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 provide the correct question that corresponds to the given answer. This format reverses the traditional question-and-answer dynamic of quiz shows, challenging contestants to think critically and quickly to formulate their responses.
July 1941: CBS Television Quiz Debut
In July 1941, "CBS Television Quiz" debuted, using the format of giving contestants the answers and requiring the questions.
May 1942: CBS Television Quiz End
In May 1942, "CBS Television Quiz" ended its run.
1963: Merv Griffin's Account
In 1963, Merv Griffin offered his account of how he created the quiz show, in an Associated Press profile.
March 30, 1964: Original Daytime Jeopardy! Debut
On March 30, 1964, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! debuted on NBC.
1964: Milton Bradley board games based on Jeopardy!
From 1964, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy!.
1964: Art Fleming Begins Hosting
In 1964, Art Fleming began his tenure as the host for all versions of Jeopardy!
1964: Jeopardy! debut
In 1964, Jeopardy! debuted, using "Take Ten", composed by Julann Griffin, as the main theme.
1964: "Test episode" created
In 1964, a "test episode" of Jeopardy! was created.
1967: Episodes from 1967 listed among holdings of UCLA Film and Television Archive
In 1967, various episodes of Jeopardy! were listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1971: Episodes from 1971 listed among holdings of UCLA Film and Television Archive
In 1971, various episodes of Jeopardy! were listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
February 21, 1972: Episode No. 2,000 aired
On February 21, 1972, Episode No. 2,000 of Jeopardy!, which was in color, aired.
1973: Episodes from 1973 listed among holdings of UCLA Film and Television Archive
In 1973, various episodes of Jeopardy! were 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: Show moved out of noontime slot
In 1974, NBC's Vice President of Daytime Programming, Lin Bolen, moved Jeopardy! out of the noontime slot.
1974: Episodes from 1974 listed among holdings of UCLA Film and Television Archive
In 1974, various episodes of Jeopardy! were listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
January 3, 1975: Original Daytime Jeopardy! End
On January 3, 1975, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! ended its run on NBC.
June 1975: Syndicated edition episode exists at Paley Center for Media
In June 1975, an episode of the weekly syndicated edition of Jeopardy! became available at the Paley Center for Media.
September 1975: Nighttime Syndicated Edition End
In September 1975, the nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! ended its run.
1975: Don Pardo Ends Announcer Role
In 1975, Don Pardo concluded his role as the announcer for Jeopardy!
1976: Milton Bradley board games based on Jeopardy!
Until 1976, Milton Bradley continued issuing annual board games based on the original Fleming version of Jeopardy!.
1977: Pilot taped for CBS
In 1977, a Jeopardy! pilot was taped for CBS, and the premiere exists among the Paley Center's holdings.
October 2, 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! premiere
The All-New Jeopardy! premiered on October 2, 1978, featuring significant rule changes.
October 1978: "The All-New Jeopardy!" Revival
In October 1978, "The All-New Jeopardy!" revival began airing on NBC on weekdays.
1978: John Harlan Announced
In 1978, John Harlan became the announcer for the 1978-1979 season of Jeopardy!
March 2, 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! ends
The All-New Jeopardy! ended on March 2, 1979.
March 1979: "The All-New Jeopardy!" End
In March 1979, "The All-New Jeopardy!" ended its run on NBC.
1979: Art Fleming Ends Hosting
In 1979, Art Fleming's tenure as the host for all versions of Jeopardy! ended.
1982: Milton Bradley board games based on Jeopardy!
In 1982, Milton Bradley made one more release of a Jeopardy! board game.
1983: Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy" release
In 1983, Greg Kihn released the song "Jeopardy".
1983: Jay Stewart Announcer in Pilot
In 1983, Jay Stewart served as the announcer in the daily syndicated version's first Jeopardy! pilot.
September 10, 1984: Modern Syndicated Jeopardy! Premiere
On September 10, 1984, the syndicated show familiar to modern viewers premiered, aired daily by Sony Pictures Television.
1984: Vacation Packages and Merchandise
From 1984, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise.
1984: Ring-In Rule Pre-Change
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 the single "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's song "Jeopardy".
1984: Alex Trebek and Johnny Gilbert Join
In 1984, Alex Trebek started as host and Johnny Gilbert as announcer for the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!
1984: Schneider Returns as Director
In 1984, Dick Schneider, who directed episodes of The All-New Jeopardy!, returned as director.
1984: 1984 Series Clue Values
In 1984, The syndicated version of Jeopardy! clue values originally ranged from $100 to $500 in Jeopardy! and $200 to $1,000 in Double Jeopardy!.
1984: Trebek version premiere
In 1984, the Trebek version of Jeopardy! premiered, featuring a game board that used individual television monitors for each clue within categories.
1984: Tournament prize awarded in the returning series
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 contestant exam
Since 1984, prospective Jeopardy! contestants begin with a written exam comprising 50 questions.
1984: Syndicated version debut
Since the syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted in 1984, a rendition of the tune "Think!" has been used as the main theme song.
September 1985: Ring-In Rule Change
Since September 1985, contestants are required to wait until the clue is read before ringing in. Lights were added to the game board to signify when it is permissible for contestants to signal.
1985: Set color design
From 1985, the Jeopardy! 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 Debut
In 1985, Chuck Forrest first used the "Forrest Bounce" strategy, which involves randomly picking clues to confuse opponents.
1985: Production Moves to Hollywood Center Studios
In 1985, Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Hollywood Center Studios' Stage 1.
1985: Joan Kantor's record lowest score
In 1985, Joan Kantor set a record lowest Jeopardy! score of -$5,100 during Season 1.
1985: Tournament of Champions Format
Since the first Tournament of Champions in 1985, the format involves quarterfinal games, followed by semifinals, and a two-game final match where scores are combined to determine overall standings.
1987: Trebek Hosts Classic Concentration
In 1987, Alex Trebek began hosting NBC's Classic Concentration and handed producer duties for Jeopardy! to George Vosburgh.
1987: Jeopardy! video game release
In 1987, a Jeopardy! video game was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, marking the beginning of adaptations into video games across multiple platforms.
1989: UCLA Archive collected episodes aired between 1989 and 2004
Between 1989 and 2004, the UCLA Archive collected copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes.
1989: Art Fleming expressed dissatisfaction with the syndicated Jeopardy! series
In 1989, original host Art Fleming expressed dissatisfaction with the daily syndicated Jeopardy! series in an essay published in Sports Illustrated, criticizing its Hollywood setting and other changes.
1990: Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC
In 1990, Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC, featuring 35 top contestants competing for a top prize of $250,000.
1991: New set design
In 1991, Jeopardy! introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Monitor upgrade
In 1991, the television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: No Positive Score in Seniors Tournament
In the 1991 Seniors Tournament quarterfinal, none of the contestants ended with a positive score, resulting in an additional wild card contestant advancing.
1992: Schneider Succeeded by McCarthy
In 1992, Dick Schneider was succeeded by his associate director, Kevin McCarthy, as director of Jeopardy!.
1992: White Men Can't Jump film
In 1992, the film White Men Can't Jump featured a subplot about a character competing 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 held
In 1993, the Tenth Anniversary Tournament was held.
1993: TV Guide named Jeopardy! the 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: Press called Jeopardy! an "American icon"
By 1994, the press called Jeopardy! "an American icon".
1994: GSN launched and began rerunning episodes
In 1994, GSN launched and began rerunning episodes of Jeopardy!.
1994: Production Moves to Sony Pictures Studios
In 1994, the Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Sony Pictures Studios' Stage 10 in Culver City, California.
1994: Production moves to 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, resembling the foyer of a contemporary library.
1996: Saturday Night Live Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch
In 1996, Saturday Night Live introduced a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch, featuring Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek.
1996: First International Tournament held
In 1996, the first International Tournament was held, featuring one-week competitions among champions from each of the international versions of Jeopardy! The top prize was $25,000.
April 1, 1997: April Fool's Day Host Switch
On April 1, 1997, Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak, the host of Wheel of Fortune, 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: Friedman, Finneran, and Schmidt Succeed Vosburgh
In 1997, Harry Friedman, Lisa Finneran, and Rocky Schmidt succeeded George Vosburgh as producers of Jeopardy!.
1997: Theme music rearranged
In 1997, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan.
1997: Second International Tournament held and recorded in Stockholm
In 1997, the second International Tournament was held. The 1997 tournament was recorded in Stockholm on the set of the Swedish version of Jeopardy! The top prize was $25,000.
1998: Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debut
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debuted on VH1 in 1998.
1998: "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" introduced
Since 1998, a Winnebago recreational vehicle dubbed the "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" travels to conduct regional contestant search events.
1998: Jeopardy! official website launch
The official Jeopardy! website was active as early as 1998.
1999: Friedman Becomes Executive Producer
In 1999, Harry Friedman became the executive producer of Jeopardy!, and Gary Johnson became a producer.
1999: Jep! aired
Jep!, a children's version of Jeopardy!, aired on GSN during the 1998-1999 season.
December 31, 1999: The All-New Jeopardy! finale aired on GSN
On December 31, 1999, GSN aired The All-New Jeopardy!'s finale as part of its "Y2Play" marathon.
2000: Brad Rutter won prize over five regular Jeopardy! episodes
In 2000, Brad Rutter won the $55,102 prize over five regular Jeopardy! episodes, also including the value of two cars won, worth $45,000.
2000: Griffin Retires
In 2000, Griffin retired as the executive producer of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!.
January 2001: TV Guide ranked Jeopardy! number 2 on "50 Greatest Game Shows" list
In January 2001, TV Guide 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.
September 24, 2001: Jeopardy! Clue Crew Introduction
On September 24, 2001, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was introduced, featuring roving correspondents in videos 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: Brad Rutter won the Tournament of Champions
In 2001, Brad Rutter won the $100,000 first-place prize in the Tournament of Champions.
2001: Theme music rearranged again
In 2001, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged again by Steve Kaplan.
2001: Third International Tournament held
In 2001, the third International Tournament was held, featuring champions from international versions of Jeopardy! The top prize was $50,000.
May 16, 2002: Cash Consolation Prizes Awarded
Since May 16, 2002, Jeopardy! non-winners receive consolation prizes awarded in cash— originally $2,000 for second-place contestants and $1,000 for third-place contestants.
2002: Brad Rutter won the Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the $1 million first-place prize in the Million Dollar Masters Tournament.
2002: Million Dollar Masters tournament held
In 2002, the Million Dollar Masters tournament took place at Radio City Music Hall.
2002: Record of 13 Days
In 2002, the record for most days with a new returning champion is 13.
2002: Saturday Night Live Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch continues
Until 2002, Saturday Night Live continued to air a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch.
2002: Non-Winners Receive Cash
Until 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise, but starting from 2002 cash prizes were awarded.
September 8, 2003: Five-Day Limit Elimination
On September 8, 2003, the five-day limit for contestants was eliminated.
December 2003: Death of Steve Kaplan
Steve Kaplan, music director for Jeopardy!, passed away in December 2003.
2003: Tournament prize increased to $250,000
In 2003, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions was increased to $250,000.
2003: Five-Game Limit Removal
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.
2003: Co-Champions Eliminated
Until 2003 if two or all three contestants tied for first place, they were declared "co-champions", and each retained his or her winnings and returned on the following episode.
November 30, 2004: Ken Jennings' winning streak ended
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' Jeopardy! winning streak ended after 74 matches, being defeated by Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. He amassed $2,522,700 over his 75 episodes.
2004: UCLA Archive collected episodes aired between 1989 and 2004
Between 1989 and 2004, the UCLA Archive collected copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes.
2004: Kevin Mitnick wins Hacker Jeopardy
In 2004, Kevin Mitnick won the 'Hacker Jeopardy' competition at the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas.
2004: Sofia Lidskog Leaves Clue Crew
In 2004, Sofia Lidskog left the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
2004: Cash Prizes Sponsored
Since 2004, 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 a DVD titled Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show, featuring curated episodes and featurettes.
2005: Cannon and Miyahara Join Clue Crew
In 2005, Jon Cannon and Kelly Miyahara joined the Jeopardy! Clue Crew, replacing Sofia Lidskog.
2005: Ken Jennings won the second-place prize in the 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 held
In 2005, the 15-week Ultimate Tournament of Champions was held, featuring 145 former champions competing for a $2,000,000 prize.
2006: Dittmann and Schneider Become Producers
In 2006, Deb Dittmann and Brett Schneider became producers for Jeopardy!, while Finneran, Schmidt, and Johnson were promoted to supervising producers.
2006: Transition to high-definition broadcasts
In 2006, Jeopardy! and sister show Wheel of Fortune transitioned to high-definition broadcasts, with slight modifications to the set.
2006: Video wall introduction
In 2006, Jeopardy! discarded the television monitors in favor of a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Outstanding Direction and Special Class Writing categories removed
In 2006, the Daytime Emmy Awards categories of Outstanding Direction for a Game/Audience Participation Show and Outstanding Special Class Writing were removed.
2006: Jeopardy! ranked number 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, the syndicated version hosted by Trebek had a three-way (non-zero) tie for first place, with Scott Weiss, Jamey Kirby, and Anders Martinson all ending the game with $16,000.
2007: CBS Media Ventures Absorbs King World Productions
In 2007, CBS Media Ventures absorbed King World Productions, gaining the rights to distribute Jeopardy! worldwide.
October 2008: Cheryl Farrell Leaves Clue Crew
In October 2008, Cheryl Farrell recorded clues for the last time as a member of the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
2008: Jeopardy! music package rearranged
In 2008, the Jeopardy! music package was rearranged again by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design.
July 2009: Jon Cannon Leaves Clue Crew
In July 2009, Jon Cannon left the Jeopardy! Clue Crew.
November 2009: Jeopardy! Premier Club launch
In November 2009, Jeopardy! launched a viewer loyalty program called the "Jeopardy! Premier Club".
2009: Set update and CES episodes
In 2009, Jeopardy! updated its set, debuting the new set with special episodes taped at the 42nd annual International CES technology trade show.
2009: "Best Game Show Theme Song" award
In 2009, Jeopardy!'s "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song" during GSN's Game Show Awards special.
2009: Andy Richter's Celebrity Jeopardy! winnings
In 2009, during the "Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational" of Celebrity Jeopardy!, comedian Andy Richter achieved the highest single-day winnings, finishing with $68,000 for his selected charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2009: High-definition monitors introduced
In 2009, the projection video wall on Jeopardy! was replaced with 36 high-definition flat-panel monitors manufactured by Sony Electronics.
2010: New set becomes primary
In 2010, the new Jeopardy! set became the primary set for the show with the start of the 2009-2010 season.
2010: Roger Craig held single-day winnings record
Since 2010, Roger Craig held the single-day Jeopardy! winnings record of $77,000, until it was surpassed by James Holzhauer in 2019.
February 2011: The IBM Challenge aired
In February 2011, The IBM Challenge aired, featuring IBM's Watson computer facing off against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Watson won the match and the grand prize of $1 million.
June 17, 2011: Trebek shared Lifetime Achievement Award with Sajak
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: Jeopardy! 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 the show's Emmy Awards, retired set pieces, and memorabilia.
2011: Johnson Leaves Show
In 2011, Gary Johnson left the Jeopardy! production team.
2011: Ken Jennings won the second-place prize in the IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings won the $300,000 second-place prize in the IBM Challenge.
2012: About.com praises Jeopardy! website
In 2012, About.com praised the official Jeopardy! website in its "Readers Choice Awards".
2013: Rule Change After 2013 Teen Tournament
After the 2013 Teen Tournament, Jeopardy! implemented a new rule that semifinal games, like the two-game finals, must have a winner.
2013: Another new set introduction
In 2013, Jeopardy! introduced another new set.
2013: Jeopardy! ranked number 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: No Positive Score in Teen Tournament
In the 2013 Teen Tournament semifinal, none of the contestants ended with a positive score, and the rule was in effect during the semifinals.
January 29, 2014: Arthur Chu's Tie Wager
On the January 29, 2014, episode, Arthur Chu wagered to tie challenger Carolyn Collins rather than winning, following Jeopardy! College Champion Keith Williams's advice to wager for the tie to increase the leader's chances of winning.
November 24, 2014: Tie-Breaker Clue Introduced
Since November 24, 2014, 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, winning over $58,000.
2014: Ken Jennings won the second-place prize in the Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings won the $123,600 second-place prize in the Battle of the Decades.
2014: Saturday Night Live Black Jeopardy! sketch
In 2014, Saturday Night Live introduced another recurring sketch, Black Jeopardy!, parodying Jeopardy!.
2014: 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament held
In 2014, the 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament was held.
2014: Sports Jeopardy! premiere
Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version, premiered in 2014 on the Crackle digital service.
2015: Stephanie Hull's low score
In 2015, Stephanie Hull set a low score of -$6,800, and her episode was also notable for featuring a rare Final Jeopardy with one contestant.
2015: Saturday Night Live Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch ends
Until 2015, Saturday Night Live aired the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch on special occasions.
2016: Sports Jeopardy! move 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! episode with the lowest amount possible, at $1.
March 1, 2018: First Tie-Breaker
Until March 1, 2018, no regular game had ended in a tie-breaker.
2018: McCarthy Retires
In 2018, Kevin McCarthy retired as director of Jeopardy!.
March 2019: Alex Trebek's health issues
In March 2019, taping of Jeopardy! slowed down due to Alex Trebek's health issues, leading to an altered taping schedule with some weeks having three episodes taped in a single day, and some having two episodes taped in a single day.
April 9, 2019: James Holzhauer surpassed single-day winnings record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer earned $110,914 on Jeopardy!, surpassing the previous single-day winnings record of $77,000 held by Roger Craig since 2010.
April 15, 2019: James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings on Jeopardy! behind Ken Jennings and third place for all Jeopardy!-related winnings.
April 17, 2019: James Holzhauer set a new record for single-day winnings
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer pushed his own single-day Jeopardy! record to $131,127.
April 23, 2019: James Holzhauer became the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer became the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire, joining Rutter and Jennings.
June 3, 2019: James Holzhauer was 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 a strategy to play all of the higher-valued clues first to build up a substantial lead.
August 1, 2019: Friedman to Retire
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: Kelly 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: Ken Jennings won a prize in the 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 were held
In 2019, The All-Star Games had six teams with three former champions each. Rutter, Madden and 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.
March 2020: Taping halted due to COVID-19
In March 2020, Jeopardy! taping halted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: New episodes to air until June 12
In May 2020, Sony announced new Jeopardy! episodes would air until June 12, 2020, including the Teachers Tournament.
June 12, 2020: New episodes air until June 12
In May 2020, Sony announced new Jeopardy! episodes would air until June 12, 2020, including the Teachers Tournament.
July 2020: Classic episodes rerun
In July 2020, Jeopardy! began rerunning a package of 20 classic episodes.
August 2020: Production resumed with safety measures
In August 2020, Jeopardy! production resumed with new safety measures in place, including expanded lecterns and social distancing.
October 29, 2020: Trebek tapes his last episode
On October 29, 2020, Alex Trebek taped what would be his last episode of Jeopardy!, intended to air on Christmas Day.
November 8, 2020: Alex Trebek's Death
On November 8, 2020, Alex Trebek passed away. Rehearsals for Ken Jennings's interim hosting role were canceled after the announcement.
November 9, 2020: First Episode after Trebek's Death Airs
On November 9, 2020, the first episode of Jeopardy! aired after Alex Trebek's passing, featuring a tribute by executive producer Mike Richards and a dedication screen at the end of the credits.
November 2020: Alex Trebek's Death
In November 2020, Alex Trebek, the long-time host of Jeopardy!, passed away.
November 30, 2020: Ken Jennings Takes Over Hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings began his run as guest host of Jeopardy! after production resumed.
December 21, 2020: Reruns of episodes with Trebek on location
Starting December 21, 2020, reruns of Jeopardy! episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location were shown to compensate for holiday week pre-emptions.
December 25, 2020: Posthumous airing of episodes
Following Alex Trebek's death, an announcement noted that pre-taped Jeopardy! episodes were to air posthumously until December 25, 2020.
2020: Greatest of All Time tournament aired on ABC
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, with Jennings as the victor.
2020: Ken Jennings won the 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 Replaced Friedman
In 2020, Mike Richards replaced Harry Friedman as executive producer of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
2020: Set modifications due to COVID-19
In 2020, the Jeopardy! set underwent modifications, with a wider studio without an audience and new lecterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Tie-Breaker Used in 2020 GOAT Tournament
In the 2020 Greatest of All Time tournament, the tie-breaker would be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game and either advance to the next round or receive the point towards winning the tournament.
January 1, 2021: Reruns of episodes with Trebek on location end
On January 1, 2021, the reruns of Jeopardy! episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location ended.
January 8, 2021: Alex Trebek's Last Episode
On January 8, 2021, Alex Trebek's last episode of Jeopardy! aired after over 36 years 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's Hosting Stint Ends
On February 19, 2021, Ken Jennings's 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 finished with a total of -$7,400.
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 primetime specials and spin-offs.
August 2021: Stage 10 Dedicated to Trebek
In August 2021, Stage 10 at Sony Pictures Studios was dedicated in Alex Trebek's honor and renamed "The Alex Trebek Stage."
August 31, 2021: Richards Fired as Executive Producer
On August 31, 2021, SPT fired Mike Richards from his executive producer position at both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
September 2021: Mike Richards Assumes and Relinquishes Hosting Role
In September 2021, Mike Richards initially assumed the position of permanent host but relinquished the role within a week.
September 2021: Richards's Episodes Air
In September 2021, Mike Richards's five episodes as host of Jeopardy! aired after his resignation.
2021: Amy Schneider's Regular Series Winnings
In 2021, Amy Schneider began a run on Jeopardy! where she would earn $1,382,800 in regular series winnings over 40 episodes by 2022. Schneider became the record-holder among women for regular series winnings.
2021: Matt Amodio surpassed Holzhauer in consecutive games won
In 2021, Matt Amodio surpassed Holzhauer in consecutive Jeopardy! games won.
2021: Synthesized version of theme
Since 2021, Jeopardy! uses a fully synthesized version of the main theme, which is based on the 2008 arrangement, and was composed by Bleeding Fingers Music.
2021: Tie-Breaker Selection Rule
Since 2021, in the event of a tie for the lowest score, the contestant with the last correct question selects the first clue in Double Jeopardy! round.
March 30, 2022: 1964 "test episode" released on YouTube
On March 30, 2022, the 1964 "test episode" of Jeopardy! was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account to celebrate the show's 58th anniversary. An audiotape from the first aired episode was also released.
April 14, 2022: Davies Becomes Permanent Executive Producer
On April 14, 2022, Michael Davies became the permanent executive producer of Jeopardy!.
May 2022: Mattea Roach's Winning Streak
In May 2022, Mattea Roach's Jeopardy! winning streak concluded after earning $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: Bialik and Jennings Announced as Co-Hosts
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings would return as co-hosts of Jeopardy! syndicated version.
July 2022: Vintage episodes to air on Pluto TV
In July 2022, it was reported that vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! would air on a dedicated channel on Pluto TV starting in August.
September 12, 2022: Live studio audience returns
On September 12, 2022, the live studio audience fully returned to Jeopardy! for season 39, after being absent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2022: Clue Crew Eliminated
In September 2022, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was eliminated beginning with the 39th season.
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 the categories and clues.
2022: Amy Schneider surpassed Holzhauer in consecutive games won
In 2022, Amy Schneider surpassed Holzhauer in consecutive Jeopardy! games won.
2022: Jacobsen Succeeded by Norman
In 2022, Clay Jacobsen was succeeded by Russell Norman as director near the end of Season 38 of Jeopardy!
2022: Foss Takes Over Producer Duties
In 2022, Sarah Whitcomb Foss took over all producer duties for Jeopardy! following the Clue Crew's disbanding.
2022: Wheel of Fortune puzzle board upgrade
In 2022, the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board was upgraded.
2022: Tie-Breaker Used in 2022 Tournament of Champions
In the 2022 Tournament of Champions, the tie-breaker would be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game and either advance to the next round or receive the point towards winning the tournament.
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 hosting arrangement.
January 2023: Renewal through 2027-28 season
In January 2023, Jeopardy! was renewed through the 2027-28 season.
May 2023: Bialik Supports Writers Strike
In May 2023, Mayim Bialik opted not to host the final episodes of the Jeopardy! season in support of the Writers Guild of America strike, and Jennings stepped in to host.
August 2023: Consolation Prize Increase
Starting in Season 40, as of August 2023, Jeopardy! consolation prizes were raised $1,000 each to $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third, due to inflation.
December 2023: Jennings Becomes Sole Syndicated Host
In December 2023, Ken Jennings became the sole syndicated host of Jeopardy! after sharing the role with Mayim Bialik.
December 2023: Jennings Named Sole Host
In December 2023, Sony announced that Ken Jennings would remain the sole host of the syndicated series of Jeopardy! permanently, while remaining open to Bialik hosting 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 Pluto TV channel ended
The Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel on Pluto TV ended its two-year run on July 31, 2024.
September 2024: Bialik teases a potential return
In September 2024, Bialik would later tease a potential return to the series
2024: Erin Buker's low score
In 2024, Erin Buker set a low 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 refurbishment
In 2024, for season 41, the Jeopardy! game board was refurbished, replacing the individual monitors board with a singular electronic screen, similar to the upgraded Wheel of Fortune puzzle board introduced in 2022.
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 the Southern California wildfires. Taping resumed shortly thereafter.
January 2025: Executive producer talks about hosts
In January 2025, executive producer Michael Davies told Rolling Stone that Mayim elected not to cross the picket line during the [SAG-AFTRA] strike, and as Ken got more reps, he got better and he earned the job."
July 25, 2025: Jeopardy! Records Update
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: Record of 13 Days Tied
In 2025, the record for most days with a new returning champion of 13 was tied.
2027: Season renewal
Jeopardy! was extended through the 2027-28 season in January 2023.
Mentioned in this timeline
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