IIRC, some people were really upset that Trebek took over for Art Fleming and said no one could ever replace Fleming.
Forgot about Art Fleming.
Just looked him up. His Wikipedia page records that Merv Griffin (who hired him for Jeopardy) described Art Fleming as "authoritative, yet warm and interesting."
That strikes me as a remarkably accurate and perceptive description.
Merv Griffin must have been a very intelligent guy.