• Jeopardy host Alex Trebek has a message of support for Congressman John Lewis as both fight pancreatic cancer. "We're starting a new year, and let's see if we can't both complete the year as pancreatic cancer survivors," Trebek said when asked what he would tell Lewis. He noted they're the same age, 79. The Georgia Democrat and veteran civil-rights leader announced his diagnosis of advanced cancer in late December. In making his announcement, Lewis made clear that he has no plans to step aside and said, "I have a fighting chance." Trebek made his illness public last March and has openly shared his progress and setbacks. "I tell people all the time, 'Hey, folks, the show's not about me, it's about the material and the contestants. Those are the two main items. And if they shine, if the material plays well, if the contestants do well, people will enjoy the show. If they enjoy the show, probably some of that enjoyment will rub off on their views of me, and they'll like me too," he said. He expressed confidence that Jeopardy will thrive with someone new. "It's a quality program and it's put together by very bright people. And when I move on, that doesn't matter, " he said. "It's the best kind of reality television, so it will endure."
• Joaquin Phoenix wasn't expecting to address the press backstage at the Golden Globes on Sunday, but it happened anyway. Phoenix, who won the award for best lead actor in a drama film for his role in Joker, said he was tricked into going into the press room under the guise of taking more photos. "I didn't know that I was coming up here just now," he said. "They ... tricked me. I'm not kidding." Then, when a reporter asked the actor about his preparation for portraying Arthur Fleck in the Todd Phillips-helmed film, Phoenix seemed exasperated at having to discuss the experience. "I feel like I've talked about this for six months," he said. "I feel like I've answered these questions. You want to hear a different version of it? I can try and change it slightly, or what should I do?" He did, however, answer the reporter's question. "It was a long process. I think the way that I worked on this was quite erratic. I didn't attack it linearly," said Phoenix.
A Section on 01/07/2020