Jeopardy! Season 40 to Feature Former Contestants and Recycled Material Amid Writers Strike
Jeopardy!, the popular long-running quiz show, is taking a unique approach for its upcoming Season 40 due to the ongoing Hollywood writers strike. Showrunner Michael Davies recently revealed that the new season will utilize recycled material and feature former contestants, a decision made to avoid putting new contestants at a disadvantage with non-original or pre-strike content.
Davies explained the reasoning behind this decision during an episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast. He acknowledged that it wouldn’t be fair for new contestants to make their first appearance on the show with recycled material, so they decided to bring back former players and give them a second chance to compete on the iconic Alex Trebek stage. The season will kick off with a second chance tournament for players from Season 37 who lost their initial game, with the winners advancing to a Season 37 and Season 38 champions wild card round.
In addition to the recycled material, Davies also announced an increase in prize money for Season 40, adding more excitement to the show. However, he was unable to provide a timeline for when the regular episodes would air as the writers strike, initiated in May by the Writers Guild of America, continues.
Davies openly admitted that the best episodes of Jeopardy! are those that feature the original material written by their writers, whom he admires and misses dearly. The writers are currently petitioning for higher wages, regulations regarding artificial intelligence, and better pay from streaming services. Their role is crucial, as they are responsible for crafting the questions that are read on each episode, and their absence is sincerely felt.
The news that Jeopardy! will be using recycled material initially emerged after an unidentified source disclosed this information to The Hollywood Reporter last month. In response, some contestants scheduled to participate in the upcoming Tournament of Champions expressed concerns and even declared that they wouldn’t cross the picket line to take part. However, a representative from Jeopardy! clarified that there were no plans to produce a Tournament of Champions for Season 39 until the strike is resolved.
Despite this clarification, players like Ray Lalonde, a Season 39 contestant, expressed disappointment, stating that the show still intends to shoot new episodes during the WGA picket line. Lalonde, based in Toronto, shared his disappointment with The Post last month.
As Jeopardy! fans eagerly await the start of Season 40, it is clear that the show’s unique approach due to the writers strike has generated mixed reactions among contestants and viewers alike. Only time will tell how this decision will impact the show and whether it will meet the high standards set by its original episodes. The Jeopardy! team continues to strive for excellence while navigating the challenges posed by the ongoing strike, demonstrating their commitment to delivering quality content to the show’s dedicated fans.
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