Is there anything that Anderson Cooper can't do? The television journalist is taking a stab at hosting Jeopardy! after the death of Alex Trebek. While Anderson is one of the many talents who's stepped up to temporarily fill Alex's legendary shoes, he'd be an excellent choice for the job. Not only is he charismatic, but he's not unfamiliar with the game. In fact, Anderson has been featured on the show multiple times. For Jeopardy! fans, having someone host who's already so in love with the game is a big plus.
"To be a contestant I was so freaked out," Anderson said. "You know, I've done it four times. I won twice." His start on the show happened back in 2004.
He'll be guest-hosting for two weeks, and it's an even bigger deal. And that's because his son, Wyatt, has been able to watch.
Anderson, himself, posted quite the enthusiastic response on Instagram regarding the opportunity. "I rarely get nervous, but I definitely was the first moment I stood behind Alex Trebek's podium," he admitted. "It was a great honor and very moving for me." His ode also included a touch of humor.
"I have watched Jeopardy! since I was in high school (back when I had brown hair.) I am such a fan of the show and miss watching Alex, who was the perfect host, and conducted himself with such intelligence, humor and grace," he concluded. That said, it's hard to picture Anderson with any color other than his trademark silver.
He also posted a very sweet photo of baby Wyatt watching him host. "Wyatt has never seen me on tv before, and he likely won't for a long while," he said. "But apparently he caught a bit of me on Jeopardy! It was a dream come true to be guest hosting."
When Anderson introduced baby Wyatt to the world, his fans couldn't get enough. Wyatt was born by surrogate, and Anderson planned to co-parent with his ex, Benjamin Maisani. As he told Stephen Colbert, per USA Today, "Even though we're not together anymore, he's my family and I want him to be Wyatt's family as well."
Anderson also shared what fatherhood was like. "It's extraordinary. It's astonishing," he said. "I just stare at him and hold him and I just can't believe that he's going to depend on me and that he belongs (to me) and that he's here, and it's just astonishing."
"I just never dreamed — I mean, I've always dreamed about it but I never thought I would actually be able to do it," he continued. "It's just been incredible." Wyatt's arrival was also a little bittersweet. While he knew he wanted kids, he knew it might be a tricky process. But he promised his mom that it would happen.
Unfortunately, his mom — Gloria Vanderbilt — died before Wyatt was born. But at least Anderson was able to tell her the news. "I was able to tell her before she died that I was going to have a son and she was thrilled," Cooper said on Andy Cohen's radio show. "She had been wanting me to have a kid for a long time."
That said, he said his mom was wonderful regarding the news, as well as the fact that Wyatt entered the world in an unconventional way. "My mom was definitely from a different era and a different world, but she was the most modern and accepting person I think I've ever met," he said. "Even at 95, she was also the most youthful person I think I know. She was up for anything. She wanted me to have a kid and she felt I would be a great dad."
On the topic of Andy Cohen, the two are notably good friends. And Andy having a baby was a reminder to Anderson that this was something he could do. Benjamin Allen Cohen was born in 2019, also by surrogate. Having a friend who's been through the process before likely made it all a little easier for Anderson.
Anderson named his son after his father, which is very touching. "He is named after my father, who died when I was ten," Anderson explained on Instagram. "I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name Morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son."
Anderson also gave hope to others who are gay and want to become parents. "As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I'm grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth," he said. "Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who can't have children."
His parents would also have been so proud of him for taking over Alex's seat for two weeks. The show has diehard fans, and Anderson has proven to be one of them. He had the opportunity to meet Alex Trebek in person multiple times, and Anderson the kind of person to make sure to respect his memory.
So far, the viewers seem to like Anderson's style. Without a doubt, he's likely a frontrunner for the position when they look for permanent hosts. But he has some stiff competition. Katie Couric and Aaron Rodgers also proved their ability in prior weeks.
But even if he doesn't get it, he'll still know he paid the ultimate respect toward Alex Trebek — which he did, in his introduction. "To be on this stage where Alex Trebek hosted 'Jeopardy!' with such grace and intelligence for so long is really amazing and it's very humbling," he told the audience. Regardless, Anderson will get to check off "Host Jeopardy!" on his bucket list.
