“Jeopardy!” Is Back Tonight, But Fans Are Boycotting—Here’s Why
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/jeopardy.png?strip=1&resize=640%2C360&quality=82" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Ken Jennings hosting “Jeopardy!” - 1”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
The 40th season of Jeopardy! premieres tonight, but many fans have already made it clear that they will not be tuning in. The show announced last month that this season will be a lot different than usual—with previously used questions and returning contestants. These changes are an attempt to get around the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike , but Jeopardy! ‘s controversial decision to continue filming new episodes at all has led to a boycott.
The WGA strike began on May 2 when the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)—which represents major studios—failed to reach an agreement. The WGA is seeking better wages, particularly when it comes to residuals from streaming services. And although Jeopardy! employs WGA writers, the show has decided to continue on with recycled material. Read on to find out why viewers are so upset, and when they’ll consider tuning in again.
RELATED: Why Jeopardy! Fans Think Mayim Bialik May Be Done Hosting for Good .
It’s now or never 👊 The road to redemption starts TOMORROW on the Season 37 #JeopardySecondChance competition, brought to you by Moderna. pic.twitter.com/uXdH3TkMjZ — Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) September 10, 2023
The 40th season of Jeopardy! premieres tonight, Sept. 11, and as previously announced by executive producer Michael Davies , the season will kick off with a Second Chance competition.
While appearing on the official Jeopardy! podcast, Inside Jeopardy! , in August, Davies explained, “I believe, principally, that it would not be fair to have new contestants making their first appearance on the Alex Trebek Stage, doing it with non-original material or, as we’ll talk about, a combination of non-original material and material that was written pre-strike.”
The producer continued, “We’re gonna open the season with a Second Chance tournament for players from Season 37 who lost their initial game, and winners from that will advance to a Season 37 and Season 38 Champions Wild Card.”
Because the writers are on strike, Jeopardy! is limited to using clues that were scripted by its WGA writing staff for past seasons.
RELATED: Ken Jennings Reveals the Jeopardy! Advice Alex Trebek Gave Him in Final Phone Call .
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Jeopardy! / YouTube
Jeopardy! has two hosts, actor Mayim Bialik and former Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings . In May, Bialik stepped down from hosting in solidarity with the writers. There was only one week left to film of Season 39 before the summer hiatus, and Jennings replaced Bialik for the remaining episodes.
In late August, it was reported by The Messenger that Bialik would not be returning to host the show during the strike and would likely not be back this year, even if the strike ends. The report stated that Bialik was also supporting the SAG-AFTRA union. The actors’ union, of which Bialik is a member, began its own strike on July 14.
Jennings, on the other hand, is continuing to host Jeopardy! He defended his stance on X (formerly known as Twitter) by pointing out that late host Alex Trebek hosted the show during the 2007-2008 WGA strike .
RELATED: James Holzhauer Criticizes Jeopardy! Changes and Weaker Questions Amid Fan Backlash .
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Jeopardy! / YouTube
When Season 40 began filming on Aug. 15, writers and former players picketed outside of the studio, the WGA confirmed on X. The U.S. Sun reported that it seemed Jennings entered the studio through a door that allowed him to avoid the picket line.
A WGA member told The U.S. Sun , “It sounded like most of the writers were there. We didn’t get a chance to turn away Ken Jennings because no one saw him drive up. So he either heard there was a picket line and didn’t leave home, or he went another route into the production.”
RELATED: Jeopardy! Producer Explains “Painful to Watch” Episode Amid Backlash .
FYI @Jeopardy we will not be watching any episodes that try to circumvent the absence of your invaluable #WGA writers. As a writer yourself, @KenJennings , you ought not to be supporting this — Isaac Spaceman (@IsaacSpaceman) August 19, 2023
Some fans have spoken out online and shared that they will not be watching new Jeopardy! episodes during the strike. Many are calling Jennings a “scab,” a word used for someone who crosses a union picket line.
“FYI @Jeopardy we will not be watching any episodes that try to circumvent the absence of your invaluable #WGA writers,” one viewer posted on X .
Another fan posted , “No way in Hell I’m watching scab Jeopardy. Recycling old questions is offensive. To insult the writers like this is outrageous.”
Another commenter said, “Ken Jennings more like scab jennings,” while a different fan posted, “Will not watch Jeopardy until the Writers Strike is over.”
“No [replies]. Cowards. I won’t be watching the retread show because I will be honoring the writer’s strike,” one person posted with a screenshot.
Another wrote , “Lol not them turning replies off because they know they’re going to get backlash for making new episodes during the strike. As they should.”
RELATED: 8 Most Awkward On-Air Jeopardy! Moments .
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/jeopardy-amy.png?strip=all&w=500" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Amy Schneider on “Jeopardy!” - 4”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
It isn’t just fans who are sitting out the new season of Jeopardy! Some former contestants have said that they will not participate unless the strike is resolved. In August, five former contestants spoke anonymously to Polygon about being asked to return for Second Chance episodes, and how conflicted they felt about the offer.
“When I got a call gauging my interest in participating, my initial reaction was pure shock, because I’d given up any fantasies about being invited back,” one former contestant said. “But once that initial shock wore off, it was replaced by the dread of having to make an impossible decision.”
Another contestant shared, “It’s honestly souring my opinion of Jeopardy! for putting us in this position, having to choose between supporting the strike and going back on the show that many of us have loved our whole lives.”
“Jeopardy!” Is Returning Next Month, But Get Ready for Major Changes
ABC
With the ongoing Writers Guild of American (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes stalling production in Hollywood, we’ve all been left wondering about the fate of our favorite shows —and Jeopardy! is no exception. The long-running game show employs WGA writers to draft questions, so while they’re on the picket line, no new clues are being produced. But despite speculation that the series would have to pause indefinitely as a result, Jeopardy! is officially returning next month—and producers just revealed that it’ll be accompanied by major changes. Read on to find out what you can expect to see come September.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Boycott Grows: Why Fans Say They Won’t Watch the Show .
ABC
Before any of the strikes were in motion, Jeopardy! was anticipated to kick off with a different format next month. As executive producer Michael Davies explained during a March episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, Season 40 was set to begin with the Season 39 postseason.
However, last month, Sony Pictures Television confirmed that the postseason, including the ToC, would be delayed indefinitely due to the strikes .
“ Jeopardy! never had any intention of producing a Tournament of Champions for season 39 until the strike is resolved,” the spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter . “Further, no contestants from season 39 have been contacted regarding their availability for any postseason tournaments, including the TOC. The Jeopardy! postseason represents the pinnacle of our competition, and it should feature our strongest players playing our toughest original material.”
But while the show is pressing pause on the tournaments, the spokesperson confirmed that new, syndicated episodes would be airing in September, with production using recycled questions. Now, Davies has shared more details on what that will look like.
RELATED: The 10 Most Beloved Jeopardy! Contestants of All Time .
ABC
During the Aug. 7 episode of Inside Jeopardy! , Davies addressed the situation, noting that the game show is in a “ holding pattern .”
“Obviously, the entire staff is committed to producing the best episodes we possibly can, but I understand that the best episodes that are possible are episodes that feature our writers writing original material, and the very best contestants, as we’ve always put on the air, playing that original material,” he said, noting that writers are needed to draft questions for Season 39’s strongest competitors.
But as for the “new” episodes, Davies revealed that production will not only use recycled material, but will also feature recycled contestants.
“I believe, principally, that it would not be fair to have new contestants making their first appearance on the Alex Trebek stage, doing it with non-original material or, as we’ll talk about, a combination of non-original material and material that was written pre-strike,” Davies said. “And so we decided that really we needed to invite back and give a second chance in general to players who probably thought that their chance to come back and play on the Alex Trebek stage had gone forever.”
He continued, “So we’re gonna open the season with a Second Chance tournament for players from Season 37 who lost their initial game, and winners from that will advance to a Season 37 and Season 38 Champions Wild Card.”
According to Davies, the material in question includes WGA material from before the strike “which is still in the database,” as well as material “that is being deployed from multiple, multiple seasons of the show.”
RELATED: Jeopardy! Producer Explains “Painful to Watch” Episode Amid Backlash .
ABC
Jeopardy! producer Sarah Foss added that this new structure gives additional former contestants the opportunity to “come back and provide some great games for those of you that are looking forward to the launch of the season.” (Season 38 players already competed in their Second Chance tournament, which debuted in Season 39.)
The remaining elephant in the room, however, is the question of who’s going to host these new episodes. Mayim Bialik is unlikely to return before the strike is resolved, as she already bowed out of the final week of filming to stand in solidarity with the writers. Ken Jennings filled in, but he’s since received heavy criticism about crossing the picket line . Both are also SAG-AFTRA members.
Davies and Foss didn’t share plans for the host, and Davies conceded that he has “no idea on timing” for when the show will return to normalcy. However, he said the Season 39 postseason will begin filming once the strike ends.
As for Celebrity Jeopardy! —which is a separate show—that will proceed with original material drafted under the WGA contact before the strike began May. Foss noted that they have already started “booking exciting talent.”
ABC
These aren’t the only changes for the upcoming season, as Jeopardy! is also upping the prize money by $1,000 for second and third-place finishers. According to Davies, third-place finishers now receive $2,000, and second-place finishers will receive $3,000.
“This is something that we’ve been working on ever since I really took the reins of the show,” he said. “It’s something that obviously is discussed widely within our social communities and with the community of our contestants. We understand that post-COVID, travel costs have increased. We understand how complicated sort of funding a trip to Jeopardy! is for, you know, many contestants within our community.”
