‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Ignores Elephant in Room in Season 40 Premiere
Jeopardy! returned with a bit of something old (clues and contestants), something new (episodes), something borrowed (clues, in a way), and something blue (the set).
Season 40 kicked off on Monday, September 11 with Ken Jennings hosting (as Mayim Bialik continues to stand in solidarity with the striking writers) and the Second Chance Tournament. The first group returning from Season 37 were accountant Derek Allen, scriptwriter Gabriel Ostler, and operations manager Jill Tucker.
“Welcome back to Season 40 of Jeopardy! We’ll be kicking off this year with a Second Chance competition,” Jennings said as the episode began. “Over the next three weeks, we’ll be inviting back 27 contestants who probably thought they’d never be back here on the Alex Trebek Stage. Their first games may not have ended in victory, but their strong play showed us they are indeed worthy of a second chance.”
He then went on to detail how the competition play works: “Each week, we’ll invite back nine contestants, who will play in three initial games, with the winners advancing to a two-game total point final. The champion there will advance to our first ever Champions Wildcard Tournament, later this fall. Good luck to all three of you.”
What Jennings didn’t acknowledge was that the episode, as well as all the ones that follow, are using recycled clues and material written before the writers’ strike, and that’s also the reason for the returning players.
“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,” showrunner Michael Davies explained on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast in August. “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.”
What do you think? Did you like that Jennings didn’t acknowledge the major changes, or would you rather have had him say something in the premiere and then carry on like usual in the episodes to follow? Let us know in the comments below.
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Conversation38 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
Who cares? I could watch the same show twice in the same week and not get any more right than I did the first time around!! LOL
49 1
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P
I don’t care. I just want to watch jeopardy and enjoy the game. That’s what it should be about - entertainment.
45 1
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G
I think he did it just perfectly. They made a decision and Ken moved forward with it. I’m just interested in watching Jeopardy without all the worrying about the clues. The players don’t seem to mind.
40 2
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B
Unless the viewer is a genius and has great memory skills, most viewers are not going to remember these recycled clues.
37 1
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P
If a person is smart a
good memory makes a person above others, they will remember, you hear a question second time and that is a memory. a kid that remember better than the next does better, memory is the key, they will remember, lastly, why is he crossing the picket line, is he that desperate, his name will be dirt, you don't do that
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P
Did not matter to me.
32 2
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B
It’s not an issue.
30 1
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G
It doesn't matter to me whether the clues are recycled and it wasn't necessary for Ken Jennings to bring that up. I just plain like watching Jeopardy and Ken is doing a great job.
29 1
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P
he's reading from a teleprompter what good job, he's crossing the picket line, shame on him and you for being so greedy all you're doing is thinking about your own self,
1 7
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R
There have been so many articles about it leading up to tonight's premiere that I think it would have been overkill to discuss it again in the show opener.
26 1
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C
I didn't remember the questions. It was better for Ken to not bring it up. What would be the point? That news is out there already. Keep the game positive.
25 1
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R
I think it was fine and I don't believe it's up to him as to what was said in regard to the used clues.
16 1
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O
Faithful viewer here ….maybe now I’ll actually know some of the answers if they are recycled questions l
7 1
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B
We already knew this was the plan. So no surprise. Just happy they found a compromise so we can continue to see
The show i. Whatever format
5 1
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G
Stop making such a big deal of the way they are handling this obnoxious, needs-to-end writers' strike. Few remember clues when watching rerun episodes over the summer; take a chill pill.
6 2
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G
I'm not so sure these really are recycled nor old clues in some cases... for instance, there was a Barbie Movie clue last night... "Who is Margo Robbie" which was phrased in the present tense. Totally a new clue, so I'm not sure about that statement from the producers.
5 2
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G
I was unable to see the show on Monday thanks to NFL coverage in my area! Not happy about that!! But, I think it would have been good to mention those details. I don't fault Ken for the omission. Obviously, it wasn't his decision. Love Ken as host!
5 3
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R
You can watch on YouTube at your convenience.
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P
I think he did well, otherwise anything he said would be subject to criticism.
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G
Please. Don't we have already have enough junk "controvery" and important things to think about in our lives? Sometimes it's just nice to be able to take things at face value rather than digging for deeper meaning. If we have come to such an era where political correctness gets in the way of thinking about the game questions on Jeopardy...please, just let me enjoy and relax after an exhausting day. I don't need to hear "the rest of the story."
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O
There was a Barbie question about the movie, that couldn’t have been recycled
2 1
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G
Not his place.
2 1
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J
I didn't realize Jeopardy was 'new' last night. I didn't miss watching any more than I've missed watching it all summer through the reruns -- which I never watch, so......
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G
He should show some spine, like Mayim, and refuse to go on. They should all honor the strike.
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R
I remembered the petroleum jelly one
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B
Just enjoy watching it....except it is an appallingly cheap show. The winner got nothing. Second and third got minimal amounts that may partially pay their expenses to get there and miss work. MODERNA advertised and gave the show loads of money.
1 1
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P
What is if you know you know?
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R
I'd like to know how their writers feel about it.
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R
Why would anybody cross a picket line ?
Unions serve a purpose in America. They insure safe working conditions and fair wages - for everybody- not just employees of that union. They tend to set prevailing wages.
When you buy American you are supporting union labor. Labor is what is running this country.
Even tech companies who manufacture in China, depend on American labor..truckers and stevedores .
THERE WOULD BE NO JEOPARDY WITHOUT WRITERS.
OR ANY TV, MOVIES OR STAGE SHOWS.
CORPORATE GREED IS RUINING AMERICA.
HOW DARE KEN JENNINGS BE SO SELFISH.
HE COULDVE AT LEAST GIVEN AN EXPLANATION,
IT WOULD BE AGOOD CONVERSATION TO BE HAD AT HOME.
1 6
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R
It was ok, producers probably didn't want to stir the pot. We think everyone who watches knows what's going on. We still prefer Mayim but understand and respect her decision.
1 7
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O
The elephant in the room isn't that Ken Jennings is a scab???
2 15
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G
Not really. He is not a writer or actor. He is a former champion. Besides, people should be free to make choices regarding whether or not to join a strike without facing unfair stigmas.
6 1
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G
Ken should have disclosed ALL of the facts, imho
4 17
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P
Conflict of Interest Jennings, who has a winning streak to protect, should not be hosting this show. Rather than doing the job he's being paid for, the little man Is constantly playing mind games with the players during the crucial moments that they are deciding how much to bet. When he's not doing that, he's giving beneficial hints and innuendoes to the player he prefers or tries to influence player's DD bets with comments that unfairly put the player on the spot... usually a weak player, while they're pondering their bet, so he can influence that bet and get a weak player within striking distance of a strong player who could be a potential future threat to his precious winning streak record. It's pretty transparent with 5 game + players if you pay close attention. Very corrupt.
5 24
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G
As if the players cannot ignore Ken altogether; he does those things for entertainment value, nothing more.
6 1
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P
What an absurd notion! I don't think he has to worry about his winning record. No one will ever come close and to even suggest such a thing is totally only in your mind!
7 1
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G
That all seems a bit far fetched.
2 1
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G
It seems WAY far fetched. If you think the show is 'corrupt', why do you watch it? Is it just to try to find things wrong with it? Jeopardy is a great show and Jennings is a fine host. End of story.
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