History of Jeopardy! in Timeline
Jeopardy! is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin. It's a quiz competition with a reversed question-and-answer format. Contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers, and they must respond with the correct question. The game challenges contestants to identify the person, place, thing, or idea described in the clue, framing their response as a question.
July 1941: CBS Television Quiz
From July 1941, the giving the answer and requiring the question format was used by Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz.
May 1942: CBS Television Quiz End
Until May 1942, the giving the answer and requiring the question format was used by Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz.
1963: Merv Griffin's Account
In 1963, Merv Griffin provided an account of how he created the Jeopardy! quiz show format in an Associated Press profile.
March 30, 1964: Original Daytime Version Debut
On March 30, 1964, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! premiered on NBC.
1964: Milton Bradley's Jeopardy! Board Game
From 1964, Milton Bradley began releasing annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy!
1964: Art Fleming Hosting Debut
In 1964, Art Fleming began his tenure as the host for all versions of Jeopardy!
1964: Debut of Jeopardy! and "Take Ten" theme
Since the debut of Jeopardy! in 1964, several songs and arrangements have been used as the theme music, most of which were composed by Griffin. The main theme for the original Jeopardy! series was "Take Ten", composed by Griffin's wife Julann.
1964: Original NBC daytime version premieres
The original Jeopardy! series premiered on NBC in 1964.
1967: Surviving episodes from 1967
Various episodes from 1967 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1971: Surviving episodes from 1971
Various episodes from 1971 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
February 21, 1972: Episode No. 2,000
Episode No. 2,000 from February 21, 1972 (in color) exists at the Paley Center for Media.
1973: Surviving episodes from 1973
Various episodes from 1973 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
September 1974: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Airs
In September 1974, a nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired weekly.
1974: Cancellation of daytime Jeopardy!
In 1974, Lin Bolen moved Jeopardy! out of its noontime slot, leading to its cancellation and NBC purchasing Wheel of Fortune to compensate Griffin.
1974: Surviving episodes from 1974
Various episodes from 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
January 3, 1975: Original Daytime Version End
On January 3, 1975, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC ended its run.
June 1975: Syndicated edition episode
A June 1975 episode of the weekly syndicated edition exists at the Paley Center for Media.
September 1975: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Ends
In September 1975, the nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! ceased airing.
1975: Don Pardo Leaves Announcing Role
In 1975, Don Pardo concluded his role as the announcer for Jeopardy!
1976: Milton Bradley's Jeopardy! Board Game End
In 1976, Milton Bradley stopped releasing annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy! but released one more game in 1982.
1977: Pilot taped for CBS
The UCLA Archive holds a copy of a Jeopardy! pilot taped for CBS in 1977.
October 2, 1978: Premiere of The All-New Jeopardy!
The NBC daytime series was revived as The All-New Jeopardy!, which premiered on October 2, 1978, and aired 108 episodes.
October 1978: All-New Jeopardy! Revival
In October 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! revival began airing on NBC.
1978: John Harlan Announcer
In 1978, John Harlan took over as announcer for Jeopardy!
March 2, 1979: End of The All-New Jeopardy!
The All-New Jeopardy! series ended on March 2, 1979.
March 1979: All-New Jeopardy! Ends
In March 1979, The All-New Jeopardy! ended its run on NBC.
1979: Art Fleming Hosting End
In 1979, Art Fleming's run as the host for all versions of Jeopardy! came to an end.
1982: Milton Bradley's Final Jeopardy! Board Game Release
In 1982, Milton Bradley issued one last board game based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy! before ceasing production.
1983: Greg Kihn's Hit Song 'Jeopardy'
In 1983, Greg Kihn released his hit song 'Jeopardy' which was later parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in his song "I Lost on Jeopardy".
September 10, 1984: Syndicated Show Premiere
On September 10, 1984, the syndicated version of Jeopardy!, familiar to modern viewers, premiered.
1984: Consolation Prizes Change
From 1984 until 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise as consolation prizes.
1984: Ring-in Rule Change Start
From the premiere of the original Jeopardy! until the end of 1984, contestants could ring in as soon as the clue was revealed.
1984: "Weird Al" Yankovic's 'I Lost on Jeopardy'
In 1984, "Weird Al" Yankovic released the single "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's song "Jeopardy". The music video featured a re-creation of the original Jeopardy! set with cameos from Fleming and Pardo.
1984: Alex Trebek Hosting Debut
In 1984, Alex Trebek began hosting the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, with Johnny Gilbert as the announcer.
1984: Introduction of written contestant exam
In 1984, Jeopardy! introduced a written exam comprising 50 questions for prospective contestants.
1984: Original 1984 Clue Values
In 1984, the syndicated series Jeopardy!'s clue values originally ranged from $100 to $500 in Jeopardy! and $200 to $1,000 in Double Jeopardy! rounds.
1984: Return of Jeopardy! and Tournament Prizes
In 1984, when Jeopardy! returned, the top prize awarded to the winner was originally valued at $100,000.
1984: Introduction of individual television monitors
In 1984, when the Trebek version of Jeopardy! premiered, the game board began using individual television monitors for each clue within categories.
1984: Debut of "Think!" as main theme
Since the syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted in 1984, a rendition of the tune "Think!" has been used as the main theme song.
1984: Debut of the syndicated version
The daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted on September 10, 1984, in response to the success of the syndicated version of Wheel and the installation of electronic trivia games in pubs and bars.
September 1985: Ring-in Rule Change
Since September 1985, contestants are required to wait until the clue is read before ringing in on Jeopardy!.
1985: Color-coded sets
From 1985, Jeopardy! sets were designed with a background color of blue for the Jeopardy! round and red for the Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds.
1985: Forrest Bounce Strategy
In 1985, Chuck Forrest first used the "Forrest Bounce" strategy, randomly picking clues to confuse opponents, winning over $70,000.
1985: Lowest Jeopardy! Score
In 1985, Joan Kantor set the record for the lowest Jeopardy! score with -$5,100 during Season 1.
1985: Tournament of Champions Format
Since the first Tournament of Champions in 1985, the format involves quarterfinal winners and wild cards advancing to the seeded semifinals, followed by a two-game final match.
1989: Art Fleming Expresses Dissatisfaction
In 1989, original host Art Fleming expressed dissatisfaction with the daily syndicated Jeopardy! series in an essay published in Sports Illustrated, criticizing the Hollywood setting and other changes.
1989: Syndicated Episodes Collected
Since 1989, copies of Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes aired between 1989 and 2004 have been collected by the UCLA Archive.
1990: Super Jeopardy! Aired on ABC
In 1990, Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC, featuring top contestants competing for a top prize of $250,000.
1991: Introduction of grid-like set
In 1991, Jeopardy! introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Replacement of original monitors
In 1991, the original television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: Zero Score Wild Card
In the 1991 Seniors Tournament quarterfinals of Jeopardy!, no contestant ended with a positive score, leading to an additional wild card contestant advancing.
1992: Jeopardy! in 'White Men Can't Jump'
In 1992, the film White Men Can't Jump featured a subplot where the character Gloria Clemente (played by Rosie Perez) auditions for and competes on Jeopardy!
January 19, 1993: Darryl Scott Wins with $1
On January 19, 1993, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Scott won a Jeopardy! game with the lowest amount possible, at $1.
1993: Tenth Anniversary Tournament
In 1993, the Tenth Anniversary Tournament was held.
1993: Named Best Game Show of the 1970s by TV Guide
In its April 17–23, 1993, issue, TV Guide named Jeopardy! the best game show of the 1970s as part of a celebration of the magazine's 40th anniversary.
1994: Jeopardy! Called "An American Icon"
By 1994, Jeopardy! was called "an American icon" by the press.
1994: GSN Reruns Begin
In 1994, GSN, an affiliate of Sony Pictures Television, started rerunning episodes of Jeopardy! since the channel's launch.
1994: Production location in Culver City, California
Since 1994, Jeopardy! contestants have been required to travel to the production location in Culver City, California, at their own expense.
November 11, 1996: Introduction of set designed by Naomi Slodki
On November 11, 1996, Jeopardy! introduced the first of several sets designed by Naomi Slodki, resembling "the foyer of a very contemporary library, with wood and sandblasted glass and blue granite".
1996: Celebrity Jeopardy! on SNL
In 1996, Saturday Night Live (SNL) began featuring a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch where Will Ferrell portrayed Trebek dealing with celebrity guests.
1996: First International Tournament
In 1996, the first International Tournament was held, featuring a one-week competition among champions from international versions of Jeopardy!, with a top prize of $25,000.
April 1, 1997: April Fool's Host Switch
On April 1, 1997, Alex Trebek and Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak switched places as an April Fool's joke.
April 30, 1997: Benjamin Salisbury Wins with $1
On April 30, 1997, Benjamin Salisbury won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible, at $1.
1997: Theme rearrangement by Steve Kaplan
In 1997, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan.
1997: Second International Tournament
In 1997, the second International Tournament took place, with the tournament being recorded in Stockholm on the set of the Swedish version of Jeopardy!
1997: End of color-coded sets
In 1997, the sets designed to have a background color of blue for the Jeopardy! round and red for the Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds were discontinued.
1998: Jeopardy! Official Website Launch
In 1998, Jeopardy!'s official website was launched, and received over 400,000 monthly visitors.
1998: Debut of Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debuted on VH1 in 1998, centering around post-1950s popular music trivia.
1998: Debut of the Jeopardy! Brain Bus
Since 1998, a Winnebago recreational vehicle dubbed the "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" travels to conduct regional contestant search events throughout the United States and Canada.
1999: Jep! airs on GSN
Jep!, a children's version of Jeopardy!, aired on GSN during the 1998–1999 season.
December 31, 1999: GSN airs The All-New Jeopardy! finale
GSN aired The All-New Jeopardy!'s finale on December 31, 1999, as part of its "Y2Play" marathon.
2000: Rutter Wins Over Regular Episodes
In 2000, Brad Rutter won $55,102 over five regular Jeopardy! episodes, including the value of two cars won, worth $45,000.
January 2001: Ranked Number 2 on "50 Greatest Game Shows" List
In January 2001, TV Guide magazine ranked Jeopardy! number 2 on its "50 Greatest Game Shows" list, second only to The Price Is Right.
February 9, 2001: Brandi Chastain Wins with $1
On February 9, 2001, Brandi Chastain won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible, at $1.
November 26, 2001: Clue Values Increased
On November 26, 2001, the clue values for Jeopardy! were increased to $200–$1,000 in Jeopardy! and $400–$2,000 in Double Jeopardy! rounds.
2001: Rutter Wins Tournament of Champions
In 2001, Brad Rutter won the $100,000 first-place prize in the Tournament of Champions.
2001: Theme rearrangement by Steve Kaplan
In 2001, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan.
2001: Third International Tournament
In 2001, the third International Tournament was held with a top prize of $50,000.
2001: End of Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! ended its run on VH1 in 2001.
May 16, 2002: Cash Consolation Prizes
Since May 16, 2002, Jeopardy! non-winners have received consolation prizes in cash ($2,000 for second place, $1,000 for third place).
2002: Cash Prizes for Non-Winners
From 2002, non-winning contestants started to receive cash prizes.
2002: Rutter Wins Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the $1 million first-place prize in the Million Dollar Masters Tournament.
2002: Introduction of a new set
In 2002, Jeopardy! introduced another new set to its studio.
2002: End of Regular Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches
In 2002, Saturday Night Live stopped featuring the recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch regularly, though it continued on special occasions.
2002: 13-day new champion streak set in 2002 and tied in 2025
The record for most days with a new returning champion on Jeopardy! is 13, set in 2002 and tied in 2025.
September 8, 2003: Five-Day Limit Eliminated
On September 8, 2003, the five-day limit for Jeopardy! contestants was eliminated.
December 2003: Death of Steve Kaplan
Steve Kaplan, who served as music director for Jeopardy!, passed away in December 2003.
2003: Increase in the Tournament of Champions Prize
In 2003, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions increased to $250,000.
2003: Co-Champions declared until 2003
Prior to 2003, if two or three contestants tied for first place they were declared 'co-champions', each retained winnings and returned on the following episode.
2003: Tournament of Champions Seeding Rule
Since the removal of the five-game limit in 2003, in case of a tie in total winnings between Tournament of Champions players, the player who won the most games receives the higher seed.
November 30, 2004: Ken Jennings' Winning Streak Ends
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' winning streak ended after 74 matches, amassing $2,522,700 and increasing Jeopardy!'s ratings.
2004: Kevin Mitnick Wins Hacker Jeopardy
In 2004, Kevin Mitnick won the 'Hacker Jeopardy' variant held at the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas.
2004: Presenting Sponsor for Cash Prizes
Since 2004, a presenting sponsor has provided cash prizes to the losing Jeopardy! contestants.
2004: Syndicated Episodes Collected
Since 2004, copies of Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes aired between 1989 and 2004 have been collected by the UCLA Archive.
November 8, 2005: Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show DVD Release
On November 8, 2005, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a DVD titled Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show. The DVD features curated episodes and featurettes about the show's history.
2005: Jennings Wins Second Place in Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, Ken Jennings won the second-place prize of $500,000 in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions.
2005: Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, the 15-week Ultimate Tournament of Champions featured 145 former champions competing for $2,000,000.
2006: Transition to high-definition broadcasts
In 2006, Jeopardy! and sister show Wheel of Fortune transitioned to high-definition broadcasts, leading to slight modifications of the set. Virtual tours of the set began to be featured on the official web site.
2006: Transition to a projection video wall
In 2006, Jeopardy! discarded the individual monitors in favor of a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Emmy Categories Removed
In 2006, the categories of Outstanding Direction for a Game/Audience Participation Show and Outstanding Special Class Writing were removed from the Daytime Emmy Awards.
2006: Ranked Number 2 on GSN's List
In the summer of 2006, Jeopardy! was ranked number 2 on GSN's list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time, second only to Match Game.
March 16, 2007: Three-Way Tie
On March 16, 2007, the syndicated version of Jeopardy! hosted by Alex Trebek had its first three-way (non-zero) tie for first place.
2008: Theme rearrangement by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design
In 2008, the Jeopardy! music package was rearranged again, this time by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design.
November 2009: Jeopardy! Premier Club Launch
In November 2009, Jeopardy! launched a viewer loyalty program called the "Jeopardy! Premier Club", which allowed home viewers to engage with episodes and participate in online tournaments.
2009: "Best Game Show Theme Song" Award
During GSN's 2009 Game Show Awards special, "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song".
2009: Set update and debut at International CES
In 2009, Jeopardy! updated its set, debuting it with special episodes taped at the 42nd annual International CES technology trade show.
2009: Andy Richter Achieves Highest Single-Day Winnings in Celebrity Jeopardy!
In 2009, during the 2009–10 "Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational", comedian Andy Richter achieved the highest single-day winnings in a Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament, finishing with $68,000 for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2009: Installation of high-definition flat-panel monitors
In 2009, the projection video wall was replaced with 36 high-definition flat-panel monitors manufactured by Sony Electronics on the Jeopardy! game board.
2010: Primary set adoption
In 2010, the set that debuted at the International CES technology trade show became the primary set for Jeopardy! as the 2009–2010 season began.
2010: Roger Craig's single-day winnings record
Since 2010, Roger Craig held the single-day winnings record of $77,000 on Jeopardy!
February 2011: IBM Challenge
In February 2011, the IBM Challenge aired, featuring IBM's Watson computer facing off against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, with Watson winning $1 million for charity.
June 17, 2011: Trebek Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
On June 17, 2011, Alex Trebek shared the Lifetime Achievement Award with Pat Sajak at the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony.
July 2011: Discontinuation of Jeopardy! Premier Club
By July 2011, the Jeopardy! Premier Club, a viewer loyalty program launched in November 2009, was discontinued.
September 20, 2011: Hall of Fame Added to Sony Pictures Studios Tour
On September 20, 2011, a hall of fame honoring Jeopardy! was added to the Sony Pictures Studios tour, featuring awards, set pieces, and memorabilia.
2011: Jennings Wins Second Place in IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings won the $300,000 second-place prize in the IBM Challenge.
2012: Jeopardy! Website Praised by About.com
In 2012, About.com praised the official Jeopardy! website for its comprehensive content, interactive elements, and humorous error page.
2013: Introduction of a new set
In 2013, Jeopardy! introduced another new set to its studio.
2013: Ranked Number 1 on TV Guide's List
In 2013, Jeopardy! ranked number 1 on TV Guide's list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows.
2013: Zero Score Wild Card Teen Tournament
In the 2013 Teen Tournament semifinals of Jeopardy!, the same rule was applied where no contestant ended with a positive score, leading to an additional wild card contestant advancing.
2013: Semifinal Game Rule Change
Starting with the 2013 Tournament of Champions, Jeopardy! semifinal games must have a winner, requiring Final Jeopardy! participants to engage in the standard tie-breaker regardless of score.
January 29, 2014: Strategic Wager for a Tie
On the January 29, 2014, episode of Jeopardy!, Arthur Chu strategically wagered to tie Carolyn Collins rather than winning.
November 24, 2014: Tie-Breaker Clue Implemented
Since November 24, 2014, Jeopardy! ties for first place following Final Jeopardy! are broken with a tie-breaker clue.
2014: Holzhauer appeared on The Chase
In 2014, James Holzhauer appeared on The Chase and won over $58,000.
2014: Jennings Wins Second Place in Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings won the $123,600 second-place prize in the Battle of the Decades.
2014: Black Jeopardy! on SNL
In 2014, Saturday Night Live introduced another recurring sketch called Black Jeopardy!, which parodied Jeopardy! with stereotypical black American contestants and categories reflecting black American culture.
2014: 30th-Anniversary Battle of the Decades
In 2014, the 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament was held.
2014: Premiere of Sports Jeopardy!
Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version, premiered in 2014 on the Crackle digital service.
2015: End of Special Occasion Celebrity Jeopardy!
In 2015, Saturday Night Live (SNL) stopped featuring the recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch even on special occasions.
2015: Stephanie Hull's Low Score and Rare Final Jeopardy!
In 2015, Stephanie Hull set the fourth-lowest Jeopardy! score at -$6,800. Her episode was also notable for featuring a rare Final Jeopardy! with only one contestant.
2016: Sports Jeopardy! moves to NBCSN
In 2016, Sports Jeopardy! moved to the cable sports network NBCSN.
October 17, 2017: Manny Abell Wins with $1
On October 17, 2017, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Manny Abell won a Jeopardy! game with the lowest amount possible, at $1.
March 1, 2018: First Tie-Breaker Game
Until March 1, 2018, no regular Jeopardy! game had ended in a tie-breaker.
April 9, 2019: Holzhauer Surpasses Single-Day Winnings Record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer surpassed Roger Craig's single-day winnings record by earning $110,914 on Jeopardy!.
April 15, 2019: Holzhauer Moves to Second Place for Regular Play Winnings
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings on Jeopardy!.
April 17, 2019: Holzhauer Sets New Single-Day Winnings Record
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer set a new single-day winnings record of $131,127 on Jeopardy!.
April 23, 2019: Holzhauer Becomes Third Jeopardy! Millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer joined Rutter and Jennings as the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire.
June 3, 2019: Holzhauer Defeated on Jeopardy!
On June 3, 2019, James Holzhauer was defeated on Jeopardy!, finishing in second place with total winnings of $2,464,216.
June 2019: Holzhauer's Strategy
Between April and June 2019, James Holzhauer regularly used the strategy of playing all the higher-valued clues first to build a substantial lead.
2019: Jennings Wins in All-Star Games
In 2019, Ken Jennings won a $100,000 prize (one-third of the $300,000-second-place prize to his three-player team) in the All-Star Games.
2019: The All-Star Games Tournament
In 2019, The All-Star Games tournament had six teams with three former champions each, with Rutter, Madden, and Kelly winning.
2019: Taping without audience begins
In 2019, the last episodes of the 2019–2020 Jeopardy! season were taped without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2020: Taping halted due to COVID-19
In March 2020, Jeopardy! taping halted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Announcement of new episodes airing until June 12, 2020
In May 2020, Sony announced that new Jeopardy! episodes would air until June 12, 2020, including the Teachers Tournament.
June 12, 2020: Airing of new episodes continues
Until June 12, 2020, Jeopardy! continued airing new episodes, including the Teachers Tournament.
July 2020: Rerunning of classic episodes
In July 2020, Jeopardy! began rerunning a package of 20 classic episodes, including the first two from the syndicated run.
August 2020: Production resumed with new safety measures
In August 2020, Jeopardy! production resumed with new safety measures in place following government guidelines, including expanded lecterns and regular testing. Ken Jennings joined production in an on-air role.
October 29, 2020: Trebek's Last Episode Taping
On October 29, 2020, Alex Trebek taped his last episode of Jeopardy!, intended for a Christmas Day broadcast.
November 8, 2020: Trebek's Death
On November 8, 2020, Alex Trebek passed away, leading to the cancellation of Ken Jennings' rehearsal for hosting Jeopardy!.
November 9, 2020: First Episode After Trebek's Death
On November 9, 2020, the first episode of Jeopardy! aired after Alex Trebek's death. Executive producer Mike Richards paid tribute, and the set lights dimmed as a sign of mourning. A dedication screen was added to the end credits for subsequent episodes.
November 2020: Alex Trebek's Death
In November 2020, Alex Trebek passed away after hosting Jeopardy! for over 36 years.
November 30, 2020: Jennings Takes Over Hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings took over hosting Jeopardy! after production resumed.
December 21, 2020: Reruns of On-Location Episodes
From December 21, 2020, reruns of episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location were shown.
December 25, 2020: Posthumous airing of pre-taped episodes
Following Trebek's death, an announcement noted that the pre-taped Jeopardy! episodes were to air posthumously until December 25, 2020.
2020: Set modifications due to COVID-19
In 2020, Jeopardy! made several modifications to the set, including a wider studio without a studio audience and new lecterns for contestants and the host due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Greatest of All Time Tournament
In 2020, Jeopardy! returned to ABC primetime for the Greatest of All Time tournament, where Jennings, Rutter, and Holzhauer competed for a $1,000,000 prize.
2020: Jennings Wins Greatest of All Time Tournament
In 2020, Ken Jennings won the $1,000,000 first-place prize in the Greatest of All Time tournament.
January 1, 2021: Reruns of On-Location Episodes Continued
On January 1, 2021, reruns of episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location continued to be shown.
January 8, 2021: Alex Trebek's Final Episode
On January 8, 2021, Alex Trebek's final episode of Jeopardy! aired.
January 11, 2021: First episode with an interim host
The first Jeopardy! episode with an interim host aired on January 11, 2021.
February 19, 2021: Jennings' Hosting Run Ends
On February 19, 2021, Ken Jennings' six-week run as host of Jeopardy! concluded.
July 28, 2021: Patrick Pierce's Low Score
On July 28, 2021, during an episode of Jeopardy! hosted by LeVar Burton, Patrick Pierce finished with a total of -$7,400, marking a particularly low score during the interregnum period.
August 11, 2021: Richards and Bialik Announced as Hosts
On August 11, 2021, Mike Richards was announced as the successor to Trebek for the daily show, and Mayim Bialik was announced as the host for Jeopardy! primetime specials and spin-offs.
August 2021: Stage 10 Dedicated to Trebek
In August 2021, Sony Pictures Studios' Stage 10 was dedicated in Alex Trebek's honor and renamed "The Alex Trebek Stage".
September 2021: Mike Richards Initially Assumes Hosting Role
In September 2021, Mike Richards initially became the permanent host of Jeopardy! but relinquished the role within a week.
September 2021: Richards' Episodes Aired
In September 2021, Mike Richards' five episodes as host of Jeopardy! aired.
2021: Amy Schneider's Winning Streak Begins
In 2021, Amy Schneider's winning streak began, eventually earning her $1,382,800 in 40 episodes between 2021 and 2022.
2021: Matt Amodio surpasses James Holzhauer
In 2021, Matt Amodio surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won.
2021: Fully-synthesized theme debut
In 2021, a fully-synthesized version of the main theme, based on the 2008 arrangement and composed by Bleeding Fingers Music, began to be used on Jeopardy!.
2021: Tie-breaker Selection Rule Change
Since 2021, if there is a tie for the lowest score, the contestant with the last correct question selects first in the Double Jeopardy! round.
March 30, 2022: Release of the 1964 "test episode" on YouTube
The 1964 "test episode" of Jeopardy! was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account March 30, 2022, and an audiotape containing approximately five minutes from the first aired episode was also released to the public to celebrate the show's 58th anniversary.
May 2022: Mattea Roach's Winning Streak
In April and May 2022, Mattea Roach's winning streak earned $560,983 over 23 games, making her the most successful Canadian contestant on Jeopardy!.
July 2022: Vintage Episodes on Pluto TV
In July 2022, Vulture reported that vintage episodes of Jeopardy! would air on a dedicated channel on Pluto TV beginning in August.
July 2022: Bialik and Jennings to Co-Host
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings would return as co-hosts of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!.
September 12, 2022: Return of the live studio audience
On September 12, 2022, the live studio audience fully returned for season 39 of Jeopardy!, though the modified COVID-era set from the previous two seasons was kept.
September 2022: Celebrity Jeopardy! Premiere
In September 2022, the new celebrity edition of Jeopardy! premiered.
2022: Amy Schneider surpasses James Holzhauer
In 2022, Amy Schneider surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won.
2022: Wheel of Fortune puzzle board upgrade
In 2022, the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board was upgraded to a singular electronic screen, similar to the upgrade that Jeopardy! would later receive in 2024.
2022: Tie Breaker Used for 2022 TOC
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2022 Tournament of Champions Jeopardy!, the tie-breaker is used regardless of the score being zero or positive.
January 2023: Jennings to Host Jeopardy! Masters
In January 2023, ABC announced that Ken Jennings would host a Jeopardy! Masters spin-off, indicating a change of the hosting arrangement.
January 2023: Renewal of Jeopardy!
In January 2023, Jeopardy! was renewed, extending it through the 2027-28 season.
May 2023: Bialik Supports Writers' Strike, Jennings Fills In
In May 2023, Mayim Bialik opted not to host the final episodes of the season in support of the Writers Guild of America strike, with Ken Jennings stepping in to host the remaining episodes.
August 2023: Consolation Prizes Increased
In August 2023, Jeopardy! increased consolation prizes to $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place due to inflation, starting in Season 40.
December 2023: Ken Jennings Becomes Sole Syndicated Host
In December 2023, Ken Jennings became the sole syndicated host of Jeopardy! after Mayim Bialik's withdrawal.
December 2023: Jennings Named Sole Host
In December 2023, after the strike was resolved, Sony announced that Ken Jennings would remain the sole host of the syndicated Jeopardy! series permanently.
July 22, 2024: Alex Trebek Stamp Unveiled
On July 22, 2024, Jean Trebek and Ken Jennings officially unveiled an Alex Trebek stamp based on the show, which was officially licensed by the program.
July 31, 2024: Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel ends
On July 31, 2024, the Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel ended after a two-year run on Pluto TV.
2024: Game board refurbishment
For season 41 in 2024, the Jeopardy! game board was refurbished, replacing the individual monitors board with a singular electronic screen.
2024: Erin Buker's Low Score
In 2024, Erin Buker achieved a score of -$7,200 on Jeopardy!, marking the lowest score in the Jennings era.
2024: Premiere of Pop Culture Jeopardy!
In 2024, Pop Culture Jeopardy! premiered as an exclusive show on Amazon Prime Video, featuring teams competing for a grand prize.
January 13, 2025: Jeopardy! Production Suspended
On January 13, 2025, it was announced that Jeopardy! would suspend production due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.
January 2025: Jeopardy! Production Suspended Due to Wildfires
In January 2025, Jeopardy! production was suspended due to the Southern California wildfires.
July 25, 2025: Tracking Jeopardy! Records
As of July 25, 2025, Jeopardy! keeps track of four primary records, including most consecutive games won, highest regular-season winnings, highest single-game winnings, and highest all-time winnings including tournaments.
2025: 13-day new champion streak tied in 2025
The record for most days with a new returning champion on Jeopardy! is 13, which was set in 2002 and tied in 2025.
2027: End of current renewal term
In January 2023, Jeopardy! was renewed through the 2027–28 season.
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