‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Reveals Big Change He Wants to Bring in ‘Immediately’
Jeopardy! might soon look a little different thanks to the show’s executive producer, Michael Davies, who wants to change how clues are displayed on screen for viewers at home.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, the game show boss brought up how “some parts of our audience get very lost in our gameplay.”
“Now, with all of the Daily Double hunting, people jump all over. They go to the deeper dollar value first and jump all over the board,” he continued. “I don’t think it would ever be natural to dictate players to play in a certain order.”
Because of this, he wants to enact a change that was previously tried on Celebrity Jeopardy! As viewers saw last season, rather than the clue taking up the whole screen, clues were displayed in a split-screen, with the clue board on the left and the three contestants shown in a vertical column on the right.
Davies said he expected more of a backlash to this change, but because the reaction was minimal, he’s now considering implementing it in regular Jeopardy!
“One change we made in Celebrity [Jeopardy!] that I still find remarkable is that we didn’t get more people commenting on was that we left the three contestants on the right side of the screen,” Davies explained.
“So you could see the full game board when people choose the categories, and we also highlighted where people chose them so you had a real geographical sense of where the clue was coming from,” he added.
Davies said they tested it on Celebrity Jeopardy! first because he was “terrified there would be an outcry from the audience about that being the change.”
Jeopardy, Inc/ABC
“[But] we barely heard a peep about it,” he continued. “So maybe that is something we should put into the Monday to Friday show – immediately. It definitely helps with the geography of the program and understanding where the category is. I think we will continue to look at ways to bring the category into the full screen with the clue.”
Davies did recognize how Jeopardy! fans like tradition, so noted, “We have to be quite careful with changes.”
Responding to the potential change, one fan on the Jeopardy! Reddit forum wrote, “Just put the category on the screen. It solves everything with 0 effect on gameplay. I don’t know why such a simple solution has been ignored or rejected.”
“I think it ultimately comes down to both their text software, post-production costs, and the 4:3 border that Jeopardy still sticks to for appeasing the older crowd,” replied another commenter, explaining why the show doesn’t just show the category on screen.
Another added, “I love the highlighting of the category (the white box outline), that really helps. If really putting the category and dollar value as a heading on the screen is not possible, that’s the next best thing.”
“However, I’m not very keen on having the three contestants on the right of the screen, as there’s simply too much happening on the screen with that,” they continued. “You’re focusing on the board, but then there’s the three contestants to look at too.”
Jeopardy! is currently nearing the end of its Tournament of Champions, which will see Troy Meyer, Yogesh Raut, and Ben Chan battling it out for ultimate trivia glory. The first-ever Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament will follow before episodes with new contestants return in late April.
During the podcast, Davies touched on tournament scheduling, noting the next Jeopardy! post-season (for Season 41) will move to the first quarter of 2025. The producer stated this could be the post-season’s permanent spot moving forward, citing February TV sweeps as the reason.
Fellow producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss also stated that the field of contestants for the next Tournament of Champions would be smaller than 27.
Davies also discussed whether Teen Tournament and College Championship contestants could return to the show. He said he’s interested in creating a concrete set of “eligibility requirements” for these former contestants, similar to another online test.
What do you think of these potential changes? Let us know in the comments below.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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C
Mike Davies is a prime example of a guy who should NEVER be given options. Get rid of him.
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G
The Peter Principle made real.
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C
I like the idea of putting the category name on the screen along with the clue. I sometimes forget the category as things can move pretty fast. The pictures of the contestants isn't that important to me. Also, requiring the contestants to say the full category name slows the pace too much. Having the name on the screen with each clue would keep the viewer informed of the category. Thanks much for the opportunity to share my opinion
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G
Somebody give MD a Lego set to tinker with. Leave Jeopardy alone.
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O
Jeopardy is doing this a lot lately...
What is overthink things?
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G
Perhaps there were less than expected comments regarding the showing contestants vertically on the right because there fewer viewers. Why is it necessary to make changes just for change sake? This show has had the same format since before Alex Trebek joined the ranks. I have watched and enjoyed, the program since the 1950's.
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G
I think I'm tired of tournaments! I'm open to trying the split screen...see if it improves the ability to see the categories on the screen.
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R
Leave the screen alone. The contestants are the most important thing. This new producer is messing with too many things. He's watering down what used to be a great intellectual game show.
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P
Leave things alone
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G
Sounds too busy to me.
I have trouble hearing the answer most times. Closed caption does not give the answer. I think should repeat it.
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B
If by the answer, you mean the clue, you are right. Of course that is because the clue is there on the screen.
If you mean the contestants' responses, my closed captioning always shows that.
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G
I HAVE BEEN HOPING JEOPARDY WOULD ADOPT THE SCREEN SHOWN ON CELEBRITY JEOPARDY. AS I VIEWER I WANT TO SEE THE SCORES WHILE THEY ARE PLAYING TO APPRECIATE THE AMOUNTS BEING WAGERED.
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G
Closed captioning needs work. Responses don’t always show.
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O
I'm of the "if it's not broken, done fix it"
But the time frame of 3:00 is messes my whole afternoon.
I wish a Ken would give correct answers more clear. Think he isj a good host
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O
If they do this it eliminates the need for the players to read the entire name of the category which is time consuming and frankly dumb.
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C
Who put this guy in charge?
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P
The lunatics are running the asylum.
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G
It’s already screwed up with contestants starting at the high dollar category.
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G
And contestants need to start from the top (the lower dollar amounts) like they did at the beginning of Jeopardy years ago. They actually pretty much lost me after they started with the higher money amount. It’s not such a challenge anymore. “Anyone” with the most money can win.
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O
New host
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G
I have trouble hearing the answer, can it be shown on the screen ?
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G
Bring back regular Jeopardy like it used to be.
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G
I wish the clue would stay up on the screen maybe alongside the contestants especially during word or before and after questions because they cut back to the contestant and as a home viewer you can’t figure out the answer because you can’t see the question long enough
I also dislike the importance of the daily doubles in the tournaments now. They all bet it all and then it just becomes who finds it first
And those questions have been really easy lately almost guaranteeing them double their money
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G
It ain't broke, don't fix it! Leave it alone, I don't like changes.
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O
I’m for the change… BRING IT!
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P
Answers too quick on screen.They flash right off and disappear quick if shown at all. Also no more tournaments please boring.Ready to not watch anymore.NEW PEOPLE PLEASE. MORE EXCITING THAT WAY.DO LIKE KEN AS SOLE MCEE
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C
I am DEFINITELY SICK AND TIRED OF TOURNAMENTS. DO THEY REALLY THINK THIS MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING ? I have started watching another channel HALF the TIME .
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O
I like muchly the screen set up as it feel involved but I am sooo very over championship!(t)
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G
It would be more helpful to see the category and the answer. We lose track of the categories with all the jumping around.
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R
Get rid of Ken Jennings, and maybe I'll return to watching Jeopardy.
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B
I liked seeing the contestants on the screen along with the game board. You can see how much money each contestant has. Otherwise, you just get a quick glimpse of their scores until someone buzzes in.
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G
I haven't been watching lately, to many tournaments. I liked it when you had the two hosts sharing their time hosting the show too.
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G
What difference does a tournament make? I play against the boards and keep score. I don't care who the players are.
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G
The closed captioning could use some work. The full response is often not displayed.
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G
I would like to see the category mentioned along with the clue.
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B
Just leave it alone. If it's not broken, then don't fix it! I also don't think the contestants should have to say the whole catagory, especially when it's a long one. One word will suffice. Why make it harder than it needs to be? Also, I am sick of the "champion's" who really weren't!
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O
l like looking for the dollar box before it is shown. What I don't understand is some of them darting their eyes to different areas while saying which one they want next. Some are just too animated/moving around too. Leave the comedy to the comedians.
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O
When did Ken decide it was ok to add his 2 cents!? He talks over them sometimes & interrupts their flow, they don't have that much time anyway. I didn't remember Alex doing that, maybe he did though. 🤷🏻♀️
Shhhh
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C
How about a new host please!!!
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