Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: You know who should be on a US Postage Stamp?
Jun 24, 2024, 7:43 PM | Updated: 7:43 pm
FILE: Merv Griffin hosts the Childhelp USA "Drive the Dream Gala" as part of the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car auction on January 26, 2005 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Jeff Topping, Getty Images)
(Jeff Topping, Getty Images)
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
SALT LAKE CITY — The new host of Jeopardy, Ken Jennings, made the announcement.
The Postal Service is issuing a series of forever stamps honoring the late Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek. The stamp arrives at post offices next month on what would have been Trebek’s 84th birthday.
The stamps don’t show his face. Each is a different jeopardy question on the familiar blue background. The sheet of stamps makes up an entire jeopardy board just like you see on TV.
While it seems nice to honor the beloved Trebek, I think we need a stamp honoring whoever wrote that Jeopardy song.
You know you know the Jeopardy song!
There’s barely a person alive who doesn’t know this song. Composed by 60s and 70s talk show host Merv Griffin who wrote the Jeopardy music as a lullaby for his son.
The song is called “Think.”
Cool story! Merv invented “Wheel of Fortune,” made billions, and got into a bidding war against Donald Trump to buy a casino in the Bahamas.
Merv beat Trump. How? He said as a TV interviewer, he was used to quietly letting famous people talk and talk and talk. And when Trump was talked out, Merv increased his bid.
But Merv paid so much for the casino it went bankrupt.
But the Jeopardy music, that rich piece of Americana, remains a cultural touchstone. Garfield has a stamp. Homer Simpson has one (Doh). I say Merv!
So whaddaya … think?
Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X.
