‘Jeopardy!’: Fans Want These Changes in Season 42
Season 41 of Jeopardy! is coming to a close, and fans are already making a wishlist for changes they are hoping for next season. The last episode of the season will air on Friday, July 25, and then resume with Season 42 in September.
“There were changes to the set a month into the season. No, the show did not receive an entirely new set; it’s still the same one that we’ve had since Season 30, but with more modifications. The single biggest change was the game board becoming one large screen. Other changes included a new monitor for Final Jeopardy, and the golden arches on the stage floor were replaced with circle outlines. Last but not least, a physical Jeopardy! logo was added on top of the set when the postseason tournaments began,” a Reddit user said.
The original poster went on to say that they hope for a new title card and graphics package, which others agreed with. They also want new theme and think music. The current music has been the same since Season 25.
As for set changes, fans hope to see the Jeopardy! logo behind host Ken Jennings‘ head moved to a different spot, making the lecterns look more modern, and new LED fixtures added behind the backdrop.
One issue that a lot of fans agreed on is increasing the value of the clues. Aside from Daily Double wagers, the highest clue value is $2,000. “It’s the 25th anniversary of increasing the clue values. They need to be increased again, it’s way overdue,” a Reddit user said. Many agreed with the comments, with some saying the values should be “retroactive.”
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One big change that almost all of the fans agreed on is the tournaments. Some think there are too many, others think they should be spaced out. One fan thinks that since Jeopardy! Masters and Celebrity! Jeopardy received low ratings, and they should be canceled, but Celebrity Jeopardy! was already renewed for a fourth season.
“Space out the tournaments more evenly instead of holding them back-to-back. For example, hold Second Chance in November, Champions Wild Card in February, and then ToC in May,” one fan said. “Scrap Second Chance and Champions Wild Card altogether, and bring back the other annual tournaments that are currently on hiatus, such as the Teen Tournament and College Championship.”
“Don’t make Jeopardy Invitational an annual thing because after two years, viewers are beginning to get fatigued from that one. Instead, hold it once every few or so years, like during a milestone season/event. Also, JIT doesn’t need to be held right after ToC; there can be several weeks of regular play, and then do JIT.”
Others want the tournaments to go back to the old format, meaning the two-week, 15-player format from the Alex Trebek era.
“Hoping the tournament of champions can go back to the old format, but it seemed impossible. Any tournament using the standard 15-person lineup is pretty good already. And I think it’s hard for people with only 4 wins or more advancing. In season 41 TOC, there was a need since there were insufficient spaces for 15. The old tournaments like Teen, College, and Teachers Tournament are OK to revive!” said another.
“My view is that while I like and appreciate the tournament structure, it really needs to be clearly set out for fans what it’s going to be and it can’t be changed on a whim when most of the people that watch this program are not online all the time. You need to really spell it out for folks. I would also like to see an explainer about why these players need a second chance or got into champions wild card for people that might not remember who they are,” one last fan said.
What changes do you hope are made in Season 42? Do you agree that there are too many tournaments? Let us know in the comments.
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Conversation27 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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My husband & I are so sick & tired of tournaments that we change channels. So tired of the same people over & over & over again. Very irritating
Give fresh people a chance at making some money! PLEASE! We love Jeopardy & Ken Jennings as host but cannot stand one more tournament.
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Get rid of Celebrity Jeopardy! It's a joke! They pretty much get "no name" celebrities who aren't too smart. Not entertaining at all!
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Celebrity Jeopardy is its own show. It does not interfere with or alter the regular season of Jeopardy in any way shape or form. If you don't like Celebrity Jeopardy, simply don't watch it and stick to the Jeopardy you like.
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I also see primarily popular TV personnel who aren't necessarily meant for quiz-like competitions. IMO, Celebrity contestants from the past were better; regarding the recent setup, it's now a Triple-Jeopardy game, and the winner is tentatively invited to the TOC: tentative b/c it's still uncertain whether they will actually appear in the TOC (e.g., Lisa Ann Walter).
I find Ike Barinholtz's situation special b/c he had a major individual accomplishment that no other Celebrity Jeopardy contest has surpassed. If I remember correctly, on a particular game, he had 0 incorrect responses AND a perfect 51/51 attempts out of 90 clues (Total clues in a Triple-Jeopardy game)---even before the TJ round, he ended DJ with a perfect 35/35.
Still, detail-oriented viewers can nitpick about one of his moments in the TOC: carelessly, simply associating comparisons with metaphors (especially when it's already stated in the clue) instead of broadly referring to figurative language.
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Too many different tournaments. They edge out the regular shows.
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If the tournaments are evenly spaced out, then there's really no problem with having them. And that was the case when Alex was hosting. It wasn't until Season 40 when viewers had tournament fatigue; in particular, those different groups for the first Champions Wildcard were what took up a good bulk of the season.
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I would like to see the second and third place contestants get more money. This is 2025! At least give $5000 for second place and $3000 for third place. If they win more than that, then give them up to $10,000 for second place and $7,000 for third place. Don't be do cheap!
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I will continue to repeat my (and others') suggestion until, well, the powers that be and media platforms like TV Insider give it the consideration it deserves:
LAUNCH DIGITAL/TYPED ANSWERING TO THE FINAL JEOPARDY CLUE. This will eliminate those infamous, controversial "scribblings" that have dogged the rulings and the contestants too many times.😱
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Bring back the 5 game rule. I get tired of seeing the same person for weeks. If it needs to be changed, make it a 7 -10 game limit.
Change the final jeopardy rule so a person can't win by running up the score and then betting so little that they can't be caught.
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Please bring back the 2001-2005 theme music
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Is Justina Machado Hosting Jeopardy?
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I think spacing tournaments farther apart keeps the whole idea fresh and exciting. Do add Teen and College/University Tournaments back.
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Yes!
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Don’t bother changing the Final Jeopardy “Thinking” music, our ten year old dogs howl to the heavens when it starts and have done since they were puppies! Only that segment, the introduction and closing music they ignore!!
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I wonder if Justina Machado could be the Latina Host of Jeopardy in September.
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I wonder if Justina Machado would be the Latina host of Jeopardy!?
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Up the clue value. Return to the theme and think music of the early days. Way fewer tournaments.
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Yes!
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We love the 'Thinking' music, it really is Jeopardy. Please don't change. Whats wrong with tradition, why do we have to change!
We're usually sad when it's the final question, and it's only wrong by one word, like a, an, of or the etc. We're even sad when a word in the answer has a slight spelling mistake. Feel sorry for that person, especially when he/she has the answer and the other two don't!
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Tired of "Amy"!!!
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I think regular-season 2nd and 3rd place winners should receive the amount they earned by the end of the game, with a guaranteed minimum of $3K and $2K, respectively. Some of these also-rans play magnificent games and should be rewarded accordingly.
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Return to the OG "answer and question" format and ditch "clues."
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Actually they updated the think music in 2021 beginning with season 38
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Keep Ken Jennings on! Let second and third place winnings be increased. Scott the recent many time winner was great with a pleasing personality. I was sorry to see him lose but happy another person has a chance at winning.
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In my humble opinion you have to keep the same theme music. It's a tradition.
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Some guests have categories designed for their expertise. Jeopardy has become more entertainment than serious quiz program.
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Contestants should have to show an X-Ray of their brain.
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