History of Jeopardy! in Timeline
Jeopardy! is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin. It distinguishes itself from traditional quiz shows by presenting contestants with general knowledge clues in the form of answers. The contestants must then deduce the correct person, place, thing, or idea that the clue describes and respond in the form of a question. The show is a quiz competition that inverts the standard question-and-answer format.
July 1941: CBS Television Quiz Airs
In July 1941, the Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz, which aired until May 1942, used the format of giving contestants the answers and requiring the questions, similar to Jeopardy!.
May 1942: CBS Television Quiz Ends
In May 1942, the Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz, which aired from July 1941, ended.
1963: Merv Griffin's Account
In 1963, Merv Griffin provided an account of how he created the Jeopardy! quiz show.
March 30, 1964: Original Daytime Version Debut
On March 30, 1964, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! premiered on NBC.
1964: Milton Bradley Releases Jeopardy! Board Game
From 1964 through 1976, with one release in 1982, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1964: 1964 test episode
In 1964, a "test episode" of Jeopardy! existed at the Paley Center for Media.
1964: Debut of Jeopardy!
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.
1964: Art Fleming Hosting
Starting in 1964, Art Fleming served as the host for all versions of Jeopardy! until 1979.
1967: Episodes from 1967
In 1967, various episodes of Jeopardy! are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Also, in the 1975 series finale, there were two short clips from the 1967 "College Scholarship Tournament".
1971: Episodes from 1971
In 1971, various episodes of Jeopardy! are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
February 21, 1972: Episode No. 2,000
On February 21, 1972, Episode No. 2,000 of Jeopardy!, which was in color, aired.
1973: Episodes from 1973
In 1973, various episodes of Jeopardy! are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
September 1974: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Debut
In September 1974, a nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! began airing weekly.
1974: Cancellation and Syndication of the original Jeopardy! series
In 1974, the original Jeopardy! series was moved out of the noontime slot by Lin Bolen, leading to its cancellation. A syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired in primetime from 1974 to 1975.
1974: Episodes from 1974
In 1974, various episodes of Jeopardy! are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
January 3, 1975: Original Daytime Version Finale
On January 3, 1975, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! aired its final episode on NBC.
June 1975: Syndicated edition episode
In June 1975, an episode of the weekly syndicated edition of Jeopardy! existed at the Paley Center for Media.
September 1975: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Finale
In September 1975, the nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired its final episode.
1975: Don Pardo's Announcer Role Ends
In 1975, Don Pardo's role as announcer for Jeopardy! came to an end.
1976: Milton Bradley Continues Jeopardy! Board Game Releases
From 1964 through 1976, with one release in 1982, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1977: Pilot taped for CBS in 1977
In 1977, A pilot taped for CBS exists among the Paley Center's holdings.
October 2, 1978: Premiere of "The All-New Jeopardy!"
On October 2, 1978, "The All-New Jeopardy!", a revival of the NBC daytime series, premiered with significant rule changes.
October 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Revival
In October 1978, a revival of Jeopardy!, titled 'The All-New Jeopardy!', premiered on NBC.
1978: John Harlan Announces
In the 1978-1979 season, John Harlan served as the announcer for Jeopardy!.
March 2, 1979: End of "The All-New Jeopardy!"
On March 2, 1979, "The All-New Jeopardy!" ended after airing 108 episodes.
March 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Finale
In March 1979, 'The All-New Jeopardy!' aired its final episode on NBC.
1979: End of Art Fleming's Hosting Run
In 1979, Art Fleming's run as the host of all versions of Jeopardy! concluded.
1982: Milton Bradley Releases Jeopardy! Board Game
From 1964 through 1976, with one release in 1982, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1983: Greg Kihn Releases "Jeopardy"
In 1983, Greg Kihn released the song "Jeopardy", which would later be parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic in 1984.
September 10, 1984: Syndicated Show Premiere
On September 10, 1984, the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! that is familiar to modern viewers premiered. The show is currently distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
1984: Vacation Packages and Merchandise
From 1984 to 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version of Jeopardy! received vacation packages and merchandise, which were donated by manufacturers as promotional consideration.
1984: Ring-In Rule Change Preparation
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, in preparation for the rule change, lights were added to the game board (unseen by home viewers) to signify when it is permissible for contestants to signal.
1984: "Weird Al" Yankovic Parodies Jeopardy!
In 1984, American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic satirized the 1960s incarnation of Jeopardy! with his single "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's 1983 hit song "Jeopardy".
1984: Trebek version premiered
In 1984, the Trebek version of Jeopardy! premiered, introducing a game board that used individual television monitors for each clue within categories.
1984: 1984 Series Clue Values
In 1984, the clue values for the Jeopardy! series ranged from $100 to $500 in the Jeopardy! round and $200 to $1,000 in the Double Jeopardy! round.
1984: Alex Trebek Hosting Begins
In 1984, the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! premiered with Alex Trebek as the host and Johnny Gilbert as the announcer.
1984: Tournament top prize valued at $100,000
In 1984, when the series returned, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions was originally valued at $100,000.
1984: Written exam for prospective contestants introduced
Since 1984, prospective Jeopardy! contestants have begun with a written exam comprising 50 questions.
1984: Syndicated version debuted with "Think!" theme
Since the syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted in 1984, a rendition of the song "Think!", originally composed by Griffin, has been used as the main theme song.
1984: Jeopardy! Premiere
The Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show DVD released on November 8, 2005 features five curated episodes of the Trebek version, one of which is the 1984 premiere.
1984: Debut of daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!
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: Ring-In Rule Change
Since September 1985, contestants on Jeopardy! are required to wait until the clue is read before ringing in.
1985: Set background color changed
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 on Jeopardy!, which involves randomly picking clues to confuse opponents.
1985: Lowest Jeopardy! Score Recorded
In 1985, Joan Kantor set the record lowest Jeopardy! score with -$5,100 (net -$10,200 after the Season 18 rule change).
1985: Tournament of Champions Format
Since the first Tournament of Champions in 1985, the format has been used with the winners of the five quarterfinal games and the four highest-scoring non-winners advancing to the seeded semifinals, then to a two-game final match. The format was devised by Trebek himself.
1989: Episodes aired between 1989 and 2004
Between 1989 and 2004, copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes have been collected by the UCLA Archive.
1989: Fleming expressed dissatisfaction
In 1989, original host Art Fleming expressed dissatisfaction with the daily syndicated Jeopardy! series in an essay published in Sports Illustrated.
1990: Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC
In 1990, Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC, where 35 top contestants from the previous seasons of the Trebek version and one champion from the original Jeopardy! series competed for a top prize of $250,000.
1991: New set resembling a grid introduced
In 1991, Jeopardy! introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Larger and sleeker monitors replaced the original monitors
In 1991, the original television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: Wild Card Qualification in Seniors Tournament
In the 1991 Seniors Tournament of Jeopardy!, if none of the contestants in a standard 15-player tournament format quarterfinal end with a positive score, no contestant automatically qualifies from that game, and an additional wild card contestant advances instead.
1992: Jeopardy! Featured in White Men Can't Jump
In 1992, the film White Men Can't Jump features a subplot in which the character Gloria Clemente 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, the Tenth Anniversary Tournament of Jeopardy! was held.
1993: 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 called Jeopardy! "an American icon".
1994: GSN reruns episodes since 1994
Since 1994, GSN has rerun Jeopardy! episodes since the channel's launch.
1994: Production location moved to 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: New set designed by Naomi Slodki introduced
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: Recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches on SNL
From 1996 to 2002, then on special occasions until 2015, Saturday Night Live featured a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch in which Trebek, portrayed by Will Ferrell, has to deal with the exasperating ineptitude of the show's celebrity guests and the constant taunts of antagonists Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds.
1996: International Tournament held in 1996
In 1996, an 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 Joke 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 Celebrity Jeopardy! with $1
On April 30, 1997, Benjamin Salisbury won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible: $1.
1997: International Tournament held in 1997
In 1997, an 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.
1997: Main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue rearranged by Steve Kaplan
In 1997, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan.
1997: End of sets designed with a background color of blue and red
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 ended.
1998: Debut of Rock & Roll Jeopardy! and Jep!
In 1998, two spin-off versions of Jeopardy! were created: Rock & Roll Jeopardy!, which debuted on VH1, and Jep!, which aired on GSN.
1998: "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" introduced
Since 1998, a Winnebago recreational vehicle dubbed the "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" has traveled to conduct regional contestant search events.
1998: Jeopardy! Official Website Active
The official Jeopardy! website, which is still active as of now, was active as early as 1998, and receives over 400,000 monthly visitors.
1999: End of Jep!
In the 1998–1999 season, Jep!, a special children's version of Jeopardy!, aired on GSN.
December 31, 1999: GSN Aired The All-New Jeopardy! finale
On December 31, 1999, GSN aired The All-New Jeopardy!'s finale as part of its "Y2Play" marathon.
2000: Rutter won over $55,000 in five regular episodes
In 2000, Brad Rutter won the $55,102 prize over five regular episodes of Jeopardy! (also including the value of two cars won, worth $45,000).
January 2001: Ranked #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 Celebrity Jeopardy! with $1
On February 9, 2001, Brandi Chastain won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest amount possible: $1.
September 24, 2001: Introduction of Jeopardy! Clue Crew
On September 24, 2001, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was introduced as a team of roving correspondents who appeared in videos recorded around the world to narrate some clues.
November 26, 2001: Clue Value Increase
On November 26, 2001, the clue values in Jeopardy! were increased to $200–$1,000 in Jeopardy! and $400–$2,000 in Double Jeopardy!.
2001: Rutter won 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: International Tournament held in 2001
In 2001, an 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.
2001: Main theme rearranged again by Steve Kaplan
In 2001, the main theme was rearranged again by Steve Kaplan.
May 16, 2002: Cash Consolation Prizes
Since May 16, 2002, Jeopardy! non-winners have received consolation prizes in cash—originally $2,000 for second-place contestants and $1,000 for third-place contestants.
2002: Recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches on SNL
From 1996 to 2002, then on special occasions until 2015, Saturday Night Live featured a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch in which Trebek, portrayed by Will Ferrell, has to deal with the exasperating ineptitude of the show's celebrity guests and the constant taunts of antagonists Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds.
2002: Rutter won Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the $1 million first-place prize in the Million Dollar Masters Tournament.
2002: New set introduced
In 2002, another new set was introduced for Jeopardy!
2002: Non-Winning Prizes
In 2002, the prizes for non-winning contestants changed on Jeopardy!.
2002: Days with New Returning Champion Record
In 2002, the record for most days with a new returning champion on Jeopardy! was set at 13, and it was later tied in 2025.
September 8, 2003: Five-Day Limit Eliminated
On September 8, 2003, the five-day limit for contestants was eliminated on Jeopardy!.
December 2003: Death of Steve Kaplan, music director
In December 2003, Steve Kaplan, who served as music director for Jeopardy!, died.
2003: Tournament top prize increased to $250,000
In 2003, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions increased to $250,000.
2003: Five-Day Limit Eliminated
On September 8, 2003, Jeopardy! eliminated the five-day limit for contestants.
2003: Five-Time Champion Rule Before 2003
Prior to 2003, if two or all three contestants tied for first place on Jeopardy!, they were declared "co-champions", and each retained his or her winnings and returned on the following episode, unless one was a five-time champion who retired.
2003: Seeding Rules Change
Since the removal of the five-game limit in 2003 on Jeopardy!, 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 ended
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' Jeopardy! winning streak ended after 74 matches, when he was defeated by Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. He amassed $2,522,700 over his 75 episodes.
2004: Episodes aired between 1989 and 2004
Between 1989 and 2004, copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes have been collected by the UCLA Archive.
2004: Kevin Mitnick Wins Hacker Jeopardy
In 2004, Kevin Mitnick won the 'Hacker Jeopardy' variant at the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas.
2004: Presenting Sponsor Provides Cash Prizes
Since 2004, a presenting sponsor has provided cash prizes to the losing contestants on Jeopardy!.
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 five curated episodes and three featurettes.
2005: Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, Jeopardy!'s 15-week Ultimate Tournament of Champions featured 145 former champions competing against one another, followed by a three-game final between two winners and Ken Jennings for $2,000,000.
2005: Jennings won second place in Ultimate Tournament
In 2005, Ken Jennings won the second-place prize of $500,000 in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions.
2006: Transition to High-Definition broadcasts
In 2006, Jeopardy! and sister show Wheel of Fortune transitioned to high-definition broadcasts. Slight modifications were made to the existing set.
2006: Categories removed in 2006
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: Monitors discarded in favor of a seamless projection video wall
In 2006, the individual television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were discarded and replaced with a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Ranked #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, a three-way (non-zero) tie for first place occurred on the syndicated version of Jeopardy! hosted by Trebek, with Scott Weiss, Jamey Kirby, and Anders Martinson all ending the game with $16,000.
2008: Jeopardy! music package rearranged 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 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.
2009: Jeopardy! set updated again
In 2009, Jeopardy! updated its set once again. The new set debuted with special episodes taped at the 42nd annual International CES technology trade show.
2009: Andy Richter Wins 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 his selected charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2009: "Think!" named "Best Game Show Theme Song"
In 2009, the Jeopardy! theme song "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song" during GSN's Game Show Awards special.
2009: Seamless projection video wall replaced with flat-panel monitors
In 2009, the nearly seamless projection video wall on the Jeopardy! game board was replaced with 36 high-definition flat-panel monitors manufactured by Sony Electronics.
2010: New set became primary set for Jeopardy!
In 2010, the new set that debuted at the CES technology trade show became the primary set for Jeopardy! with the start of the 2009-2010 season.
2010: Roger Craig held record since 2010
Roger Craig held the single-day winnings record of $77,000 since 2010, before James Holzhauer surpassed it in 2019.
February 2011: IBM Challenge
In February 2011, the IBM Challenge aired, featuring IBM's Watson computer facing off against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in a two-game match played over three shows. Watson won both the first game and the overall match to win the grand prize of $1 million.
June 17, 2011: Lifetime Achievement Award
On June 17, 2011, Trebek shared the Lifetime Achievement Award with Sajak at the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony.
July 2011: Jeopardy! Premier Club Discontinued
The Jeopardy! Premier Club, launched in November 2009, was discontinued by July 2011.
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.
2011: Jennings won 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 its 2012 "Readers Choice Awards", About.com praised the official Jeopardy! website for featuring "everything [visitors] need to know about the show, as well as some fun interactive elements", and for having a humorous error page.
2013: Flaw Discovered After Teen Tournament
After the 2013 Teen Tournament on Jeopardy!, show officials discovered a flaw in the semifinal format because the players are not isolated during the semifinals the way they are during the quarterfinals.
2013: Ranked #1 on TV Guide's list
Also in 2013, Jeopardy! ranked number 1 on TV Guide's list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows.
2013: New Jeopardy! set introduced
In 2013, Jeopardy! introduced another new set.
2013: TV Guide Ranking
In 2013, Jeopardy! was ranked No. 45 on TV Guide's list of the 60 greatest shows in American television history.
2013: Semifinals Rule Change
In the 2013 Teen Tournament of Jeopardy!, the rule to replace the contestant with a wild card in case of a zero score during semifinals was in effect, but after that tournament the rule changed for semifinals and finals.
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, following advice to increase the leader's chances of winning.
November 24, 2014: Tie-Breaker Clue Introduced
Since November 24, 2014, ties for first place in Jeopardy! following Final Jeopardy! are broken with a tie-breaker clue.
2014: Black Jeopardy! Parody on SNL
Beginning in 2014, Saturday Night Live parodied Jeopardy! by way of another recurring sketch, Black Jeopardy!, in which the host and two of the three contestants are stereotypical black Americans, with the third contestant providing a contrast to the others, and the categories and clues likewise reflect black American culture.
2014: 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament
In 2014, Jeopardy! had the 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament.
2014: Jennings won 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: Premiere of Sports Jeopardy!
In 2014, Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version hosted by Dan Patrick, premiered on the Crackle digital service.
2014: Holzhauer appeared on The Chase in 2014
James Holzhauer had a previous game show appearance on The Chase in 2014, where he won over $58,000.
2015: Recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches on SNL
From 1996 to 2002, then on special occasions until 2015, Saturday Night Live featured a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch in which Trebek, portrayed by Will Ferrell, has to deal with the exasperating ineptitude of the show's celebrity guests and the constant taunts of antagonists Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds.
2015: Stephanie Hull Sets Low Score
In 2015, Stephanie Hull set a low Jeopardy! score of -$6,800. Hull's episode also featured a rare Final Jeopardy! with one contestant.
2016: Sports Jeopardy! moved 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 Regular Game Ended in a Tie-Breaker
Until March 1, 2018, no regular game of Jeopardy! had ended in a tie-breaker.
March 2019: Taping schedule slowed down due to Alex Trebek's health issues
In March 2019, the taping schedule for Jeopardy! slowed down due to Alex Trebek's health issues. Some weeks had three episodes taped in a single day, while others had only two.
April 9, 2019: Holzhauer surpassed the record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer surpassed the single-day winnings record of $77,000, held since 2010 by Roger Craig, when he earned $110,914 on that episode.
April 15, 2019: Holzhauer moved into second place
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings (behind Jennings) and third place for all Jeopardy!-related winnings (behind Rutter and Jennings).
April 17, 2019: Holzhauer pushed his own record
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer pushed his own single-day winnings record to $131,127 by amassing $71,114 over the episode's first two rounds, then successfully wagering an additional $60,013 in Final Jeopardy!
April 23, 2019: Holzhauer became third Jeopardy! millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer joined Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings as the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire.
June 3, 2019: Holzhauer defeated on June 3, 2019
James Holzhauer was defeated on the June 3, 2019, episode of Jeopardy!, finishing in second place with Jeopardy! winnings totaling $2,464,216.
June 2019: Holzhauer's Strategy
During his winning streak between April and June 2019, James Holzhauer regularly used a strategy of playing all of the higher-valued clues first on Jeopardy!.
August 1, 2019: Harry Friedman's Retirement Announced
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: Jennings won a 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 Jeopardy! champions each. Brad Rutter, David Madden and Larissa Kelly won the tournament.
2019: Last episodes of the season taped without an audience
In 2019, the last episodes of the 2019–2020 season were taped without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2020: Taping halted due to COVID-19 pandemic
In March 2020, Jeopardy! taping halted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: New episodes to air until June 12, 2020
In May 2020, Sony announced that new episodes of Jeopardy! would air until June 12, 2020, including the Teachers Tournament.
June 12, 2020: Airing of new episodes
In June 12, 2020, Sony aired the last of the new episodes, which included the Teachers Tournament
July 2020: Jeopardy! began 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 resumed with new safety measures
In August 2020, Jeopardy! production resumed with new safety measures in place, including expanded lecterns, limited staff on stage, personal protective equipment, regular testing, and social distancing.
November 9, 2020: Tribute to Alex Trebek
On November 9, 2020, the first episode to air after Alex Trebek's death featured a tribute by executive producer Mike Richards. The lights on the Jeopardy! set slowly dimmed, and a dedication screen was added to the end of the credits for the remainder of the season.
November 2020: Alex Trebek's Death
In November 2020, Alex Trebek, the long-time host of Jeopardy!, passed away.
November 30, 2020: Ken Jennings Took Over Hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings took over hosting of Jeopardy! after the death of Alex Trebek. His six weeks of episodes aired between January 11 and February 19, 2021.
December 21, 2020: Postponement of Alex Trebek's Final Week
To compensate for concerns over preemptions caused by holiday week specials and sports, on December 21, 2020, the air dates of Alex Trebek's final week of episodes, scheduled for the week of December 21-25, were postponed to January 4-8, 2021. Reruns of episodes in which he recorded clues on location were shown from December 21, 2020, to January 1, 2021.
December 25, 2020: Posthumous Airdates
Following Trebek's death, pre-taped episodes continued 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 in four two-game matches for a $1,000,000 prize, with Jennings as the victor.
2020: Jennings won 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: Modifications to the Jeopardy! set due to COVID-19
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.
January 1, 2021: Reruns of episodes with Alex Trebek
On January 1, 2021, reruns of episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location were shown as part of a series of reruns that began December 21, 2020, leading up to the airing of his final episodes.
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 36+ year tenure.
January 11, 2021: First episode with an interim host aired
The first episode of Jeopardy! with an interim host aired on January 11, 2021.
July 28, 2021: Patrick Pierce Achieves Low Score
On July 28, 2021, during an episode hosted by LeVar Burton, Patrick Pierce finished with a total of -$7,400 on Jeopardy!
August 11, 2021: Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik Announced as Hosts
On August 11, 2021, it was announced that Mike Richards would succeed Alex Trebek as host of the daily Jeopardy! show, and Mayim Bialik would host Jeopardy! primetime specials and spin-offs.
August 2021: Stage 10 Renamed The Alex Trebek Stage
In August 2021, as episodes for the 38th season began taping, Stage 10 at Sony Pictures Studios was dedicated in Alex Trebek's honor and renamed "The Alex Trebek Stage".
August 31, 2021: Mike Richards Fired as Executive Producer
On August 31, 2021, after resigning as host earlier in the month, Mike Richards was fired from his executive producer position at both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune due to continued internal turmoil.
September 2021: Mike Richards Initially Assumes Hosting Role
In September 2021, Mike Richards initially assumed the position of permanent host for Jeopardy!, but relinquished the role within a week.
September 2021: Mike Richards's Episodes Aired
In September 2021, Mike Richards's five episodes as host of Jeopardy! aired following his resignation after taping only one week of episodes.
2021: Amy Schneider's Winning Streak Begins
In 2021, Amy Schneider began a Jeopardy! winning streak, ultimately earning $1,382,800 in 40 episodes between 2021 and 2022. Schneider is currently ranked second all-time in consecutive games won.
2021: Fully synthesized theme used since 2021
In 2021, Jeopardy! began using a fully synthesized version of the main theme composed by Bleeding Fingers Music, based on the 2008 arrangement.
2021: Matt Amodio surpassed Holzhauer in 2021
Matt Amodio surpassed James Holzhauer in 2021 for consecutive games won.
2021: Tie-Breaker Rule Update
Since 2021, in Jeopardy!, if there is a tie for the contestant with the lowest score, the contestant with the last correct question among the tied players selects first.
March 30, 2022: Release of "test episode" to the public
On March 30, 2022, the "test episode" of Jeopardy!, of which only limited clips had been released, was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the show's debut.
April 14, 2022: Michael Davies Becomes Permanent Executive Producer
On April 14, 2022, Michael Davies became the permanent executive producer of Jeopardy! after serving as interim executive producer.
May 2022: Mattea Roach's Winning Streak
In May 2022, Mattea Roach's winning streak on Jeopardy! earned $560,983 over 23 games. Roach became the most successful Canadian contestant on the program, ranking fifth for consecutive games won and sixth for regular play Jeopardy! winnings.
July 2022: Vintage episodes to air on Pluto TV
In July 2022, Vulture reported that vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version 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 for season 39
On September 12, 2022, the live studio audience fully returned for season 39 of Jeopardy!.
September 2022: Premiere of Celebrity Jeopardy!
In September 2022, the new celebrity edition of Jeopardy! premiered.
2022: Amy Schneider surpassed Holzhauer in 2022
Amy Schneider surpassed James Holzhauer in 2022 for consecutive games won.
2022: Wheel of Fortune puzzle board upgraded
In 2022, the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board was upgraded.
2022: Tournament of Champions Tie-Breaker
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2022 Tournament of Champions on Jeopardy!, 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 of arrangement in hosting duties.
January 2023: Renewal of Jeopardy! through the 2027-2028 season
In January 2023, the most recent renewal of Jeopardy! extends it through the 2027-2028 season.
May 2023: Bialik Steps Down in Support of WGA Strike
In May 2023, Mayim Bialik opted not to host the final episodes of the Jeopardy! season in support of writers during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, with Ken Jennings stepping in to host the remaining episodes.
August 2023: Consolation Prizes Increased
Starting in Season 40, in August 2023, Jeopardy!'s consolation prizes were raised to $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place due to inflation.
December 2023: Ken Jennings Becomes Sole Syndicated Host
In December 2023, Ken Jennings became the sole syndicated host of Jeopardy!, succeeding the rotating hosts Mayim Bialik and Jennings.
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, but was still open to having Bialik host the prime time specials.
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 ended
The Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel on Pluto TV ended on July 31, 2024 after a two-year run.
2024: Lowest Score in the Jennings Era
In 2024, Erin Buker set the lowest score in the Jennings era of Jeopardy! with -$7,200.
2024: Premiere of Pop Culture Jeopardy! on Amazon Prime Video
In 2024, Pop Culture Jeopardy! premiered as an exclusive show on Amazon Prime Video, hosted by Colin Jost.
2024: Game board refurbished for season 41
In 2024, the Jeopardy! game board was refurbished for season 41, replacing the individual monitors with a singular electronic screen, similar to the upgraded Wheel of Fortune puzzle board introduced in 2022.
January 13, 2025: Jeopardy! 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. Taping resumed shortly thereafter once the fires were extinguished.
July 25, 2025: Jeopardy! Records Accurate
As of July 25, 2025, 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).
2025: Days with New Returning Champion Record Tied
In 2025, the record for most days with a new returning champion on Jeopardy! was tied with 13, matching the record set in 2002.
2027: Jeopardy! renewal extends through 2027-28 season
In January 2023, the most recent renewal of Jeopardy! extends it through the 2027-28 season.
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