PASADENA, Calif. – When Alex Trebek talks about "Jeopardy!" he doesn't want to talk about himself.

Promoting the long-running trivia show's "Greatest of all Time" tournament at the Television Critics Association on Tuesday, Trebek urged reporters to stop asking questions about his legacy and his health and instead focus on the three players competing for the title of "Jeopardy! GOAT": James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. The trio sat at his side.

"The reason we’re all here today is the 'Greatest of all Time' tournament. Because of these guys," he said.

But Trebek, a beloved TV icon who has made headlines for his public battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, was still the center of attention as he reflected back on three decades of hosting the quiz show.

"My success to a great extent has depended on the success of the game," he said. "There are some individuals who could have been named hosts of 'Jeopardy!' and, if the show had lasted 36 years, they would have enjoyed the same kind of favorable reviews and adulation that I have enjoyed in recent years. And I don’t want to minimize it, either, but my health situation has contributed to that a great deal. The pity factor … is out there and people have been so kind, sending prayers and good thoughts and all of that. So I’m not unaware of that.”

More:'Jeopardy!' recap: Who won Night 1 of the quiz show's 'Greatest of All Time' tournament?

Trebek gave an update on his health status, noting that "some days are better than others."

"My resistance is lower than most of you because of the treatments I’ve been having, chemotherapy, and as you can tell I have a cold that’s been going around, it’s the second time I’ve had it in the past month and a half," he said. "They’ve got me off one of my chemo drugs, which was killing me. ... I won’t know for a week or so where I stand."

But as of now, Trebek doesn't see himself stepping down from the show very soon, but plans to ask for 30 seconds of airtime at the end of his final show for a farewell.

"Keep in mind, I’m 79 now," he said. "And I don’t foresee that 30-second moment coming up in the near future. ... When you’ve been hosting ... for that long a period of time and you’re in advanced years, it behooves you to think at some point about retiring. Now thinking about retiring and retiring are two different things! ... As long as I feel my skills have not diminished too much and as long as I’m enjoying spending time with people like these three, (I’ll keep doing it)." (Later, he said he was taking it "month by month.")

Regardless of when he leaves the program, Trebek is certain about what he wants his legacy to be.

He hopes he's been "an influence for not underestimating the benefits of knowledge on life. Even though you are not going to use (it) in a practical way in daily life ... it becomes part of you and enriches you, and makes you a better human being.”