23 Things “Jeopardy!” Fans Never, Ever Knew About the Game Show
Every weeknight, viewers across the nation tune in to their favorite trivia show. “Jeopardy!” has been challenging Americans for decades, and it doesn’t seem like it will stop any time soon.
If you’ve ever tried to play along at home, you know just how tricky the game can be. Clues range from easy to outlandish, and your recall has to be lightning-fast if you’re going to keep up with the contestants.
Even if you consider yourself good at the game, there are probably a few things you don’t know about the show. “Jeopardy!” has a long history, and it’s full of fascinating trivia facts that only the biggest fanatics know.
1: It’s Older Than You Think
The first episode of the original “Jeopardy!” aired in 1964 and ran until 1975. Then, “The All-New ‘Jeopardy!'” ran from 1978 to 1979.
Today’s version of the show didn’t appear until 1984, and it has been running continuously ever since.
2: You Can Review Almost Every Clue
There’s a fan-run archive of transcripts from almost every “Jeopardy!” episode. In some ways, the site has changed the way the game is played.
Now, would-be contestants can review over 412,000 clues before attempting to get on the show. Having a study guide can really give you an edge if you make it to the stage.
3: Talking Over Trebek
In the first episode of “Jeopardy!,” contestants didn’t have to wait for host Alex Trebek to stop speaking before they hit the buzzer. This practice was confusing to viewers, rude to the host, and it gave an advantage to fast readers.
The show’s producers quickly changed the rules. Now, the host must read the question in full before the contestant’s buzzers activate.
4: What’s The Question?
Originally, the show creators wanted to call “Jeopardy!” “What’s The Question?” The almost-title was a nod to the show’s unique formatting.
However, when a network executive said there weren’t enough “jeopardies” in the show, they changed the name. Honestly, “Jeopardy!” is a much catchier title.
5: Show Hosts Work 46 Days a Year
According to the “Jeopardy!” website, Alex Trebek had a pretty sweet work schedule. They filmed five episodes a day but only for 46 days a year.
Presumably, there were media appearances and other work-related duties on other days, but it certainly seems like “Jeopardy!” hosts have a relatively relaxed life. No wonder Trebek continued with the job for more than 35 years.
6: Pancreatic Cancer
“Jeopardy!” has had five official hosts: Art Fleming, Alex Trebek, Mike Richards, Mayim Bialik, and the current host, Ken Jennings. Trebek hosted the majority of the shows and appeared in over 8,000 episodes.
In a bizarre twist of fate, both Alex Trebek and the original “Jeopardy!” host, Art Fleming, lost their lives to pancreatic cancer. Fleming passed away in 1995, and Trebek passed away in 2020.
7: Record Number of Emmys
“Jeopardy!” has received more Emmy awards than any other game show. Over the years, the show has accumulated more than 43 Emmys!
It also won a Peabody Award in 2011. Peabody Awards are considered the most prestigious award in broadcasting.
8: “Jeopardy!’s” Theme Was a Lullaby
The show creator, Merv Griffin, made up “Jeopardy!’s” theme song, titled “Think,” in under a minute. It was originally a lullaby to help his son fall asleep.
Griffin later told the New York Times he made somewhere between $70 and $80 million for the tune. That’s one profitable lullaby!
9: There’s Not Always a Winner
According to the “Jeopardy!” fan site, there are eight episodes with no winner. In other words, all of the players either finished with zero dollars or were ineligible to play Final Jeopardy!
Per “Jeopardy!’s” rules, to play in the final round, players must have a positive account balance. And, to win, they must have more than $0.
10: Contestants Don’t Know What Personal Anecdote They’ll Share
Before appearing on the show, contestants provide producers with a few personal anecdotes they’re okay with sharing on air. However, they don’t know which anecdote will come up during filming.
The host reviews the anecdotes of each contestant and decides which one they like best. So, the contestant is always surprised.
11: April Fools
In 1997, Alex Trebek and “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak played a little April Fools’ joke. They switched jobs for the day so that Sajak hosted “Jeopardy!” while Trebek hosted “Wheel of Fortune.”
The two shows are related in other ways. They have the same creator, were filmed on the same lot, and are often referred to as “sister shows.”
12: The Man Behind the Voice
If you’ve ever watched “Jeopardy!,” you’re familiar with the phrase, “This is ‘Jeopardy!'” The famous opening line is voiced by Johnny Gilbert.
According to the official “Jeopardy!” website, Gilbert has been in the announcer’s booth since the show’s start in 1984. He even won a Guinness World Record for his work on the show.
13: Certain Wages Aren’t Allowed
“Jeopardy!” rules require contestants to earn wages before playing a Daily Double and Final Jeopardy! However, according to tweets from former winners, certain wages aren’t allowed.
Contestants are forbidden from betting $69 because it’s a sexual innuendo. They also can’t bet $14, $666, $88, or $1,488 because of their ties to white supremacist groups.
14: No Final Jeopardy!
There’s yet to be an episode without a Final Jeopardy! round, but technically, there could be. According to the official “Jeopardy!” website, the rulebook states, “In the event all three contestants have $0 (zero) or minus amounts at the end of ‘Double Jeopardy!’, no Final Jeopardy! round would be played.”
If that scenario played out, no one’s really sure what would happen. Producers give three minutes to the Final Jeopardy! round that would need to be filled, but no one’s sure how they would fill it.
15: It’s Easier To Get Into an Ivy League School
According to Ken Jenning’s website, it’s easier to get into an Ivy League School than it is to get on “Jeopardy!” He notes the show only accepts 400 contestants each year, but tens of thousands apply.
To get on the show, would-be contestants take a 50-question test. Those who pass move on to a mock game and interview round. Then, they often wait years to find out whether they made it or not.
16: Ken Jennings Holds the Record
Ken Jennings has more “Jeopardy!” wins than any other contestant. He won 74 consecutive games and earned $2,520,700.
Jennings made his epic winning streak in 2004 while working as a software engineer in Utah. Today, he’s the host of “Jeopardy!”
17: Writers Come Up with a Lot of Clues
“Jeopardy!” writers have a tough job. They create clues for 230 games each year, which is 14,030 clues per season.
Every day, they each have to write clues for two to three categories. Researchers then review and approve the clues for the show.
18: The Hometown Howdy
If someone from your neighborhood has been on “Jeopardy!” you might have watched a “Hometown Howdy.” The “Hometown Howdy” is a short clip in which a contestant says hi to their hometown.
They only air on local affiliate networks. So, unless you live in the same area as one of the contestants, you won’t see it.
19: The Clue Crew’s Traveled Over 1 Million Miles
The Jeopardy! Clue Crew travels around the world to film unique clues for the show. Over the years, they’ve racked up over a million miles and seen some incredible places.
In a piece for the “Jeopardy!” website, founding Clue Crew member Sarah Whitcomb Foss fondly remembered filming in the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. She said they were able to film in one of the passages Anne Frank hid in.
20: Game Boards Are Random
In a piece for Better Magazine, a former “Jeopardy!” contestant discussed how show producers picked a game board to ensure there was no cheating. According to her, there are six game boards for each day’s filming.
A compliance officer for the show chooses five of the six to run with. Their picks are entirely random to ensure no one knows what the questions are in advance.
21: There are Multiple Techniques
Winning a game of “Jeopardy!” takes more than trivia knowledge and fast recall. There are multiple proven strategies for winning the show.
Some rely on Daily Double hunting, in which they seemingly pick random clues across the board, searching for a high-value Daily Double. Others, like Ken Jennings, work their way through one category at a time.
22: The Lowest Score
The lowest score ever earned on “Jeopardy!” was by contestant Patrick Pearce. He played in 2021 and earned -$7,400.
Before that, contestant Stephanie Hull held the low score record for several years. She earned -$6,500 in 2015.
23: Every Player Walks Away with Some Money
If you make it on “Jeopardy!” you won’t go home empty-handed. All of the contestants receive some sort of prize package.
With the exception of tournament games (in which players usually take home more), the third-place finisher always gets $1,000. The second-place finisher always gets $2,000, and the first-place winner takes home their winnings. Sometimes, that means the first-place winner takes home less than the players they beat!
15 Final Jeopardy! Questions That All Contestants Got Wrong
Over the years, the Final Jeopardy! round has stumped many contestants. These are some of the Final Jeopardy questions that none of the contestants got right. See how many leave you guessing, “What is…hmm?”
15 Final “Jeopardy!” Questions That All Contestants Got Wrong
19 Historical U.S. Myths That Annoy History Buffs to the Core
If your teacher taught it in history class, it’s normal to assume it’s true. Ask any historian, though, and you might be surprised to learn the stuff of school history lessons is often riddled with inaccuracies.
19 Historical U.S. Myths That Annoy History Buffs to the Core
