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. Contestants must then formulate their responses in the form of a question that correctly identifies the person, place, thing, or idea described by the clue. This reverse question-and-answer format is a defining characteristic of the show.
1 day ago : Jeopardy! Fans React to Contestant's Surprising Familial Link to Final Clue.
A Jeopardy! contestant's win sparked debate after a familial connection to the final Jeopardy! clue was revealed. The coincidence has divided fans, with some calling it unfair.
July 1941: CBS Television Quiz
Starting in July 1941, the format of giving contestants the answers and requiring the questions was used by CBS Television Quiz.
1963: Merv Griffin's Account
In a 1963 Associated Press profile released shortly before the original Jeopardy! series premiered, Merv Griffin offered the following account of how he created the 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 Board Game Release
From 1964, Milton Bradley released annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1964: Original Series
From the original NBC daytime version, archived episodes mostly consist of black-and-white kinescopes of the original color videotapes. Various episodes from 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1964: Art Fleming Hosting Debut
In 1964, Art Fleming began his tenure as the host for all versions of Jeopardy!
1964: Jeopardy! Theme Music Debut
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.
1967: Original Series
From the original NBC daytime version, archived episodes mostly consist of black-and-white kinescopes of the original color videotapes. Various episodes from 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1971: Original Series
From the original NBC daytime version, archived episodes mostly consist of black-and-white kinescopes of the original color videotapes. Various episodes from 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974 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: Original Series
From the original NBC daytime version, archived episodes mostly consist of black-and-white kinescopes of the original color videotapes. Various episodes from 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
September 1974: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Airs
In September 1974, a nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired weekly.
1974: Original Series
From the original NBC daytime version, archived episodes mostly consist of black-and-white kinescopes of the original color videotapes. Various episodes from 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1974: Show Moved Out of Noontime Slot
In 1974, Lin Bolen, then NBC's Vice President of Daytime Programming, moved Jeopardy! out of the noontime slot, and a syndicated edition of Jeopardy! aired in primetime.
January 3, 1975: Original Daytime Version Finale
January 3, 1975, marked the final airing of the original daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.
June 1975: Syndicated Edition Episode Exists
A June 1975 episode of the weekly syndicated edition of Jeopardy! exists at the Paley Center for Media.
September 1975: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Ends
In September 1975, the nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! concluded its weekly run.
1975: Don Pardo Leaves As Announcer
In 1975, Don Pardo served as the announcer until 1975.
1976: Milton Bradley Board Game Production Ends
From 1964 through 1976, Milton Bradley issued annual board games based on Jeopardy!.
1977: CBS Pilot Taped
The UCLA Archive holds a copy of a Jeopardy! pilot taped for CBS in 1977.
October 2, 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Premieres
On October 2, 1978, the NBC daytime series was revived as The All-New Jeopardy!
October 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Revival
In October 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! revival began airing on NBC on weekdays.
1978: John Harlan Announcer
In 1978, John Harlan announced for the 1978–1979 season.
March 2, 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Ends
On March 2, 1979, The All-New Jeopardy! ended after airing 108 episodes.
March 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Ends
March 1979 marked the end of The All-New Jeopardy! revival on NBC.
1979: Art Fleming's Hosting Ends
In 1979, Art Fleming finished his role as the host for all versions of Jeopardy!
1982: Milton Bradley Board Game Re-release
In 1982, Milton Bradley issued one more board game based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1983: Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy" Release
Greg Kihn's hit song "Jeopardy" was released in 1983. It was later parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic in 1984.
September 10, 1984: Syndicated Show Premiere
On September 10, 1984, the syndicated version of Jeopardy!, familiar to modern viewers, premiered and was aired daily by Sony Pictures Television.
1984: Vacation Packages And Merchandise Prizes
From 1984 to 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise.
1984: Contestants Ring in When Clue Revealed
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 Parody Song
In 1984, "Weird Al" Yankovic released "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's 1983 hit song "Jeopardy".
1984: Alex Trebek Hosting Debut
In 1984, Alex Trebek began hosting the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, with Johnny Gilbert as the announcer.
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 Jeopardy! series clue values originally ranged from $100 to $500 in Jeopardy! and $200 to $1,000 in Double Jeopardy!
1984: Return of Jeopardy! in 1984
In 1984, when the Jeopardy! series returned, the top prize awarded to the winner was originally valued at $100,000.
1984: Trebek Version Premieres
In 1984, when the Trebek version premiered, the game board used individual television monitors for each clue within categories.
1984: Premiere Episode Release
In 2005, a DVD was released featuring the 1984 premiere episode of Jeopardy!.
1984: Daily Syndicated Version Debuts
On September 10, 1984, the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted.
1984: Written Exam for Contestants
Since 1984, prospective Jeopardy! contestants begin with a written exam comprising 50 questions.
1984: "Think!" Becomes Main Theme
Since the syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted in 1984, a rendition of "Think!" has been used as the main theme song.
September 1985: Rule Change for Ringing In
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 to signal.
1985: Set Background Colors
From 1985 to 1997, 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
In 1985, Chuck Forrest first used the "Forrest Bounce" strategy, randomly picking clues to confuse opponents.
1985: Record Lowest Jeopardy! Score
In 1985, Joan Kantor set the record for the lowest Jeopardy! score with -$5,100 during Season 1.
1985: Tournament of Champions Format
The current Tournament of Champions format, featuring quarterfinal, semifinal, and two-game final matches, has been used since the first tournament in 1985 and was devised by Trebek himself.
1987: Nintendo Entertainment System Game Release
In 1987, Jeopardy! was adapted into a video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
1989: Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes
Between 1989 and 2004, 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes were aired. These copies were later collected by the UCLA Archive, and the premiere and various other episodes are included in the Paley Center's collection.
1989: Art Fleming Expresses Dissatisfaction with Jeopardy! Series
In 1989, Art Fleming, the original host of Jeopardy!, expressed his dissatisfaction with the daily syndicated 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 Introduced
In 1991, Jeopardy! introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Larger and Sleeker Monitors
In 1991, the original television monitors on the Jeopardy! game board were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: Additional Wild Card Contestant Advances
In the 1991 Seniors Tournament, due to none of the contestants ending with a positive score, an additional wild card contestant advanced.
1992: McCarthy Succeeds Schneider
In 1992, Kevin McCarthy succeeded Dick Schneider as director of Jeopardy!.
1992: White Men Can't Jump Feature
In the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump, a subplot features a character competing on Jeopardy!.
January 19, 1993: Scott wins a game with $1
On January 19, 1993, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Scott won a Jeopardy! game with only $1.
1993: Tenth Anniversary Tournament
In 1993, the Tenth Anniversary Tournament took place, showcasing top contestants from Jeopardy!'s history.
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 for the magazine's 40th anniversary.
1994: Jeopardy! Called an American Icon
By 1994, Jeopardy! was referred to by the press as "an American icon."
1994: GSN reruns Jeopardy! episodes
In 1994, GSN, an affiliate of Sony Pictures Television like Jeopardy!, began rerunning Jeopardy! episodes since the channel's launch.
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: Set Design by Naomi Slodki
On November 11, 1996, Jeopardy! introduced the first of several sets designed by Naomi Slodki, resembling "the foyer of a very contemporary library, with wood and sandblasted glass and blue granite".
1996: Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketch Debut
In 1996, Saturday Night Live introduced a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch featuring Will Ferrell as Trebek.
1996: First International Tournament
In 1996, the first International Tournament was held, featuring one-week competitions among champions from international versions of Jeopardy!, and the top prize was $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: Salisbury wins a game with $1
On April 30, 1997, Benjamin Salisbury won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with only $1.
1997: End of Set Background Colors
From 1985 to 1997, 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.
1997: Producer Changes
In 1997, Harry Friedman, Lisa Finneran (now known as Lisa Broffman), 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, who served as music director.
1997: Second International Tournament
In 1997, the second International Tournament was held, featuring champions from international versions of Jeopardy!, and the top prize was $25,000. The tournament was recorded in Stockholm.
1998: Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Debuts
In 1998, Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debuted on VH1.
1998: Official Website Launch
Jeopardy!'s official website, active as early as 1998, receives over 400,000 monthly visitors.
1998: "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" Travels
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 Executive Producer
Beginning in 1999, Harry Friedman became executive producer, and Gary Johnson became the third producer.
1999: Jep! Airs
Jep!, a children's version of Jeopardy!, aired on GSN during the 1998–1999 season.
December 31, 1999: All-New Jeopardy! Finale Aired
GSN aired The All-New Jeopardy!'s finale on December 31, 1999, as part of its "Y2Play" marathon.
2000: Rutter's winnings in 2000
In 2000, Brad Rutter won $55,102 over five regular episodes of Jeopardy!, including the value of two cars won, worth $45,000.
2000: Griffin's retirement
In 2000, Griffin retired as the executive producer of the daily syndicated version.
January 2001: Jeopardy! Ranked Number 2 Game Show by TV Guide
In January 2001, TV Guide ranked Jeopardy! number 2 on its "50 Greatest Game Shows" list, only second to The Price Is Right.
February 9, 2001: Chastain wins a game with $1
On February 9, 2001, Brandi Chastain won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with only $1.
September 24, 2001: Introduction of Jeopardy! Clue Crew
On September 24, 2001, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew, a team of roving correspondents narrating some clues in videos, was introduced.
November 26, 2001: Clue Values Increased
On November 26, 2001, the clue values in 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 first-place prize of $100,000 in the Tournament of Champions.
2001: Theme Music Rearranged by Steve Kaplan
In 2001, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue were rearranged by Steve Kaplan, who served as music director until his death.
2001: Third International Tournament
In 2001, the third International Tournament was held, featuring champions from international versions of Jeopardy!, with a top prize of $50,000.
May 16, 2002: Cash Consolation Prizes
Since May 16, 2002, consolation prizes have been awarded in cash—$2,000 for second-place contestants and $1,000 for third-place contestants.
2002: Celebrity Jeopardy! Continued
From 1996 to 2002, Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch remained a recurring feature.
2002: Rutter wins Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the first-place prize of $1 million in the Million Dollar Masters Tournament.
2002: New Set Introduced
In 2002, another new set was introduced for Jeopardy!
2002: Changed To Cash Prizes
In 2002, non-winning contestants began to receive vacation packages and merchandise instead of their winnings.
September 8, 2003: Five-Day Limit Eliminated
On September 8, 2003, the five-day limit for consecutive wins was eliminated.
December 2003: Death of Steve Kaplan
Steve Kaplan, who served as Jeopardy!'s music director until his death in December 2003.
2003: Increase in Tournament Top Prize
In 2003, the top prize for the Tournament of Champions was increased to $250,000.
2003: Five-Game Limit Removed
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: Five-Time Champion Rule Change
Until 2003, five-time champions retired and returned on the following episode.
November 30, 2004: Ken Jennings' Winning Streak Ends
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' record-breaking 74-game winning streak on Jeopardy! came to an end after being defeated by Nancy Zerg.
2004: Kevin Mitnick Wins Hacker Jeopardy
In 2004, Kevin Mitnick won the 'Hacker Jeopardy' variant organized at the DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas.
2004: Cash Prizes Provided by Sponsor
Since 2004, a presenting sponsor has provided cash prizes to the losing contestants.
November 8, 2005: DVD Release
On November 8, 2005, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a DVD titled Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show.
2005: Jennings wins second place 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
In 2005, the Ultimate Tournament of Champions took place, featuring 145 former champions competing for a $2,000,000 prize.
2006: Additional Producers
In 2006, Deb Dittmann and Brett Schneider became producers, while Finneran, Schmidt, and Johnson were promoted to supervising producers.
2006: Transition to High-Definition Broadcasts
In 2006, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune transitioned to high-definition broadcasts with slight set modifications. Virtual tours of the set began to be featured on the official web site.
2006: Projection Video Wall
In 2006, Jeopardy! discarded the television monitors in favor of a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Removal of Emmy Award Categories
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: Jeopardy! Ranked Number 2 Game Show by GSN
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 tie for first place occurred when Scott Weiss, Jamey Kirby, and Anders Martinson all ended the game with $16,000.
October 2008: Cheryl Farrell left the Clue Crew
In October 2008, Cheryl Farrell stopped recording clues for the Clue Crew.
2008: Music Package Rearranged
In 2008, the Jeopardy! music package was rearranged again, this time by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design.
July 2009: Jon Cannon left the Clue Crew
In July 2009, Jon Cannon stopped recording clues for the Clue Crew.
November 2009: Jeopardy! Premier Club Launch
In November 2009, Jeopardy! launched a viewer loyalty program called the "Jeopardy! Premier Club".
2009: "Think!" Named Best Game Show Theme Song
During GSN's 2009 Game Show Awards special, "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song".
2009: Updated Set Debuts at CES
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: Richter Achieves Highest Single-Day Winnings in Celebrity Jeopardy!
In 2009, during a first-round game of 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 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2009: High-Definition Flat-Panel Monitors
In 2009, the projection video wall was replaced with 36 high-definition flat-panel monitors manufactured by Sony Electronics.
2010: New Set Becomes Primary
In 2010, the set that debuted at CES became the primary set for Jeopardy! when the 2009-2010 season began.
2010: Craig Held Single-Day Winnings Record
Roger Craig held the single-day Jeopardy! winnings record of $77,000 since 2010.
February 2011: IBM Challenge
In February 2011, the IBM Challenge aired, featuring IBM's Watson computer competing against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, marking the first man-vs.-machine competition in Jeopardy!'s history. Watson won the match.
June 17, 2011: Trebek Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
On June 17, 2011, Alex Trebek shared the Lifetime Achievement Award with Pat Sajak at the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony.
July 2011: Jeopardy! Premier Club Discontinued
By July 2011, the "Jeopardy! Premier Club" viewer loyalty program 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 other memorabilia.
2011: Gary Johnson Leaves Show
In 2011, Gary Johnson left the show, while other producers remained in their positions.
2011: Jennings wins second place in the IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings won the second-place prize of $300,000 in the IBM Challenge.
2012: 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".
2013: Show Officials Discovered A Flaw
As the players are not isolated during the semifinals the way they are during the quarterfinals, show officials discovered a flaw after the 2013 Teen Tournament, 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: Jeopardy! Ranked Number 1 Game Show by TV Guide
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: Triple Zero Loss
In the semifinals of the 2013 Teen Tournament, no contestant ended with a positive score.
January 29, 2014: Arthur Chu Wagers For A Tie
On the January 29, 2014, episode, Arthur Chu wagered to tie challenger Carolyn Collins rather than 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: Black Jeopardy! Sketch Debut
Beginning in 2014, Saturday Night Live introduced another recurring sketch, Black Jeopardy!, a parody of Jeopardy!.
2014: 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament
In 2014, Jeopardy! celebrated its 30th anniversary with the Battle of the Decades tournament.
2014: Jennings wins second place in the Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings won the second-place prize of $123,600 in the Battle of the Decades.
2014: Sports Jeopardy! Premieres
In 2014, Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version hosted by Dan Patrick, premiered on the Crackle digital service.
2014: Holzhauer Appearance on The Chase
Including over $58,000 from a 2014 appearance on The Chase, with Holzhauer's $2.96 million from Jeopardy!, he is #3 on the list of all-time American game show winnings.
2015: Stephanie Hull's Low Score
In 2015, Stephanie Hull achieved a low score of -$6,800. Her episode also featured a rare Final Jeopardy with only one contestant.
2015: End of Regular Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches
Until 2015, Saturday Night Live featured a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch on special occasions.
2016: Sports Jeopardy! Moves to NBCSN
In 2016, Sports Jeopardy! moved to the cable sports network NBCSN.
October 17, 2017: Abell wins a game with $1
On October 17, 2017, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Manny Abell won a Jeopardy! episode with only $1.
March 1, 2018: First Tie-Breaker
Until March 1, 2018, no regular game had ended in a tie-breaker.
2018: McCarthy's Retirement
In 2018, Kevin McCarthy retired as director and was succeeded by Clay Jacobsen.
March 2019: Taping Slowed
Starting in March 2019, Jeopardy! taping slowed due to Alex Trebek's health issues.
April 9, 2019: Holzhauer surpasses Craig's record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer surpassed Roger Craig's Jeopardy! record by earning $110,914 in a single episode.
April 15, 2019: Holzhauer moved into second place
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings on Jeopardy! behind Ken Jennings.
April 17, 2019: Holzhauer sets new single-day winnings record
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer set a new Jeopardy! single-day winnings record of $131,127.
April 23, 2019: Holzhauer became Jeopardy!-made millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer joined Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings as the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire.
June 3, 2019: Holzhauer was defeated
On June 3, 2019, James Holzhauer was defeated, finishing in second place on Jeopardy!.
June 2019: Holzhauer's Winning Streak
Between April and June 2019, James Holzhauer regularly used the strategy of playing all of the higher-valued clues first.
2019: Jennings wins the All-Star Games
In 2019, Ken Jennings won the All-Star Games as part of a three-player team, taking home $100,000 (one-third of the $300,000 second-place prize).
2019: All-Star Games
In 2019, the Jeopardy! All-Star Games featured six teams with three former champions each, with Rutter, Madden, and Kelly winning the tournament.
2019: Last episodes taped without an audience
In 2019, the last episodes of the 2019-2020 season were also 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: Last New Episodes Air
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, 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 following government guidelines to protect contestants, staff, crew and talent, including expanded lecterns, personal protective equipment, and regular testing.
October 29, 2020: Trebek tapes his last episode
On October 29, 2020, Alex Trebek taped his last episode, 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 for hosting.
November 9, 2020: Tribute to Trebek
On November 9, 2020, the first episode to air after Alex Trebek's death featured 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 passed away after hosting Jeopardy! for over 36 years.
November 30, 2020: Jennings Takes Over Hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings took over hosting duties after production resumed following Alex Trebek's death.
December 21, 2020: Reruns of Alex Trebek's On-Location Clues
From December 21, 2020, to January 1, 2021, reruns of episodes featuring Alex Trebek recording clues on location were shown.
December 25, 2020: Pre-Taped Episodes Air Posthumously Until December 25
Following Trebek's death, an announcement noted that the pre-taped episodes of Jeopardy! were to air posthumously until December 25, 2020.
2020: Tie-Breaker in Greatest Of All Time
During the 2020 Greatest of All Time tournament, the tie-breaker was used regardless of the score being zero or positive.
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 winning.
2020: Jennings wins the Greatest of All Time tournament
In 2020, Ken Jennings won the Greatest of All Time tournament, taking home a $1,000,000 prize.
2020: Set Modifications for 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, to comply with California state regulations imposed when filming resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season early.
January 8, 2021: Alex Trebek's Final Episode
On January 8, 2021, Alex Trebek's last episode of Jeopardy! aired.
January 11, 2021: First Episode with Interim Host Airs
The first Jeopardy! episode with an interim host aired January 11, 2021.
February 19, 2021: End of Jennings' Hosting Stint
February 19, 2021, marked the end of Ken Jennings' six-week stint as host.
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, which was notable as the lowest score during the interregnum period.
August 11, 2021: Richards Named Host
On August 11, 2021, it was announced that Mike Richards would succeed Alex Trebek as the daily show host, and Mayim Bialik would host primetime specials.
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".
September 2021: Mike Richards Briefly Assumes Hosting Role
In September 2021, Mike Richards initially assumed the position of permanent host but relinquished the role within a week.
September 2021: Richards' Episodes Aired
In September 2021, Mike Richards' five episodes as host were aired, following his stepping down due to controversy.
2021: Schneider's winnings on Jeopardy
Between 2021 and 2022, Amy Schneider earned a total of $1,382,800 in 40 episodes on Jeopardy!.
2021: Fully Synthesized Version of Main Theme
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 Rule Change
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 first.
March 30, 2022: Test Episode Released to Public
The 1964 Jeopardy! "test episode" was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account March 30, 2022, to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the show's debut.
April 14, 2022: Davies Named Permanent Executive Producer
On April 14, 2022, Michael Davies became the permanent executive producer of Jeopardy!.
May 2022: Roach won Jeopardy!
In April and May 2022, Mattea Roach's winning streak earned $560,983 over 23 games in Jeopardy!
July 2022: Bialik and Jennings Co-Hosts
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings would return as co-hosts of the syndicated version.
July 2022: Vintage Jeopardy! episodes to air on Pluto TV
In July 2022, it was reported that vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! would begin airing on a dedicated channel on Pluto TV in August.
September 12, 2022: Live Studio Audience Returns
On September 12, 2022, the live studio audience fully returned for season 39 of Jeopardy!
September 2022: Clue Crew Eliminated
Beginning with the 39th season in September 2022, the Clue Crew was eliminated, with Sarah Whitcomb Foss becoming a producer and Jimmy McGuire a stage manager.
September 2022: Premiere of Celebrity Jeopardy!
In September 2022, the new celebrity edition of Jeopardy! premiered, hosted by Mayim Bialik.
2022: 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: Tie-Breaker in 2022 Tournament of Champions
During the 2022 Tournament of Champions, the tie-breaker was used regardless of the score being zero or positive.
2022: Jacobsen Succeeded by Norman
In 2022, Clay Jacobsen was succeeded by Russell Norman as director, though some episodes are directed by Lucinda Owens Margolis.
2022: Foss Takes Over Producer Duties
In 2022, Sarah Whitcomb Foss took over all producer duties following the Clue Crew's disbanding.
2022: Wheel of Fortune Puzzle Board Upgraded
In 2022, Wheel of Fortune upgraded its puzzle board.
January 2023: Jennings to host Jeopardy! Masters
In January 2023, ABC announced Jennings would host a Jeopardy! Masters spinoff, indicating a change of arrangement.
January 2023: Renewal of Syndicated Version
In January 2023, the syndicated version of 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 season in support of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, with Ken Jennings stepping in.
August 2023: Consolation Prizes Raised
Starting in Season 40, as of August 2023, consolation prizes were raised $1,000 each to $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third.
December 2023: Ken 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, after the strike was resolved, Sony announced that Ken Jennings would remain the sole host of the syndicated series permanently.
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
On July 31, 2024, the Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel on Pluto TV ended after a two-year run.
2024: Erin Buker's Low Score
In 2024, Erin Buker set a low score of -$7,200, making it the lowest score in the Jennings era.
2024: Pop Culture Jeopardy! Premieres
In 2024, Pop Culture Jeopardy! premiered as an exclusive show on Amazon Prime Video. Hosted by Colin Jost, it featured three teams of three participating in a single-elimination tournament where the winning team earned a $300,000 grand prize.
2024: Game Board Refurbished
In 2024, the Jeopardy! game board was refurbished for season 41, replacing the individual monitors board with a singular electronic screen, similar to the upgraded Wheel of Fortune puzzle board.
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.
2027: Renewal of Syndicated Version
In January 2023, the syndicated version of Jeopardy! was renewed through the 2027–28 season.
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