‘Jeopardy!’ Bosses Considering Big Rule Change
Jeopardy!‘s executive producer Mike Davies is toying with an interesting format change to help shake up the long-running game show, but not everybody is on board with the idea.
Speaking on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast on Monday, September 19, Davies brought up the concept of offering cash bonuses to contestants who correctly answer an entire column of clues under one topic. The producer, who took over from the ousted Mike Richards in 2021, first touched on the idea last week but went into more detail on this week’s podcast.
“I have been thinking about trying out, perhaps in one of our other tournaments this season, experimenting with giving out a cash bonus for contestants who run a category,” Davies said in conversation on the podcast with show producer Sarah Foss and Jeopardy! alum Buzzy Cohen. “It’s a moment in the studio; it’s a great thing.”
Cohen, however, seemed apprehensive, sharing that “Twitter exploded with pros and cons” when the idea was first mentioned. The 2017 Tournament of Champions winner had one important question on his mind: “Is this a bonus that is going to affect your game score?”
Davies promised that it would be a “separate bonus” and wouldn’t change who wins, while fellow producer Foss added that it would mean “Going home with an extra prize from Jeopardy!, with or without a win.”
The producers also noted that the bonus would only be given out if a contestant ran an entire category straight through, not jumping around the board. But it was this point that caused Cohen some concern, thinking that it might significantly alter the overall game.
“It’s going to affect gameplay strategy, and I don’t know if that’s something you’re interested in doing,” Cohen said. However, Davies countered that argument by saying, “It might also give incentive to people who are trailing to go into a category and get something from the game beyond their second or third place prize.”
Cohen joked that one of the bonus prizes could be “something really silly,” like getting to put host Ken Jennings in a “dunk tank.”
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Conversation36 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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P
Yeesh. Have they never heard "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"?
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G
They've made other changes in the past. By your reckoning, the bottom row in Double Jeopardy would be worth $100 per question.
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P
Say what, now?
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G
Their ratings drops are showing that maybe something is broken.
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O
A better change would be to allow the runner up contestants to take home the amount they have scored instead of the measly $1000. or $2000.
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G
Used to be worse. Used to be prizes.
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O
Problem is that would increase “playing it safe” bets resulting in betting no money on final Jeopardy, especially in games where the leader can’t be caught.
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O
Like the game as it is. Agree, they are destroying Jeopardy.
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O
Let the second and third contestants keep there final amount of money. Don't drop them down to 2000 and 1000 dollars
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C
Call me a purist. I don't like it. I didn't like it when they stopped the 5 game winning limit either. I wish they'd bring that back.
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R
It would clearly affect a players strategy depending of course on the amount of the bonus. Fellaway is right: it ain’t broke!
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P
They are destroying Jeopardy.
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R
How often does running a category column even happen? If they make it a "prize" beyond winning the most money to win the game for the day -- I'd support that. If they include it in the daily tally, it will make it harder for someone to come from behind to win.
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B
Maybe they should stick with the rules they have and work on applying them fairly. Jenning's seems to favor the returning champion over new players.
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G
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! The length of time Jeopardy has been airing is proof positive that it is already a winning project. Leave it alone and don’t try to enhance your own standing by changing something that has succeeded for so many years just the way it is.
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G
They've increased dollar amounts. They got rid of the 5-win limit for champions. They eliminated the rule that allowed two players tied at the top to win and advance to the next show. They used to allow you to try to buzz in the moment the answer was revealed (instead of waiting until it is read).
So, let's not pretend it is perfect as-is. It might be, but the past is prologue.
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C
All the changes you mention continued to respect the fact that Jeopardy is a competition. That is the soul of the game. This latest idea just gives one player a chance to win a prize and has no element of competition. It’s a bizarre suggestion.
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K
Damn.. and I thought that Mike Davies was, at last, thinking of completely eliminating Bialik as host.
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A
Only if Ms. Bialik actually wants to go would that happen!
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P
Next they'll put runners on second in extra innings!
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C
He’s trying to distract us from all the terrible decisions he’s made by suggesting more terrible decisions. A pathetic strategy. Davies’ theory that this will give players who are trailing a way to get something from the game is nonsensical. If someone is trailing in the first round there is no reason to think things won’t turn around dramatically. Even in the DD it would need to be relatively early for a category to be untouched. Plenty of time for things to turn around. And if a player is so strong in a category, why wouldn’t that category have already been tapped? Has Davies ever actually watched a show?
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G
First, I don’t like Ken Jennings as host of Jeapardy.
Second, Buzzy is right about strategy.
Not worth it
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G
Triple scores in second round.
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C
Bring Mike Richard back these new hosts are driving this show into proverbial brick wall !!!! Please try to rest in peace Alex 🙏
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R
Leave it alone and stop trying to tinker with a proven game show formula in order to show off your newbie's management skills and inflate ego. Remember the golden goose story. Play around with it too much and your audience will tune away.
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O
WWAD? What would Alex do?
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G
Awwww... I already have. Years ago. However, you can sure do it!
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O
I think it would be a fantastic idea! Let's go for it!!
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B
Ummm. No!
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G
Earn more money!!! Of course, get a life if you don’t like it!
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O
People already hate when contestants bounce around the board. This will encourage players to do exactly that if they miss one in a category. Changing the rules changes the way the game is played. "Michael Davies thought it would be a good idea to..." is the new "Jimmy Kimmel thought it would be funny if...."
The game is fine exactly the way it is.
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G
I like it when they move about and play topics they feel good about and will do them the most good. I sure don't hate it when they move about.
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C
Neither do I. It’s a strategy and strategy is just as important as knowledge. As you say, players are doing it to increase their advantage in some way. What possible reason would there be to actually hate it?
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R
Jeez, you are a cranky bunch. Why are you objecting to the possibility of people winning more money?
Jeopardy categories should be played from the top down. Anything to encourage that is good.
(Jumping around looking for the Daily Doubles is actually a bad strategy-- because why would you want to find the DD early, when you are unfamiliar with the category and have little money to bet?)
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C
Who says Jeopardy SHOULD be played from the top down? If that were the case, there would be a rule about it. Getting a DD early prevents the other contestants from getting it and doing serious damage, but nothing says getting it early means you’re unfamiliar with the category. Absolutely nothing. Jeopardy is competitive. There’s a reason there are three players and not one. Changing the game by making it possible for one player to show off and not affect the game score is idiotic.
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G
The "Forrest Bump" has been employed by ALL great and not-so-great champions since its popularization by Chuck Forrest.
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