History of Jeopardy! in Timeline
Jeopardy! is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin. The show presents general knowledge clues to contestants in the form of answers. Contestants must then phrase their responses in the form of a question that correctly identifies the person, place, thing, or idea described by the clue. This reverses the traditional question-and-answer format found in most quiz shows, making it a unique competition.
May 1942: CBS Television Quiz Ends
In May 1942, CBS Television Quiz ended.
1963: Merv Griffin's Account
In a 1963 Associated Press profile, Merv Griffin described how he created the Jeopardy! quiz show.
March 30, 1964: Original Daytime Version Debut
On March 30, 1964, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! debuted on NBC.
1964: Milton Bradley's Jeopardy! board game release
From 1964, Milton Bradley began issuing annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy!.
1964: Art Fleming Hosting Begins
In 1964, Art Fleming began hosting all versions of Jeopardy!
1964: Jeopardy! Debut and Theme Music
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 Jeopardy! Series
The original Jeopardy! Series debuted in 1964.
1967: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1967 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1971: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1971 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
February 21, 1972: Episode No. 2,000 in Color
Episode No. 2,000 (from February 21, 1972, in color) exists at the Paley Center for Media.
1973: Archived Episodes
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! began airing weekly.
1974: Cancellation and Syndicated Edition
In 1974, Lin Bolen moved Jeopardy! out of the noontime slot. A syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired in primetime from 1974 to 1975.
1974: Archived Episodes
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! ended its run on NBC.
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! ended its run.
1975: Don Pardo's Announcer Role Ends
In 1975, Don Pardo's role as announcer for Jeopardy! came to an end.
1976: End of Milton Bradley's annual Jeopardy! board games
Through 1976, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy!.
1977: CBS Pilot Taped
In 1977, a pilot was taped for CBS. The UCLA Archive holds a copy.
October 2, 1978: Premiere of The All-New Jeopardy!
On October 2, 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! premiered, reviving the NBC daytime series.
October 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Revival
In October 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! revival began airing on NBC on weekdays.
1978: John Harlan Announces
In 1978, John Harlan became the announcer for Jeopardy!, serving during the 1978–1979 season.
March 2, 1979: End of The All-New Jeopardy!
On March 2, 1979, The All-New Jeopardy! ended its run.
March 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Ends
In March 1979, The All-New Jeopardy! ended its run on NBC.
1979: Art Fleming Hosting Ends
In 1979, Art Fleming's run as the host for all versions of Jeopardy! concluded.
1982: Milton Bradley's Jeopardy! board game re-release
In 1982, Milton Bradley re-released a Jeopardy! board game based on the original Fleming version.
1983: Greg Kihn releases Jeopardy
In 1983, Greg Kihn released his song "Jeopardy".
1983: First Daily Syndicated Version Pilot
In 1983, Jay Stewart served as the announcer for the first pilot of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!
September 10, 1984: Syndicated Show Premieres
On September 10, 1984, the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, familiar to modern viewers, premiered.
1984: Vacation Packages and Merchandise
From 1984 to 2002, Jeopardy! non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise.
1984: Ringing In Rule
From the premiere of the original Jeopardy! until the end of the 1984–85 syndicated season, contestants were allowed to ring in as soon as the clue was revealed.
1984: "Weird Al" Yankovic's "I Lost on Jeopardy" release
In 1984, "Weird Al" Yankovic released his single "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy" that satirized the 1960s version of the show. The song's video also featured appearances by Fleming, Pardo and Greg Kihn.
1984: Alex Trebek Hosting Begins
In 1984, Alex Trebek began hosting the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, with Johnny Gilbert as announcer.
1984: Schneider Returns as Director
In 1984, Dick Schneider, who directed episodes of The All-New Jeopardy!, returned as director.
1984: Tournament top prize valued at $100,000
In 1984, When the series returned, the Tournament top prize awarded to the winner was originally valued at $100,000.
1984: Trebek Version Premieres
In 1984, the Trebek version of Jeopardy! premiered, and the game board started using individual television monitors for each clue within categories.
1984: Clue Values in 1984 Series
In 1984, the clue values in the syndicated Jeopardy! series originally ranged from $100 to $500 in Jeopardy! and $200 to $1,000 in Double Jeopardy!
1984: Written Exam for Contestants
Since 1984, prospective Jeopardy! contestants begin with a written exam comprising 50 questions.
1984: "Think!" Used as Main Theme
Since the syndicated version debuted in 1984, a rendition of the tune "Think!" has been used as the main theme song. "Think!" was originally composed by Griffin.
1984: Debut of Daily Syndicated Version
The daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted on September 10, 1984, in response to the success of the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune and the installation of electronic trivia games in pubs and bars.
September 1985: Ringing In Rule Change
Since September 1985, Jeopardy! contestants are required to wait until the clue is read before ringing in. Lights were added to the game board to indicate when signaling is allowed.
1985: Set Color Scheme
From 1985, the sets were designed to have 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, in which contestants randomly pick clues to confuse opponents, winning over $70,000.
1985: Joan Kantor's record low score
In 1985, Joan Kantor set the record for the lowest Jeopardy! score with -$5,100 during Season 1.
1985: Production Moved to Hollywood Center Studios
In 1985, the Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Hollywood Center Studios' Stage 1.
1985: Tournament of Champions Format
Since the first Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions in 1985, winners of the five quarterfinal games and the four highest-scoring non-winners advance to the semifinals, which run for three days.
1987: Trebek begins hosting Classic Concentration
In 1987, Alex Trebek began hosting NBC's Classic Concentration, handing Jeopardy! producer duties to George Vosburgh.
1989: Fleming Expresses Dissatisfaction
In 1989, Fleming expressed dissatisfaction with the daily syndicated Jeopardy! series in an essay published in Sports Illustrated. He criticized the Hollywood setting and decision to not award losing contestants their cash earnings.
1989: Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes
In 1989, Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes have been collected by the UCLA Archive and the Paley Center's collection.
1990: Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC
In 1990, Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC, featuring 35 top contestants from previous seasons and one champion from the original Jeopardy! series, competing for a top prize of $250,000.
1991: Monitor Upgrade
In 1991, the original television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: New Set Design
In 1991, the show introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Additional Wild Card
In the quarterfinals of the 1991 Seniors Tournament, no contestant automatically qualified because no contestant ended with a positive score, and an additional wild card contestant advanced instead.
1992: McCarthy Succeeds Schneider as Director
In 1992, Kevin McCarthy succeeded Dick Schneider as director of Jeopardy!.
1992: White Men Can't Jump features Jeopardy!
In 1992, the film White Men Can't Jump featured a subplot where a character competes on Jeopardy! after passing the auditions.
January 19, 1993: Darryl Scott wins with $1
On January 19, 1993, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Scott won a game of Jeopardy! with the lowest amount possible: $1.
1993: Tenth Anniversary Tournament
In 1993, Jeopardy! held the Tenth Anniversary Tournament.
1993: Jeopardy! named best game show of the 1970s
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, the press had begun to call Jeopardy! "an American icon".
1994: GSN reruns Jeopardy! episodes
In 1994, GSN (an affiliate of Sony Pictures Television, like Jeopardy!) began rerunning episodes of Jeopardy! since the channel's launch.
1994: Production Moved to Sony Pictures Studios
In 1994, the Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Sony Pictures Studios' Stage 10 in Culver City, California.
1994: Production Location in Culver City
Since 1994, Jeopardy! contestants are required to travel to the production location in Culver City, California.
November 11, 1996: Naomi Slodki Set Design
On November 11, 1996, Jeopardy! introduced the first of several sets designed by Naomi Slodki, who intended the set to resemble "the foyer of a very contemporary library, with wood and sandblasted glass and blue granite".
1996: Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch debut
In 1996, Saturday Night Live introduced the recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch.
1996: First International Tournament
In 1996, the first International Tournament was held, featuring one-week competitions among champions from each of the international versions of Jeopardy!, with the top prize being $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 Celebrity Jeopardy!
On April 30, 1997, Benjamin Salisbury won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible: $1.
1997: Friedman, Finneran and Schmidt Succeed Vosburgh as Producers
In 1997, Harry Friedman, Lisa Finneran (now known as Lisa Broffman), and Rocky Schmidt succeeded George Vosburgh as producers of Jeopardy!
1997: Theme Rearrangement by Steve Kaplan
In 1997, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan, who served as music director.
1997: Second International Tournament
In 1997, the second International Tournament was held, featuring one-week competitions among champions from each of the international versions of Jeopardy!, with the top prize being $25,000. This tournament was recorded in Stockholm.
1997: End of Set Color Scheme
In 1997, the sets stopped using a background color of blue for the Jeopardy! round and red for the Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds.
1998: Debut of Rock & Roll Jeopardy! and Jep!
In 1998, Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debuted on VH1 and Jep! aired on GSN.
1998: Jeopardy!'s official website goes live
Jeopardy!'s official website, active as early as 1998, began receiving over 400,000 monthly visitors.
1998: "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" Introduction
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: Friedman Becomes Executive Producer
Beginning in 1999, Harry Friedman became executive producer of Jeopardy!, and Gary Johnson became the third producer.
December 31, 1999: Airing of 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 prize over five regular episodes
In 2000, Brad Rutter won the $55,102 prize over five regular episodes in 2000 (also including the value of two cars won, worth $45,000).
2000: Griffin Retires
In 2000, Griffin retired as the daily syndicated version's executive producer.
January 2001: Jeopardy! Ranked #2 on "50 Greatest Game Shows"
In January 2001, TV Guide ranked Jeopardy! as 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 Celebrity Jeopardy!
On February 9, 2001, Brandi Chastain won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible: $1.
September 24, 2001: Introduction of the Jeopardy! Clue Crew
On September 24, 2001, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was introduced, featuring roving correspondents who appeared in videos to narrate clues from around the world.
November 26, 2001: Clue Values Increase
On November 26, 2001, the clue values on Jeopardy! were increased to range from $200–$1,000 in Jeopardy! and $400–$2,000 in Double Jeopardy!
2001: Rutter wins Tournament of Champions
In 2001, Brad Rutter won the $100,000 first-place prize in the Tournament of Champions.
2001: End of Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
In 2001, Rock & Roll Jeopardy! ended its run on VH1.
2001: Theme Rearrangement by Steve Kaplan
In 2001, the main theme was rearranged again by Steve Kaplan.
2001: Third International Tournament
In 2001, the third International Tournament was held, featuring one-week competitions among champions from each of the international versions of Jeopardy!, with the top prize being $50,000.
May 16, 2002: Cash Consolation Prizes
Since May 16, 2002, Jeopardy! non-winners receive consolation prizes in cash: $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.
2002: Non-Winners Received Vacation Packages
From 1984 to 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise.
2002: Rutter wins Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the $1,000,000 first-place prize in 2002's Million Dollar Masters Tournament.
2002: End of SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy! regular run
In 2002, Saturday Night Live ended the regular run of the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch, though it continued on special occasions until 2015.
September 8, 2003: Five-Day Limit Eliminated
On September 8, 2003, the five-day limit for Jeopardy! champions was eliminated, allowing contestants to win for more than five consecutive days.
December 2003: Death of Steve Kaplan
Steve Kaplan, music director, passed away in December 2003.
2003: Tournament top prize increased to $250,000
In 2003, the Tournament top prize awarded to the winner increased to $250,000.
2003: Five-time Champion
Prior to 2003, if contestants tied for first place, they were declared 'co-champions'. Unless one was a five-time champion who retired prior to 2003, they returned on the following episode.
2003: Tournament of Champions Seeding
Since the removal of the five-game limit in 2003, in the unlikely case of a tie in total winnings between two 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 was defeated by Nancy Zerg, ending his record-breaking 74-game winning streak on Jeopardy! He amassed $2,522,700 over 75 episodes.
2004: Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes
Between 1989 and 2004, copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes have been collected by the UCLA Archive, and the premiere and various other episodes are included in the Paley Center's collection.
2004: Kevin Mitnick wins Hacker Jeopardy at DEF CON
In 2004, Kevin Mitnick won the Hacker Jeopardy competition at the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas.
2004: Lidskog Leaves Clue Crew
In 2004, Sofia Lidskog left the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
2004: Cash Prizes Provided
Since 2004, Jeopardy! a presenting sponsor has provided cash prizes to the losing contestants.
November 8, 2005: Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show DVD release
On November 8, 2005, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the DVD Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show, featuring curated episodes and featurettes.
2005: Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, Jeopardy! held the 15-week Ultimate Tournament of Champions, featuring 145 former champions competing against one another. The final was a three-game match between two winners and Ken Jennings for $2,000,000.
2005: Cannon and Miyahara Join Clue Crew
In 2005, Jon Cannon and Kelly Miyahara took over Sofia Lidskog's position in the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
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.
2006: Dittmann and Schneider Become Producers
In 2006, Deb Dittmann and Brett Schneider became producers for Jeopardy!, while Lisa Finneran, Rocky Schmidt, and Gary Johnson were promoted to supervising producers.
2006: Transition to HD Broadcasts
In 2006, Jeopardy! transitioned to high-definition broadcasts, with slight modifications to the existing set. Virtual tours of the set also began to be featured on the official web site.
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, which had been previously won by Jeopardy!'s directors and writers.
2006: Video Wall
In 2006, the television monitors were discarded and replaced with a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Jeopardy! Ranked #2 on GSN's list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time
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, a three-way (non-zero) tie for first place occurred on the syndicated version hosted by Trebek, when Scott Weiss, Jamey Kirby, and Anders Martinson all ended the game with $16,000.
2007: CBS Media Ventures Absorbs King World Productions
In 2007, CBS Media Ventures absorbed original distributor King World Productions.
October 2008: Farrell Leaves Clue Crew
In October 2008, Cheryl Farrell stopped recording clues for the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
2008: Music Package Rearranged
In 2008, the Jeopardy! music package was rearranged by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design.
July 2009: Cannon Leaves Clue Crew
In July 2009, Jon Cannon stopped recording clues for the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
November 2009: Jeopardy! Premier Club launched
In November 2009, Jeopardy! launched a viewer loyalty program called the "Jeopardy! Premier Club", which allowed home viewers to identify Final Jeopardy! categories from episodes for a chance to earn points, and play a weekly Jeopardy! game.
2009: "Think!" Award
During GSN's 2009 Game Show Awards special, the song "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song".
2009: Set Update and CES Episodes
In 2009, Jeopardy! updated its set once again, debuting with special episodes taped at the 42nd annual International CES technology trade show.
2009: Andy Richter sets celebrity single-day winnings record
In 2009, comedian Andy Richter achieved the highest single-day winnings in a Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament, finishing with $68,000 for his selected charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2010: Previous Single Day Winnings Record
In 2010, Roger Craig held the single-day winnings record of $77,000 on Jeopardy!, before being surpassed in 2019 by James Holzhauer.
2010: Primary Set Debut
In 2010, the updated set from the previous year became the primary set for 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. Watson won both the first game and the overall match, winning the grand prize of $1 million.
June 17, 2011: Trebek and Sajak Share 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: Jeopardy! Premier Club discontinued
By July 2011, the Jeopardy! Premier Club 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. It features the show's Emmy Awards, retired set pieces, classic merchandise, video clips, photographs, and other memorabilia related to Jeopardy!'s history.
2011: Johnson Leaves Jeopardy!
In 2011, Gary Johnson left Jeopardy!, while the other producers remained in their positions.
2011: Jennings wins second-place prize 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 information, fun interactive elements, and humorous error page.
2013: Flaw Discovered
After the 2013 Teen Tournament, Jeopardy! officials discovered a flaw because the triple zero loss happened in the second semifinal that allowed the third semifinal of the 2013 Teen Tournament to be played differently from the first.
2013: New Set Introduction
In 2013, Jeopardy! introduced another new set.
2013: Jeopardy! Ranked #1 on TV Guide's list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows
In 2013, Jeopardy! ranked number 1 on TV Guide's list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows.
2013: Ranked on TV Guide's List
In 2013, Jeopardy! was ranked No. 45 on TV Guide's list of the 60 greatest shows in American television history.
2013: Wild Card Rule During Semifinals
In the semifinals of the 2013 Teen Tournament, the rule that an additional wild card contestant advances if no contestant ends with a positive score was in effect during the semifinals.
January 29, 2014: Arthur Chu Wagers For Tie
On the January 29, 2014, episode of Jeopardy!, Arthur Chu wagered to tie challenger Carolyn Collins rather than winning the game.
November 24, 2014: Tie-Breaker Clue Introduced
Since November 24, 2014, ties for first place on Jeopardy! following Final Jeopardy! are broken with a tie-breaker clue.
2014: Holzhauer Appearance on The Chase
In 2014, James Holzhauer appeared on The Chase, winning over $58,000.
2014: 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament
In 2014, Jeopardy! held the 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament.
2014: Jennings wins second-place prize in Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings won the $123,600 second-place prize in the Battle of the Decades.
2014: SNL's Black Jeopardy! sketch debut
In 2014, Saturday Night Live parodied Jeopardy! with the debut of another recurring sketch, Black Jeopardy!.
2014: Premiere of Sports Jeopardy!
In 2014, Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version, premiered on the Crackle digital service.
2015: Final special occasion of Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch
In 2015, Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch aired for the last time on special occasions.
2015: Stephanie Hull's low score and rare Final Jeopardy
In 2015, Stephanie Hull set the fourth-lowest score with -$6,800, in an episode 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 game of Jeopardy! with the lowest amount possible: $1.
March 1, 2018: No Tie-Breaker
Until March 1, 2018, no regular game had ended in a tie-breaker.
2018: McCarthy Retires as Director
In 2018, Kevin McCarthy retired as director of Jeopardy! and was succeeded by Clay Jacobsen.
March 2019: Taping Slowed Due to Trebek's Health Issues
Beginning in March 2019, Jeopardy! taping slowed due to Alex Trebek's health issues, with some weeks having altered taping schedules.
April 9, 2019: Holzhauer surpasses single-day winnings record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer earned $110,914 on Jeopardy!, surpassing the single-day winnings record of $77,000 held since 2010 by Roger Craig.
April 15, 2019: Holzhauer moves into second place for regular play winnings
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings on Jeopardy! (behind Jennings) and third place for all Jeopardy!-related winnings (behind Rutter and Jennings).
April 17, 2019: Holzhauer sets new single-day winnings record
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer pushed his own single-day winnings record to $131,127 on Jeopardy!, wagering $60,013 in Final Jeopardy! after earning $71,114 in the first two rounds.
April 23, 2019: Holzhauer becomes third Jeopardy! millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer joined Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings as the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire. He subsequently joined Rutter and Jennings on the top ten list for all-time American game show winnings.
June 3, 2019: Holzhauer's Winning Streak Ends
On the June 3, 2019, episode, James Holzhauer was defeated on Jeopardy!, finishing in second place. His Jeopardy! winnings totaled $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.
August 1, 2019: Friedman Announces Retirement
On August 1, 2019, SPT announced that Harry Friedman would retire as executive producer of both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune at the end of the 2019–20 season.
2019: Miyahara Leaves Clue Crew
In 2019, Kelly Miyahara, who also served as announcer for the Sports Jeopardy! spin-off series, left the Clue Crew.
2019: Jennings wins prize 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
In 2019, The All-Star Games had six teams with three former champions each. Rutter, David Madden and Larissa Kelly won the tournament.
2019: Taping Without Audience
In 2019, the last episodes of the 2019–2020 season were taped without an audience.
March 2020: Taping Halted Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, taping of Jeopardy! halted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Announcement of New Episodes
In May 2020, Sony announced new Jeopardy! episodes would air until June 12, 2020, including the Teachers Tournament.
June 12, 2020: Airing of New Episodes
New Jeopardy! episodes, including the Teachers Tournament, aired until June 12, 2020.
July 2020: Rerunning 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 Resumes with Safety Measures
In August 2020, Jeopardy! production resumed with new safety measures in place, including expanded lecterns, PPE, regular testing, and social distancing.
October 29, 2020: Trebek tapes his last episode
On October 29, 2020, Alex Trebek taped his last episode of Jeopardy!, which was 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 as interim host.
November 9, 2020: First Episode After Trebek's Death
On November 9, 2020, the first episode of Jeopardy! aired after Alex Trebek's death, featuring a tribute by executive producer Mike Richards and a dedication screen at the end of the credits for the remainder of the season. The lights on the Jeopardy! set slowly dimmed during a few seconds of silence.
November 30, 2020: Jennings Takes Over Hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings took over hosting duties for Jeopardy! after Alex Trebek's death, with his episodes airing between January 11 and February 19, 2021.
December 21, 2020: Postponement of Trebek's Final Week
Beginning December 21, 2020, Jeopardy! aired reruns of episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location until January 1, 2021. Due to concerns over preemptions caused by holiday week specials, the episodes scheduled for the week of December 21-25 were moved to January 4-8, 2021.
December 25, 2020: Posthumous Airing of Episodes
Following Trebek's death, it was announced that the pre-taped Jeopardy! episodes were to air posthumously until December 25, 2020.
2020: Greatest of All Time tournament
In 2020, Jeopardy! returned to ABC primetime for the Greatest of All Time tournament, where Jennings, Brad Rutter, and James Holzhauer competed for a $1,000,000 prize, with Jennings as the victor.
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.
2020: Richards replaces Friedman
In 2020, Mike Richards replaced Harry Friedman as executive producer.
2020: COVID-19 Set Modifications
In 2020, the Jeopardy! set underwent several modifications, including a wider studio without a studio audience, and new lecterns for contestants and the host due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Tie-Breaker Used
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2020 Greatest of All Time, the tie-breaker will be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game.
January 1, 2021: Reruns Aired
From December 21, 2020 to January 1, 2021, reruns of Jeopardy! episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location were shown.
January 8, 2021: Alex Trebek's Last Episode
On January 8, 2021, Alex Trebek's last episode of Jeopardy! aired, marking the end of his over 36-year tenure as host.
January 11, 2021: First Episode with Interim Host
The first Jeopardy! episode with an interim host aired on January 11, 2021.
February 19, 2021: Ken Jennings' Hosting Run Ends
On February 19, 2021, Ken Jennings' six-week run as guest host of Jeopardy! concluded.
July 28, 2021: Patrick Pierce's low score
On July 28, 2021, during an episode hosted by LeVar Burton, Patrick Pierce achieved a low score of -$7,400.
August 11, 2021: Richards and Bialik Announced as Hosts
On August 11, 2021, Mike Richards was announced as the new host of the daily Jeopardy! show, with Mayim Bialik hosting 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".
August 20, 2021: Richards Steps Down as Host
On August 20, 2021, Mike Richards stepped down as host of Jeopardy! after controversies resurfaced, including remarks made on his podcast.
August 31, 2021: Richards Fired as Executive Producer
On August 31, 2021, after Richards had resigned as host earlier in the month, SPT fired him from his executive producer position at both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
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's five episodes as host of Jeopardy! aired after he had already stepped down from the position.
2021: Amy Schneider's winnings
In 2021, Amy Schneider made regular series winnings with a total of $1,382,800 earned in 40 episodes between 2021 and 2022.
2021: Matt Amodio Surpasses Holzhauer in Consecutive Games Won
In 2021, Matt Amodio surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won on Jeopardy!
2021: Fully-Synthesized Theme Version
In 2021, a fully-synthesized version of the main theme, which is based on the 2008 arrangement, was composed by Bleeding Fingers Music and has been used since.
2021: Tie-Breaker Selection Rule
Since 2021, if there is a tie for the contestant with the lowest score, the contestant with the last correct question among the tied players selects the first clue to start the Double Jeopardy! round.
March 30, 2022: Release of Test Episode
On March 30, 2022, the 1964 "test episode" was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account.
April 14, 2022: Davies Named Permanent Executive Producer
On April 14, 2022, Michael Davies became the permanent executive producer of Jeopardy!.
May 2022: Mattea Roach's winning streak earned $560,983 over 23 games.
In May 2022, Mattea Roach, whose winning streak earned $560,983 over 23 games, has been the most successful Canadian contestant to have competed on the Jeopardy! program.
July 2022: Vintage Jeopardy! episodes to air on Pluto TV
In July 2022, Vulture reported that vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! would begin airing in August on a dedicated channel on Pluto TV, owned by Paramount Global.
July 2022: Bialik and Jennings Return as Co-Hosts
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, although the modified COVID-era set was kept.
September 2022: Clue Crew Eliminated
Beginning with the 39th season in September 2022, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was eliminated; Sarah Whitcomb Foss became a producer for the show and Jimmy McGuire became a stage manager.
September 2022: Celebrity Jeopardy! Premieres
In September 2022, the new celebrity edition of Jeopardy! premiered.
2022: Jeopardy! Writing and Research Staff
As of 2022, Jeopardy! employs seven full-time writers and seven researchers to create and assemble the categories and clues.
2022: Amy Schneider Surpasses Holzhauer in Consecutive Games Won
In 2022, Amy Schneider surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won on Jeopardy!
2022: Jacobsen Succeeded as Director
In 2022, Clay Jacobsen was succeeded as director by Russell Norman, though some episodes are directed by Lucinda Owens Margolis.
2022: Foss Takes Over Producer Duties
In 2022, Sarah Whitcomb Foss took over all Jeopardy! producer duties following the Clue Crew's disbanding.
2022: Wheel of Fortune Puzzle Board Upgrade
In 2022, Wheel of Fortune puzzle board was upgraded.
2022: Tie-Breaker Used Again
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2022 Tournament of Champions, the tie-breaker will be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game.
January 2023: Jennings to Host Jeopardy! Masters Spinoff
In January 2023, ABC announced that Ken Jennings would host a Jeopardy! Masters spinoff, indicating a change in the hosting arrangement.
January 2023: Renewal Through 2027-28 Season
In January 2023, the most recent renewal of Jeopardy! extends 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 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, with Ken Jennings stepping in to host the remaining episodes.
August 2023: Consolation Prizes Increase
Starting in Season 40, in August 2023, Jeopardy! consolation prizes were raised due to inflation to $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place.
December 2023: Jennings Becomes Sole Syndicated Host
In December 2023, Ken Jennings became the sole syndicated host of Jeopardy! after rotating with Mayim Bialik.
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, while remaining open to Bialik hosting prime time specials.
July 14, 2024: Record tracking update
As of July 14, 2024, Jeopardy! keeps track of four records: most consecutive games won, highest regular-season winnings, highest single-game winnings, and highest all-time winnings (including tournaments).
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, officially licensed by the program.
July 31, 2024: Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel ends run
On July 31, 2024, the "Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek" channel on Pluto TV ended its two-year run. The channel, dedicated to vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, had launched on August 1, 2022.
2024: Erin Buker's low score
In 2024, Erin Buker set the lowest score in the Jennings era with -$7,200.
2024: Pop Culture Jeopardy! Premiere
In 2024, Pop Culture Jeopardy! premiered as an exclusive show on Amazon Prime Video.
2024: Game Board Refurbished
In 2024, the game board was refurbished for season 41, replacing the individual monitors board with a singular electronic screen.
January 13, 2025: Production Suspended Due to Wildfires
On January 13, 2025, it was announced that Jeopardy! would suspend production due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.
January 2025: Production Suspended Due to Wildfires
In January 2025, Jeopardy! suspended production due to Southern California wildfires.
2027: Jeopardy! Renewal
In January 2023, the most recent renewal of Jeopardy! extends it through the 2027–28 season.
Mentioned in this timeline
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