‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Responds to Fan Backlash Over ‘New Rule’
Jeopardy‘s executive producer Mike Davies has responded to criticism over a new format change he’s considering for the long-running game show.
Last month, Davies brought up the idea of offering cash bonuses to contestants who correctly answer an entire column of clues under one topic without bouncing around the board. Some fans, including former Tournament of Champions winner Buzzy Cohen, worried that this new rule might have a negative impact on the gameplay.
Davies touched on these concerns on Monday’s (October 3) Inside Jeopardy! podcast, where he spoke with fellow Jeopardy! producer and former Clue Crew member Sarah Foss. While the new rule is something Davies is seriously mulling over, he stated that it hadn’t yet been implemented, so people don’t need to be worried.
“A lot of response, we should say, to my, let’s say, positing the not yet reined-in idea that I floated. It doesn’t need to be reined-in yet because it hasn’t been enacted in any way,” Davies said.
“But a lot of responses on social [media] to award a prize of some sort to people who run a category on Jeopardy! That would not…would not affect gameplay. It would not add to that game total; it would not be there [on players’ scores]. It would be a separate thing.”
When Davies previously mentioned the idea on the podcast last month, Cohen said, “It’s going to affect gameplay strategy, and I don’t know if that’s something you’re interested in doing.”
Fans on the Jeopardy! Reddit forum expressed similar concerns. “I’d worry about the category running bonus creating perverse incentives to do something other than ‘win the game’,” wrote one viewer. “Please, no bonuses for sweeping categories. We don’t need to be making changes to the basic gameplay,” added another.
However, Davies countered these arguments, stating, “It might also give incentive to trailing people to go into a category and get something from the game beyond their second or third place prize.”
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G
Considering it's the same guy who thought Ken wasn't good enough to have the main show to himself, it's safe to say that his judgment isn't exactly the sharpest in the business.
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P
No contestant should be the host. That he's hosting at all is the travesty.
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O
You’re the only one with a rule that says a contestant can’t be a host.
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M
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. What is with all the 'possible changes'?
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O
Agreed. Someone needs to educate Davies on the type of “possible changes” called jumping the shark. They reek of desperation.
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P
Someone needs to terminate Davies and Bialik.
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G
Exactly. Where others [Mike Richards] may have succeeded, Davies can be relied upon to FAIL.
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C
I agree completely. It ain’t broke.
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G
Reigned in? Shouldn't that be reined in? That aside, IMO Davies hasn't gotten a single thing right since he took over. Here's a guideline: 1. Dump Mayim Bialik entirely. If you need two hosts, bring in Buzzy Cohen. 2. Forget triple Jeopardy. If you need to stretch to an hour, play back to back games as Celeb Wheel does. 3. Rewarding a player for running a category that caters to that player's strength is a bad idea. Suggestion Number 1 is paramount.
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O
Amen to #1! I'm sorry, but Ms B. does not deliver any sparkle or spontaneity to show, the way Ken does or the way Buzzy would. Also, it's a mistake to change a format that's worked so well for so long.
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G
As a Jeopardy fan since the late 1960's I agree with Buzzy. Adding cash bonuses WILL definitely change game play strategy and result in different less risky decisions. Sorry - my $.02 worth.
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C
I'd be interested to know who at Sony thought putting Davies in charge was a good idea. He's flubbed every decision from day one. To quote Randy Newman "Who's in charge here?".
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O
Has Davies ever watched the show? He says contestants could use this new feature to get something from the game if they know they won’t win. In the first round there is no foregone conclusion that any one player will win. Even if someone has a huge lead, anything can happen in DD when most of the time anything can happen to turn things around. Sometimes it’s a nail biter going into Final Jeopardy. Why should a player give up early? Jeopardy is a COMPETITION and no one wants to see someone playing alone or giving up prematurely. If Davies wants everyone to get something he should just make the prizes for second and third place bigger.
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C
If it’s not broke (and it isn’t) don’t fix it.
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O
As a longtime and loyal Jeopardy fan, I was looking forward to Celebrity Jeopardy, but I am no longer looking forward to it after seeing the first show. I did not see any "celebrities" on the show, as we had never heard of any of those people. They all thought they were on tv or on their shows and were obnoxious, especially the silly blond at the right of the set. Unfortunately, she won, so we'll suffer through seeing her again.
How about getting some famous people, real celebrities???
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P
Real celebs have better things to do instead of putting up with her.
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C
I think Mike needs to quit messing with a good thing and retire.
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O
I pretty much agree--as the old saying goes 'if it ain't broke, -----------'.
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R
Leave a long-running game show that has demonstrated success for DECADES a.l.o.n.e! Try to make a name for yourself by messing with one of the dozens of stupid, short-lived shows.
What is it with you execs?????
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P
Get rid of that woman!!!
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R
She's just as good as the lovable 'Ssssecret Sssquirrel', over there... Pretty neat how he bought his way onto the show as an executive producer and made himself host. Get over it. It's a game show, and neither of them is Trebek.
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P
Did you miss the fact that Ken has experience as an expert on Master Minds and The Chase? All the experience MB has is as the most obnoxious member of an ensemble cast on a sitcom. As near as I can tell her character was based on herself. She is a mediocre actress, not a capable game show host.
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O
Why don’t the players get to keep all their money? I think that would make for some exciting final rounds. Wheel of fortune allows contestants to keep all their money and $1000 if it’s zero.
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P
On Wheel, only the player who solves the puzzle keeps their money for that round. But if you want to follow Wheel, how about adopting the "no returning champions" rule?
On Jeopardy, particularly the original version, they found that players would stop playing the game once they achieved an acceptable amount of money, and didn't want to put that in jeopardy.
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J
One of the Clue Crew is now a producer of the show? That's quite a career move. ALso, Davies' remarks make no sense as is. Editing alert.
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R
It seems to me the best move for Jeopardy would be to replace all the producers on the show and cancel the celebrity fiasco they also started
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P
Don’t change anything. The show doesn’t need any gimmicks.
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C
I am more concerned with getting rid of the lady cohost. She’s the worst. Giving people extra money for running to category does not even concern me.
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B
Instead of this idea, I think those that don’t win ought to receive more money in the end, especially if they get Final Jeopardy correct.
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R
Davies needs to leave things alone. Mess around with WHEEL or some other long-running show. Some former hot=shots who played with formats that had worked for decades have over-exposed their shows, added cutesy new twists, etc. until no one cared anymore.
Find another job, Davies! You suck at this one.
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R
I’d rather see a change that gives 2nd and 3rd place players their actual final score/dollars. That would be interesting.
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P
Defund Davies!
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P
Davies says the bonus will allow for trailing players to make some money at the end of the game. How many players run categories ... and lose?
But by the end of the game, a buzzsaw like James (or the wannabes) have already gone through the $2000 questions at the start of DJ, so there won't be any categories available to run.
The bonus idea is something I'd expect from people on message boards, not from the producer.
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O
If it ain’t broke…….
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R
How about actually giving 2nd & 3rd place contestants their end of game winnings.? Jeopardy is cheap.
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C
akFirst of all, Buzzy is a stiff; who cares what he thinks.
Ken is clearly the better host - no question about that. Whether you want to give him the whole show or not is problematic. Once you started the whole "guest host" thing, they should have realized that they were going to be open to that type of criticism. Mayim is ok, but Ken is clearly better.
Just be lucky that we didn't get somebody like LeVar Burton, who was truly HORRIBLE.
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C
I disagree. To me, Buzzy is sharp, articulate, hip, and will pull in younger viewers. He's at least a decade younger than Ken and nearly anyone would be an improvement over Mayim Bialik. I say make Ken the only host for the daily syndicated shows and Buzzy for the tournaments and prime time Celebrity shows.
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P
Ken is a mere contestant. It doesn't qualify him to host.
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O
And Mayim Bialik is a third-rate sitcom actress. That qualifies her to host because…?
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R
I think this is a great idea. Always have. Except, they should add it to the point total. $100 in Jeopardy, $1,000 in double jeopardy. It only adds another strategy to the game. And that is the object here to get as many points as you can to win the game. The cash bonus is a bad idea all around.
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G
If the goal is to increase excitement for the viewers (and players trailing a frontrunner), why not alter the Daily Double format wherein wrong answers deduct money from the contestant (who gave an incorrect response) but then is anted into a pot. The remaining two players may then buzz in to answer and risk part, or all, of said pot and their dollar amount then increased or decreased as a result of their response. The strategy of these wagers could be enhanced significantly.
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Over complicates a show that is fine as is.
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