‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Admits to ‘Horrible Error’ After Fan Protests
Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies has addressed that major snafu from last week’s High School Reunion Tournament, which saw the players’ final dollar amounts appear on screen at the top of the show.
The moment happened last Wednesday (March 8), on the first night of the two-night finals. As host Mayim Bialik explained what was at stake ($100,000 and a spot in the next Tournament of Champions), the camera switched to the players, where the podiums showed their total winning amounts. The editing error resulted in fans protesting that the production mistake had ruined the show for them.
“Right off the bat, apologies to our entire audience,” Davies said on Monday’s edition of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast. “We totally blew it at the top of the show. We made a horrible error where we revealed the final scores at the end in the opening cutaway shot during Mayim’s monologue.”
He went on to say that part of Mayim’s monologue was reshot later in the taping, which sometimes happens in case of incorrect facts or performance issues. “It is standard procedure to take the scores in the podium back to the original level, but it didn’t happen,” he explained. “This was then not caught in post [production]; it was not caught in the final QC [quality control]… there are so many elements that should check this.”
To stop this from happening in the future, Davies said, “We have now put in place a new series of protocols that will prevent this from happening again.”
“My whole thing is to always focus not on what happened and why did this happen in order to punish people; it’s what happened and why did it happen so we can build a protocol to make sure it never happens again,” he stated.
“We apologize for anybody whose experience of this program was ruined,” he continued. “We take these mistakes to heart so hard, the self-flagellation that happens across the senior management team and the post team and everybody involved, that’s a good thing about Jeopardy, we take mistakes really, really seriously.”
Davies said they will strive to be “transparent” with viewers when they make mistakes and will do everything they can to make sure something like this never happens again.
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Conversation34 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
Thanks for this admission of "guilt" and transparency. BUT...the "Horrible Error" in the headline should have addressed your decision to hire Ms. Bialik as a host of Jeopardy. She belongs in a lab doing research...not hosting Jeopardy!
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A
This bashing of Mayim has got to stop. It's been going on for over a year. If this is going to be like this over the years, then Sony just outta cancel the show. All this whining about Mayim is getting real old.
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G
I agree that the whining is dumb. I refuse to watch when she hosts but also don't go straight to my computer to let the world know either.
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G
If she's as bad as she is at doing lab research as she is at hosting Jeopardy, she belongs absolutely nowhere near the lab either. Go back to the sitcoms!
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P
So the producers admit this error wouldn't have occurred if Mayim didn't flub the intro. Now let's see if they notice how she's been no help to the show's ratings, if anything the opposite.
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G
I knew it would get blamed on Mayim. Give it a rest. Not her fault.
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C
The producer literally said they wouldn't have had this issue if she didn't have to reshoot the intro.
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K
This stuff doesn't matter! It was hosted by the bialik. And serious Jeopardy! watchers don't consider any games hosted by the bialik to be watchable. As Ken is now back, I'll happily watch these shows, until Ken sadly departs again.
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P
You need professional help. It’s a game show for goodness sake. The world wasn’t made to make you happy. Mayim is awesome!
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K
Nope. She sucks. And you, my dear, are in the small minority. You don't need professional help - you should be committed to a mental hospital. For life.
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P
Ken's a natural, the actress is acting.
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G
and not well
5 1
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P
Ken is Naturally bad.
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P
It doesn't really matter in the end since the ratings have been down since Ken's weeks.
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P
Not true! Celebrity Jeopardy ratings are through the roof!
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O
That's a different show, and while the ratings for it are fine for primetime, they still pale in comparison to the ratings of the syndicated show (in fact, the syndicated ratings often drop when Mayim hosts, as they did this a few weeks ago for the tournament). Just goes to show that Mayim is probably better suited for primetime while Ken should be hosting the everyday version.
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P
So this wouldn't have happened if not for the host's "performance issues." Is that somebody worth keeping around in the final analysis?
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C
“We apologize for anybody whose experience of this program was ruined.” Considering every show hosted by Mayim is ruined, it seems like you would respect your longtime fans and have Ken host exclusively. This error would never have happened with Ken.
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P
Team Ken is your name? Hahaha. How old are you? Ugh. Ken just made a HUGE blunder a couple of weeks ago as if you didn’t know. It’s a GAME show. I can’t stop laughing😂😂
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R
Now let's get rid of Mayim and have some consistency on the syndicated version.
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P
You hate women. You can’t handle it. Get rid of Ken, Ken, Ken. Ewwww
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C
I'd get fired at work if I had constant "performance issues" rather than get multiple second chances.
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B
Why do you automatically assume that TVInsider's criticism is rooted in sexism? Mayim is a bad host and that's a view shared by both men and women.
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G
I missed this because I don't watch when Miyam is the host..
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I prefer Ken Jennings!! Marlim just don’t have what it takes!
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Re: "the bialek" WTF people. She takes a split second to rule on answers......soooooo what. I'm usually the cynic of last resort, but I enjoy da bode uf 'em, for each of what they bring. Good nit nurse!!!
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G
I think that Mayim is an excellent
host on Jeopardy. The prejudice against her is rude and unwarrented! Enough already...
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They’re 12 yr old boys that hate having a woman host.
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H
I think that passing the buck and blaming Mayim Bialik for the production crew's error is par for the "show business" culture. It is despicable. She cannot be the only host in history to need a second (or 50th) take.
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Ken just made a huge blunder not long ago. But hey he’s a guy. Makes me sick!
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G
I like both host. I think there is too much hate here! What is wrong with people? Relax.
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They need professional help. Badly!
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I like both hosts and think everyone should drop the Mayim mud slinging she does a great jib to let it go already the whinng s getting so old.
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I think mistakes happen. I also think, that too many people are so criticals of others..and only because of their own issues. Take a few moments to juge your self..and look at was to improve or better yourself. Life is about growth and developing. Celebrating successes and learning from tries that arent. Not about critizing and stifling others because you have nothing better to do. Please folks allow yourself an opportunity to grow into better people. Mayim, is a strong woman who has achived so much in school, acting, a parent, her pod casts, and a game show, etc. Celebrate that. That's alot! Its a result of drive, hard work, caring etc. Celebrate that. Shame on all you finger pointers for not having the guts to use constructive words of life, building and encouragement on another human being, and self reflect vs trying to brow beat another person down. Do better!
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