Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek received his sixth Emmy for outstanding game show host on Sunday, and it also marks his seventh overall Emmy with his 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.
We may as well hand the gentleman an additional award for best acceptance speech of the night at the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards.
The 78-year-old TV game show host has been undergoing treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer since announcing his diagnosis in March.
As he was greeted by a standing ovation, Trebek quickly expressed that he was concerned about winning based on sympathy.
"Ever since the nominations came out, I have worried about this moment," he said, with the prized statuette in hand.
"Let me explain.'You were worried about winning?!' Yeah. I was concerned that sympathy might play a big role in the voting this year."
"Let me finish," he interrupted as the audience audibly murmured in protest.
"I'm not a big fan of sympathy vote."
He told his peers that he wanted to be recognized based strictly on merit.
But then, the affable host switched gears and injected some levity with his trademark wit.
He reflected back on being nominated last year and had major surgery.
"Last year, I was nominated. I had just had major surgery to remove two life-threatening blood clots on my brain. You would think that would have elicited a certain amount of sympathy! But I didn't win!"
The audience erupted with laughter and applause, through tears.
The Canadian native concluded his speech by referencing another celebrity's response from her 1985 Oscar win and applied it towards accepting his Emmy.
"So maybe I've been worrying about the wrong thing and I should just do what Sally Field did in a different venue many, many years ago, and look at this as a sign that you guys like me and that you value my work. If that's the case. I can live with that."
You can watch a clip of Trebek's emotional speech in the tweet, below.
Twitter was moved by his emotional and humorous acceptance speech.
Trebek was assured there was no sympathy votes necessary, as he deserved his win.
Fans also wished him well as he continues his battle with cancer.
I'll take "Things That Make Me Cry" for $200, please.
