt Reynolds/Turd Ferguson.
Naturally, many SNL fans expected to see Ferrell bust out the Trebek wig and mustache once more in his recent hosting gig. Sadly, Celebrity Jeopardy never happened, and fans took to social media to share their displeasure.
What better way to protest the absence of Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek than with a gif of Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek, looking very disappointed? (I suspect Sean Connery had something to do with it.) Clearly, some folks on Twitter were dismayed that Saturday Night Live would bring Ferrell back without putting him in a Celebrity Jeopardy sketch. Sure, it was fun to see Ferrell back in his George W. Bush attire, but Celebrity Jeopardy would arguably be more timely than another take on Bush, even if the real Alex Trebek has been facing some health issues.
Another Twitter user drew upon a different Will Ferrell project to voice their discontent. This gif comes from the beloved film Anchorman and indicates that this person on Twitter expected a lot more from Saturday Night Live than bringing in Ferrell but not transforming him into Alex Trebek. The teary emoji points toward some heartbreak along with the anger. Oh, what might have been if only Celebrity Jeopardy has returned!
Unfortunately, some fans held out hope for almost the entire episode that a last-minute Celebrity Jeopardy sketch could still happen. This person was ready to see more of Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek and less of musical guest Chris Stapleton. The Celebrity Jeopardy never happened, undoubtedly dashing the dreams of many who kept their fingers crossed from start to finish.
If you're now in the mood for some Celebrity Jeopardy, look no further. Will Ferrell did reprise his role as Alex Trebek for the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, and it was everything fans could hope for out of Celebrity Jeopardy on SNL. Take a look!
We can only hope that Will Ferrell will return to Saturday Night Live to play Alex Trebek again at some point in the not-too-distant future. SNL alums do frequently drop by even when not hosting, so it's possible that we could get Ferrell as Trebek even if he's not hosting. Only time will tell.
You can stay up-to-date on the hosts and musical guests for Saturday Night Live on our breakdown of upcoming SNL hosts. New episodes air on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. For your other viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to swing by our midseason TV premiere guide and our 2018 Netflix schedule.
