Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Helps Install his LifeSource System

This was a very different installation, a customer wanted to help install their own system, and it was Alex Trebek no less.  I was there to get a photo or two of Alex with his new water filter system, but I got many more.  I found him to be very nice, gracious and friendly but also very serious.

On March 10, 2011 we met Alex at his home after he had taped a few Jeopardy segments.  He was ready for two things, the LA Lakers game and his LifeSource water system installation.  As a true Lakers fan, he had been looking forward to watching the Lakers take on the Miami Heat in Miami that night. Although he made it home in time for the pre-game show he opted to get involved with the install.

Alex was prepared to help from the start.  He met our LifeSource installation crew with his well worn painters pants and work shirt on, his measuring tape hooked on to his back pocket.  “Over the last 20 years, I’ve supervised or done all the remodeling here at my house”, Alex told me.

A king of questions, the 70-year-old quiz show host had plenty of his own regarding the LifeSource water filtration system. He wanted to know everything about it. How, when, where, why – he even asked to see inside the system, a rare question posed to our installers.  I realized he wanted to do a lot more when he started helping our installer, Gabriel move the system from the truck to the utility room.

At one point Alex seemed so anxious to help, I said, “Alex, I can tell you want to help, go ahead and jump in there!”  That was all he needed. Most of our customers just leave when our installers begin, but Alex was different. He was an accomlished plumbers helper.  He helped solder every pipe joint and even cleaned-up.

Alex told me that he had learned about LifeSource when he saw his long-time friend and neighbor Ed Begley, Jr. in a magazine ad for LifeSource. Trebek said his interest was piqued so he did some research. He like Ed did not want a water softener.  He said he happened to see our booth at a home show near his other home in Northern California, and decided to buy our whole house water filtration system on the spot.  I think Alex was surprised when I told him that his show announcer Jonny Gilbert and his wife Sharee, bought a LifeSource system for their home 11 years earlier.

The installation moved along quickly. It was finished so fast that Alex was able to get back into his home to enjoy some very clean, very delicious filtered tap water.  He was also able to watch the entire second half and see another LifeSource customer, Kobe Bryant score 24 points for the Lakers.   Oh yeah, Lakers lost to Miami, 88 to 94.