The Time Alex Trebek Said the Stupidest Thing Conan O'Brien Ever Heard

Legendary Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek passed away on Sunday at age 80 and will be very much missed. We all know about his quizmaster skills, but back on October 6, 2006, he revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that his real talent was what earned him the nickname "Mr. Sprinkler Man." 

"This is the type of thing I like to do, and this is the type of thing I'm good at. I can track down water leaks. I have a very good sense of hearing," Trebek told O'Brien before relating a story about how he could detect a broken toilet pipe from his yard and how he fixes his own plumbing.

"I don't know anything about computers," he noted, lest the audience think he might be bragging about his handyman prowess. "I don't know anything about cell phones. My cell phone has a rotary dial on it, for crying out loud, but if you say we have an electrical problem — and I always work on electrical problems with the power on."

One wouldn't expect an intellectual like Trebek to be the one to say "the stupidest thing" O'Brien ever heard, but that last part was apparently it. Why would he do that?

"You said it earlier," Trebek said. "'Alex, you like to live on the edge.'" 

Watch this clip from Late NIght with Conan O'Brien and you'll also hear Trebek's hilarious impression of his wife.

Andy Hunsaker has a head full of sitcom gags and nerd-genre lore, and can be followed @AndyHunsaker if you're into that sort of thing.