“Jeopardy!” Starts Filming Today, But Fans Are Boycotting the New Season
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/jeopardy-main.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=“Contestants on “Jeopardy!” - 1”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
Jeopardy! fans will be getting new episodes next month, but not everyone is happy that the game show is returning so soon. On Aug. 15, Jeopardy! begins filming on its 40 season, which is set to premiere Sept. 11. And while that’s a big milestone, it’s also a complicated one given, how the Writers Guild of America strike is impacting the show. Because writers are still on strike, the show will be reusing old questions. Fans can also expect to see only returning contestants and just one of the show’s current hosts.
The long-running series is receiving serious backlash from past contestants and viewers, some of whom have announced their plans to boycott Jeopardy! for continuing to film. Read on to find out more.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Champ James Holzhauer Says Recent Winner “Should Get a Lifetime Ban.”
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/Mayim-main.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=“Mayim Bialik hosting “Jeopardy!” in June 2021 - 2”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
The WGA strike began not long before filming was set to wrap on the 39th season of Jeopardy! , which meant that those clues were already written. The major change fans would have noticed was that the end of the season was hosted by Ken Jennings , who took over duties for Mayim Bialik after she decided to step down in solidarity with the writers.
Season 40 will utilize new clues that were written prior to the strike, as well as recycled clues from past seasons. Executive producer Michael Davies confirmed this on the official Jeopardy! podcast Inside Jeopardy! in August.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/davies.jpg?quality=82&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=“Michael Davies at HRTS’ “Broadcasting Reality: Show Me the Money!” Newsmaker Luncheon - 3”>
Tinseltown / Shutterstock
On Inside Jeopardy! , Davies also explained that Season 40 will not feature any new contestants—at least not while the strike is still ongoing.
“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 said.
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.” The Second Chance tournament was first introduced in Season 39.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/Jeopardy-contestants.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=“Contestants on a March 2021 episode of “Jeopardy!” - 4”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
The plan to have former contestants return hasn’t gone smoothly. A number of former contestants spoke anonymously to Polygon and explained that they decided against returning, because they don’t want to cross the picket line. Some said that they shouldn’t have been put in the position to make this decision in the first place. Many winners also decided to boycott the Tournament of Champions, which had been expected to film in August and September . However, a Jeopardy! spokesperson told Variety that the show didn’t play to air a Tournament of Champions until the strike ends.
A spokesperson for the WGA told Polygon, “ Jeopardy! is produced by a struck company. Anyone participating in a Jeopardy production would be crossing a picket line comprised of Jeopardy writers who wrote the clues.”
RELATED: Jeopardy! Producer Explains “Painful to Watch” Episode Amid Backlash .
© Ken Jennings / Twitter
Jennings has been accused of a being a “scab” —or a person who crosses a union picketing line—including by Stand by Me actor Wil Wheaton , who participated in Celebrity Jeopardy! , as reported by TV Insider.
On Aug. 13, Jennings responded to a tweet calling him out for continuing to host Jeopardy! amid the strike. “You’re a disgrace if you’re trying to cross picket lines. Alex would NEVER do anything of the sort. He would turn over his grave seeing you act like that,” wrote user @vanquishpoint.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/ken-2.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=“Ken Jennings hosting “Jeopardy! Masters” in May 2023 - 6”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
Some Jeopardy! viewers have expressed that they won’t watch these new episodes while others have demanded that the show cease filming during the strike.
“No way I’m watching any version of Jeopardy until the strike is resolved. All you’re doing helping to perpetuate the greed. And Ken Jennings is a huge disappointment,” wrote one Twitter user . Another posted , “I will not be watching #jeopardy until the writer’s strike is resolved. #solidaritywithwriters.”
Another person tweeted , “Jeopardy shouldn’t film new episodes during the strike, full stop. I know Alex filmed during the strike in 2007 but like, this is a different moment. Class consciousness is higher, and the situation more precarious.” Someone said , “I’d hate to have to stop watching @Jeopardy. We watch it every day. But my household won’t support circumventing the strike for convenience and profit.”
One Twitter user followed show rules and phrased their thoughts in the form of a question: “What is… getting my daily Jeopardy fix from old episodes on Pluto because I won’t watch a single second of the new season until the strikes are over and writers are fairly paid? #Jeopardy #PayYourWriters #WGA.”
“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.”
