History of Jeopardy! in Timeline
Jeopardy! is a popular American quiz show created by Merv Griffin. Unlike typical quiz shows, Jeopardy! presents contestants with clues in the form of answers, to which they must respond with the correct question. The game tests contestants' knowledge across a wide array of topics, demanding both recall and quick thinking in framing their responses as questions.
July 1941: CBS Television Quiz Airs
From July 1941 until May 1942, The format of giving contestants the answers and requiring the questions had previously been used by the Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz.
May 1942: CBS Television Quiz Ends
From July 1941 until May 1942, The format of giving contestants the answers and requiring the questions had previously been used by the Gil Fates-hosted program CBS Television Quiz.
1963: Merv Griffin Creates Jeopardy!
In 1963, Merv Griffin offered an account of how he created Jeopardy! in an Associated Press profile.
March 30, 1964: Original Jeopardy! Debut
On March 30, 1964, the original daytime version of Jeopardy! debuted on NBC.
1964: Art Fleming Hosting Begins
Art Fleming was the original host of Jeopardy! starting in 1964.
1964: Jeopardy! Debut
In 1964, Jeopardy! debuted, marking the beginning of the iconic game show.
1964: Milton Bradley Board Game Release
In 1964, Milton Bradley began releasing annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
1964: Original Jeopardy! Series Premiered
On March 30, 1964, the original Jeopardy! series premiered on NBC.
1967: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1967 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
1971: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1971 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
February 21, 1972: Episode 2000 Aired
On February 21, 1972, Episode number 2000 aired.
1973: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1973 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
September 1974: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Airs
In September 1974, a nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! began airing weekly.
1974: Show Moved Out of Noontime Slot
In 1974, Jeopardy! was moved out of its noontime slot by NBC, part of an effort to boost ratings among the 18-34 female demographic.
1974: Archived Episodes
Various episodes from 1974 are listed among the holdings of the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
January 3, 1975: Original Jeopardy! Ends
The original daytime version of Jeopardy! ended its run on NBC on January 3, 1975.
September 1975: Nighttime Syndicated Edition Ends
The nighttime syndicated edition of Jeopardy! concluded in September 1975.
1975: June 1975 Episode
A June 1975 episode of the weekly syndicated edition exists at the Paley Center for Media.
1975: Don Pardo Announcing Ends
Don Pardo's tenure as announcer ended in 1975.
1976: Milton Bradley Board Game
In 1976, Milton Bradley continued releasing annual board games based on the original Jeopardy! version.
October 2, 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Premiered
On October 2, 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! premiered, reviving the daytime series with significant rule changes.
October 1978: The All-New Jeopardy! Premieres
In October 1978, The All-New Jeopardy! revival premiered on NBC.
1978: John Harlan Announcing Begins
In 1978, John Harlan began as announcer for Jeopardy!
March 2, 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Ended
On March 2, 1979, The All-New Jeopardy! aired its last episode, concluding the revival series.
March 1979: The All-New Jeopardy! Ends
The All-New Jeopardy! ended its run in March 1979.
1979: Art Fleming Hosting Ends
Art Fleming's run as host of Jeopardy! ended in 1979.
1982: Milton Bradley Board Game Release
In 1982, Milton Bradley released a Jeopardy! board game.
1983: Greg Kihn Releases "Jeopardy"
In 1983, Greg Kihn released the hit song "Jeopardy" which would later be parodied by Weird Al Yankovic.
1983: Jay Stewart served as announcer for the daily syndicated version's first pilot
In 1983, Jay Stewart was the announcer for the daily syndicated version's first pilot.
September 10, 1984: Daily Syndicated Show Premieres
On September 10, 1984, the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!, familiar to modern viewers, premiered.
1984: Alex Trebek Hosting Begins
Alex Trebek served as host of the daily syndicated version from its premiere in 1984 until his death in 2020.
1984: "Weird Al" Yankovic's "I Lost on Jeopardy"
In 1984, "Weird Al" Yankovic released "I Lost on Jeopardy", a parody of Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy", featuring cameos from Fleming and Pardo.
1984: Dick 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 daily syndicated series' clue values originally ranged from $100 to $500 in Jeopardy! and $200 to $1,000 in Double Jeopardy!.
1984: Premiere of the Trebek Version
In 1984, the premiere episode of the Trebek version of Jeopardy! occurred.
1984: Syndicated Version Debut
In 1984, the syndicated version of Jeopardy! debuted, later becoming the main version of the show.
1984: Return of Jeopardy! Tournament Prizes
In 1984, upon the return of the Jeopardy! series, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions was originally valued at $100,000.
1984: Start of Trebek's Hosting Run
In 1984, with the start of Trebek's hosting run, all three contestants no longer received their winnings in cash.
1984: Written Exam Introduced
Since 1984, prospective contestants began with a written exam comprising 50 questions.
1984: End of Ringing in As Clue Is Revealed
Until 1984, contestants were allowed to ring in as soon as the clue was revealed.
September 1985: Rule Change for Ringing In
Since September 1985, contestants are required to wait until the clue is read before ringing in.
1985: Sets designed to have a background color of blue for the Jeopardy! round
From 1985, the sets were designed to have a background color of blue for the Jeopardy! round.
1985: "Forrest Bounce" Strategy
In 1985, Chuck Forrest first used the "Forrest Bounce" strategy of randomly picking clues to confuse opponents.
1985: Joan Kantor Sets Record for Lowest Jeopardy! Score
In 1985, Joan Kantor set the record for the lowest Jeopardy! score with -$5,100.
1985: Jeopardy! moved its production facilities
In 1985, the Trebek version of Jeopardy! moved its production facilities to Hollywood Center Studios' Stage 1.
1985: Tournament of Champions Format Devised
Since the first Tournament of Champions in 1985, this format was devised by Trebek himself.
1987: Trebek began hosting Classic Concentration
In 1987, Alex Trebek began hosting NBC's Classic Concentration and handed producer duties to George Vosburgh.
1989: Trebek-Hosted Episodes Aired
Copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes aired between 1989 and 2004 have been collected by the UCLA Archive.
1989: Fleming Expressed Dissatisfaction with Trebek's Jeopardy!
In 1989, Art Fleming voiced his discontent with the syndicated Jeopardy! series, criticizing its move to Hollywood for perceived glamour and dumbing-down, as well as the lack of cash prizes for losing contestants.
1990: Super Jeopardy! Aired on ABC
In 1990, Super Jeopardy! aired on ABC, featuring top contestants competing for a $250,000 prize.
1991: Monitors replaced
In 1991, the monitors were replaced with larger and sleeker ones.
1991: New set introduced
In 1991, the show introduced a brand new set that resembled a grid.
1991: Wild Card Advanced Due to Negative Score
In the quarterfinals of the 1991 Seniors Tournament, a wild card contestant advanced because no contestant ended with a positive score.
1992: Kevin McCarthy becomes director
In 1992, Kevin McCarthy succeeded Dick Schneider as director of Jeopardy!.
1992: White Men Can't Jump Features Jeopardy!
In 1992, the film White Men Can't Jump featured a subplot where a character competes on Jeopardy!.
January 19, 1993: Darryl Scott Wins with Lowest Possible Score
On January 19, 1993, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Scott won a Jeopardy! game with the lowest possible score of $1.
1993: Tenth Anniversary Tournament
In 1993, the Tenth Anniversary Tournament took place, featuring past champions.
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.
1994: Called an American Icon
By 1994, the press called Jeopardy! "an American icon", highlighting its cultural significance.
1994: Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Sony Pictures Studios
In 1994, the Jeopardy! production facilities moved to Sony Pictures Studios' Stage 10.
1994: Production Location Change
Since 1994, Jeopardy! contestants have been required to travel to Culver City, California, for production, marking a change in the show's operational base.
1994: GSN Reruns Began
Since the channel's launch in 1994, GSN has rerun episodes of Jeopardy!
November 11, 1996: New set introduced designed by Naomi Slodki
On November 11, 1996, Jeopardy! introduced the first of several sets designed by Naomi Slodki.
1996: Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches
In 1996, Saturday Night Live began featuring a recurring Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch with Will Ferrell as Trebek.
1996: First International Tournament
In 1996, the first International Tournament was held, featuring champions from international versions of Jeopardy!, with a top prize of $25,000.
April 1, 1997: Trebek and Sajak Switch Places
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 Lowest Possible Score
On April 30, 1997, Benjamin Salisbury won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest possible score of $1.
1997: Sets designed to have a background color of red for Double Jeopardy!
From 1985 to 1997, the sets were designed to have a background color of red for the Double Jeopardy!
1997: Friedman, Finneran, and Schmidt become producers
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.
1997: Second International Tournament
In 1997, the second International Tournament was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, with a top prize of $25,000.
1998: Official Website Launch
In 1998, Jeopardy!'s official website became active.
1998: Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Debuted
In 1998, Rock & Roll Jeopardy! debuted on VH1, marking the first spin-off version centered around post-1950s popular music trivia.
1998: "Jeopardy! Brain Bus" Launched
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: Harry Friedman becomes executive producer
Beginning in 1999, Harry Friedman became executive producer, and Gary Johnson became the third producer.
1999: Jep! Aired on GSN
In 1999, Jep!, a children's version of Jeopardy!, aired on GSN, featuring rule changes from the original version.
December 31, 1999: All-New Jeopardy! Finale Aired
On December 31, 1999, GSN aired The All-New Jeopardy!'s finale as part of its "Y2Play" marathon.
2000: Brad Rutter's Regular Series Winnings
In 2000, Brad Rutter won $55,102 over five regular episodes of Jeopardy!, including the value of two cars worth $45,000.
2000: Griffin retires as executive producer
In 2000, Merv Griffin retired as the executive producer of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy!
January 2001: Ranked Number 2 on "50 Greatest Game Shows"
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 Celebrity Jeopardy! with Lowest Possible Score
On February 9, 2001, Brandi Chastain won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode with the lowest possible score of $1.
September 24, 2001: Jeopardy! Clue Crew Introduced
On September 24, 2001, the Jeopardy! Clue Crew was introduced, featuring roving correspondents appearing in videos to narrate clues.
November 26, 2001: Clue Values Increased
On November 26, 2001, the clue values were increased to $200–$1,000 and $400–$2,000 in Jeopardy! and Double Jeopardy!, respectively.
2001: Rutter Wins Tournament of Champions
In 2001, Brad Rutter won the Tournament of Champions, earning a $100,000 first-place prize.
2001: Rock & Roll Jeopardy! Ended
In 2001, Rock & Roll Jeopardy! ended its run on VH1.
2001: Theme Music Rearranged Again
In 2001, the main theme and Final Jeopardy! "Think!" cue, previously arranged in 1997, were rearranged again by Steve Kaplan.
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 Introduced
Since May 16, 2002, consolation prizes have been awarded in cash—$2,000 for second-place and $1,000 for third-place contestants.
2002: Vacation Packages and Merchandise as Prizes End
From 1984 to 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise.
2002: Rutter Wins Million Dollar Masters Tournament
In 2002, Brad Rutter won the Million Dollar Masters Tournament, earning a $1,000,000 first-place prize.
2002: Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches
In 2002, Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches were ongoing.
2002: New Set Introduced
In 2002, a new set was introduced for Jeopardy!, marking an update to the show's visual presentation.
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
In December 2003, Steve Kaplan, music director for Jeopardy!, passed away.
2003: Five-Time Champion Rule Before 2003
Before 2003, co-champions each retained his or her winnings and (unless one was a five-time champion who retired prior to 2003) returned on the following episode.
2003: Tournament of Champions Top Prize Increased
In 2003, the top prize awarded to the winner of the Tournament of Champions was increased to $250,000.
2003: Tie in Tournament of Champions Seedings
Since the removal of the five-game limit in 2003, in the unlikely case of a tie in total winnings between two Tournament of Champions players, the player who won the most games receives the higher seed.
November 30, 2004: Ken Jennings' Winning Streak Ends
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' 74-game winning streak came to an end, after amassing $2,522,700.
2004: Trebek-Hosted Episodes Aired
Copies of 43 Trebek-hosted syndicated Jeopardy! episodes aired between 1989 and 2004 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: Cash Prizes Provided by Sponsor
Since 2004, a presenting sponsor has provided cash prizes to the losing contestants.
November 8, 2005: DVD Release: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show
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: Jennings Wins Second Place in Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, Ken Jennings returned for the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, taking home the second-place prize of $500,000.
2005: Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, the 15-week Ultimate Tournament of Champions culminated in a three-game final between two winners and Ken Jennings 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! transitioned to high-definition broadcasts along with Wheel of Fortune, accompanied by slight modifications to the set and the introduction of virtual set tours on the official website.
2006: Outstanding Direction and Writing Categories Removed
In 2006, the categories of Outstanding Direction for a Game/Audience Participation Show and Outstanding Special Class Writing were removed from the Daytime Emmy Awards.
2006: Monitors discarded
In 2006, these monitors were discarded in favor of a nearly seamless projection video wall.
2006: Ranked Number 2 on GSN's "50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time"
In the summer of 2006, Jeopardy! was ranked number 2 on GSN's list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time, second only to Match Game.
March 16, 2007: Three-Way Tie
On March 16, 2007, a three-way (non-zero) tie for first place occurred when Scott Weiss, Jamey Kirby, and Anders Martinson all ended the game with $16,000.
2007: CBS Media Ventures absorbed King World Productions
In 2007, CBS Media Ventures absorbed original distributor King World Productions.
October 2008: Cheryl Farrell recorded clues until October 2008
Cheryl Farrell recorded clues for the Clue Crew until October 2008.
2008: Music Package Rearranged
In 2008, the Jeopardy! music package was rearranged by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design, updating the show's audio presentation.
July 2009: Jon Cannon recorded clues until July 2009
Jon Cannon recorded clues for the Clue Crew until July 2009.
November 2009: Jeopardy! Premier Club Launch
In November 2009, Jeopardy! launched a viewer loyalty program called the "Jeopardy! Premier Club."
2009: "Think!" wins "Best Game Show Theme Song"
In 2009, "Think!" was named "Best Game Show Theme Song" during GSN's Game Show Awards special, recognizing its iconic status.
2009: Andy Richter's Celebrity Jeopardy! Winnings
In 2009, Andy Richter achieved the highest single-day winnings in a Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament, finishing with $68,000 for his selected charity.
2009: Set Update and CES Debut
In 2009, Jeopardy! updated its set, debuting the new set with special episodes taped at the 42nd annual International CES technology trade show.
2009: Video wall replaced
In 2009, the video wall was replaced with 36 high-definition flat-panel monitors manufactured by Sony Electronics.
2010: Roger Craig's Single-Day Winnings Record
In 2010, Roger Craig held the single-day winnings record of $77,000 on Jeopardy!.
2010: New Set Became Primary
In 2010, the new set that debuted at CES in 2009 became the primary set for Jeopardy! when the 2009-2010 season began.
February 2011: IBM Challenge: Watson vs. Jennings and Rutter
In February 2011, the IBM Challenge aired, featuring IBM's Watson computer competing against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, with Watson winning the $1 million prize.
June 17, 2011: Trebek and Sajak Shared 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 Discontinuation
In July 2011, the Jeopardy! Premier Club was discontinued.
September 20, 2011: Hall of Fame Added to Sony Pictures Studios Tour
On September 20, 2011, a Jeopardy! hall of fame was added to the Sony Pictures Studios tour, featuring Emmy Awards, set pieces, merchandise, video clips, and photographs.
2011: Gary Johnson left the show in 2011
Gary Johnson left Jeopardy! in 2011.
2011: Jennings Places Second in IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings took second place in the IBM Challenge, winning $300,000.
2012: About.com Reader's Choice Award
In 2012, 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: Another New Set
In 2013, Jeopardy! introduced another new set, refreshing the show's visual presentation.
2013: Ranked Number 1 on TV Guide's "60 Greatest Game Shows"
In 2013, Jeopardy! ranked number 1 on TV Guide's list of the 60 Greatest Game Shows.
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: Rule Change Implemented During Teen Tournament
In 2013, the same rule was in effect during the semifinals of the Teen Tournament.
2013: Flaw Discovered After 2013 Teen Tournament
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.
January 29, 2014: Arthur Chu Wagers for a Tie
On the January 29, 2014, episode, Arthur Chu wagered to tie challenger Carolyn Collins.
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 Appears on The Chase
In 2014, James Holzhauer appeared on The Chase, winning over $58,000.
2014: Jennings Wins Second Place in Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings won second place in the Battle of the Decades, earning $123,600.
2014: Saturday Night Live's Black Jeopardy!
In 2014, SNL parodied Jeopardy! by way of another recurring sketch, Black Jeopardy!
2014: Sports Jeopardy! Premiered
In 2014, Sports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version hosted by Dan Patrick, premiered on Crackle.
2014: 30th Anniversary Battle of the Decades Tournament
In 2014, the 30th-anniversary Battle of the Decades tournament was held.
2015: Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! Sketches End
In 2015, Saturday Night Live's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches ended.
2015: Stephanie Hull Achieves Low Score
In 2015, Stephanie Hull set the fourth lowest score with -$6,800 and a rare Final Jeopardy! with one contestant.
2016: Sports Jeopardy! Moved to NBCSN
In 2016, Sports Jeopardy! moved from Crackle to the cable sports network NBCSN.
October 17, 2017: Manny Abell Wins with Lowest Possible Score
On October 17, 2017, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Manny Abell won a Jeopardy! game with the lowest possible score of $1.
March 1, 2018: No Regular Game Had Ended in a Tie-Breaker Until This Date
Until March 1, 2018, no regular Jeopardy! game had ended in a tie-breaker.
2018: Kevin McCarthy retires
In 2018, Kevin McCarthy retired from his position as director.
April 9, 2019: Holzhauer Sets Single-Day Winnings Record
On April 9, 2019, James Holzhauer first surpassed the record of $77,000, held since 2010 by Roger Craig, when he earned $110,914 on Jeopardy!
April 15, 2019: Holzhauer Moves Into Second Place For Regular Play Winnings
On April 15, 2019, James Holzhauer moved into second place for regular play winnings, behind Jennings.
April 17, 2019: Holzhauer Sets New Single-Day Winnings Record
On April 17, 2019, James Holzhauer pushed his own single-day Jeopardy! record to $131,127.
April 23, 2019: Holzhauer Becomes a Jeopardy! Millionaire
On April 23, 2019, James Holzhauer joined Rutter and Jennings as the third Jeopardy!-made millionaire.
June 3, 2019: Holzhauer's Winning Streak Ends
On the June 3, 2019 episode, James Holzhauer's winning streak came to an end after totaling $2,464,216 in winnings.
June 2019: Holzhauer's Winning Streak Strategy
During his winning streak in June 2019, James Holzhauer regularly used the strategy of playing all of the higher-valued clues first.
August 1, 2019: Friedman announces retirement
On August 1, 2019, Harry Friedman announced he would retire as executive producer of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune at the end of the 2019-20 season.
2019: Jennings Wins All-Star Games
In 2019, Ken Jennings won a $100,000 prize as part of a three-player team in the All-Star Games.
2019: The All-Star Games Tournament
In 2019, The All-Star Games tournament featured six teams of three former champions each, with Rutter, Madden, and Kelly winning the tournament.
2019: Taping slowed after Alex Trebek's health issues in 2019
In 2019, taping slowed after Alex Trebek's health issues.
2019: Episodes Taped Without Audience
In 2019, the last episodes of the 2019-2020 season were taped without an audience, marking the beginning of changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2020: Taping Halted Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, Jeopardy! taping halted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: 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 Aired 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 Rerunning
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 Safety Measures
In August 2020, Jeopardy! production resumed with new safety measures in place following government guidelines to protect contestants, staff, crew, and talent due to COVID-19.
October 29, 2020: Alex Trebek tapes his last episode
On October 29, 2020, Alex Trebek taped his last episode of Jeopardy!, which was intended for a Christmas Day broadcast.
November 8, 2020: Alex Trebek Dies
On November 8, 2020, Alex Trebek died. The rehearsal for Ken Jennings to act as interim host was subsequently canceled.
November 9, 2020: Tribute to Alex Trebek airs
On November 9, 2020, the first episode to air after Alex Trebek's death featured a tribute from executive producer Mike Richards, including a moment of silence and dimmed set lights.
November 30, 2020: Ken Jennings begins hosting
On November 30, 2020, Ken Jennings began hosting Jeopardy! after production resumed following Alex Trebek's death.
December 21, 2020: Reruns of episodes in which Alex Trebek recorded clues on location were shown
On December 21, 2020, Jeopardy! aired reruns of episodes featuring Alex Trebek recording clues on location.
December 25, 2020: Posthumous Airing of Trebek Episodes
Following Alex Trebek's death, Jeopardy! announced that the pre-taped episodes were to air posthumously until December 25, 2020.
2020: Alex Trebek's Death
Alex Trebek served as host of the daily syndicated version from its premiere in 1984 until his death in 2020.
2020: Greatest of All Time Tournament
In 2020, Jeopardy! returned to ABC primetime for the Greatest of All Time tournament, featuring Jennings, Rutter, and Holzhauer competing for a $1,000,000 prize, with Jennings winning.
2020: Set Modifications and COVID-19 Impact
In 2020, Jeopardy!'s set underwent modifications including a wider studio without a live audience and new lecterns to comply with California state regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Jennings Wins Greatest of All Time Tournament
In 2020, Ken Jennings won the Greatest of All Time tournament, taking home the $1,000,000 first-place prize.
2020: Mike Richards replaced Friedman
In 2020, Mike Richards replaced Harry Friedman as executive producer.
2020: Tie-Breaker in 2020 Greatest of All Time Tournament
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2020 Greatest of All Time , the tie-breaker will be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game.
January 8, 2021: Alex Trebek's Last Episode
On January 8, 2021, Alex Trebek's last episode aired after hosting for over 36 years.
January 11, 2021: First Episode with Interim Host Aired
On January 11, 2021, the first episode of Jeopardy! with an interim host aired following Alex Trebek's death.
February 19, 2021: Ken Jennings' hosting stint ends
On February 19, 2021, Ken Jennings' six-week run as guest host of Jeopardy! concluded.
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.
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 the host of the daily show, while Mayim Bialik would host Jeopardy! primetime specials and spin-offs.
August 2021: Stage 10 dedicated in Trebek's honor
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, Mike Richards was fired from his executive producer position at Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
September 2021: Mike Richards Initially Assumes Hosting Role
In September 2021, Mike Richards initially assumed the position of permanent host but relinquished the role within a week.
September 2021: Mike Richards' episodes as host air
In September 2021, the five episodes of Jeopardy! hosted by Mike Richards aired.
2021: Amy Schneider's Record-Breaking Run
In 2021, Amy Schneider began a record-breaking run on Jeopardy!, earning a total of $1,382,800 in 40 episodes.
2021: Clay Jacobsen leaves and Russell Norman becomes director
In 2021, Clay Jacobsen served through 2021 and was replaced by Russell Norman as director of Jeopardy!
2021: Matt Amodio Surpasses Holzhauer
In 2021, Matt Amodio surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won on Jeopardy!.
2021: Fully-Synthesized Theme Introduced
In 2021, a fully-synthesized version of the main theme, based on the 2008 arrangement, was composed by Bleeding Fingers Music and began use on Jeopardy!.
2021: Tie-Breaker Rule Change
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!.
March 30, 2022: Test Episode Released to Public
On March 30, 2022, the 1964 "test episode" was released to the public in full on the Jeopardy! YouTube account to celebrate the show's 58th anniversary.
April 14, 2022: Michael 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 April and May 2022, Mattea Roach earned $560,983 over 23 games, becoming the most successful Canadian contestant.
July 2022: Bialik and Jennings return as co-hosts
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings would return as co-hosts of Jeopardy!'s syndicated version.
July 2022: Vintage Episodes on Pluto TV
In July 2022, it was reported that vintage episodes of the daily syndicated version would air on a dedicated channel on Pluto TV starting in August.
September 12, 2022: Return of Live Studio Audience
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 Clue Crew was eliminated beginning with the 39th season of Jeopardy!
September 2022: Celebrity Jeopardy! premieres
In September 2022, the new celebrity edition of Jeopardy! premiered.
2022: Jeopardy! employs 7 full-time writers and 7 researchers
As of 2022, Jeopardy! employs seven full-time writers and seven researchers to create the categories and clues.
2022: Amy Schneider Surpasses Holzhauer
In 2022, Amy Schneider surpassed James Holzhauer in consecutive games won on Jeopardy!.
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 puzzle board was upgraded.
2022: Tie-Breaker in 2022 Tournament of Champions
In a tournament format where a player must win multiple games to win the tournament, such as the 2022 Tournament of Champions, the tie-breaker will be used regardless of the score being zero or positive for players to win the game.
January 2023: Jennings to Host Jeopardy! Masters Spinoff
In January 2023, ABC announced that Ken Jennings would host a Jeopardy! Masters spin-off, marking a change of hosting arrangements.
January 2023: Renewal Through 2027-28 Season
In January 2023, Jeopardy! was renewed, extending the show through the 2027-28 season.
May 2023: Bialik opts out of hosting final episodes
In May 2023, Mayim Bialik chose 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 Increased
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 due to inflation.
December 2023: Jennings Becomes Sole Syndicated Host
In December 2023, Ken Jennings became the sole syndicated host of Jeopardy!.
December 2023: Jennings named sole host
In December 2023, Sony announced that Ken Jennings would permanently remain the sole host of the syndicated series of Jeopardy! after the resolution of the strike.
July 14, 2024: Records Accurate
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 Unveiling
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 Ended Run
On July 31, 2024, the Jeopardy! Hosted by Alex Trebek channel on Pluto TV ended its two-year run.
2024: Erin Buker Achieves Low Score
In 2024, Erin Buker set the lowest score in the Jennings era with -$7,200.
2024: Pop Culture Jeopardy! Premiered
In 2024, Pop Culture Jeopardy! premiered as an exclusive show on Amazon Prime Video, featuring "pub trivia" style knowledge.
2024: Game board refurbished
The game board was refurbished for season 41 in 2024.
January 13, 2025: Production Suspended Due to Wildfires
On January 13, 2025, it was announced that Jeopardy! would suspend production due to the ongoing wildfires in Southern California.
February 2025: Sony terminates CBS' contract to distribute
In February 2025, Sony terminated CBS' contract to distribute Wheel and Jeopardy! after 43 years due to the lawsuit and will take over distribution of both Wheel and Jeopardy! on February 10th. CBS Media Ventures will continue to distribute the show following the termination.
2027: Jeopardy! Extended
In January 2023, Jeopardy! extended its run through the 2027-2028 season.
