Jeopardy! debuts major change to set for Second Chance Tournament- decades after detail last featured
JEOPARDY! has announced a major change to the set just in time for the Second Chance Tournament.
On Tuesday, December 31, the iconic game show’s Instagram page reposted a fan’s request to bring back the “letters hanging on the ceiling.”
5
Ken Jennings debuted the new Jeopardy! letters on Second Chance Tournament episode this weekCredit: Jeopardy!
5
Giant letters spelling Jeopardy! now hang above Ken’s headCredit: Jeopardy!
5
In the 90s, Alex Trebek stood in front of a red screen with large Jeopardy! lettersCredit: Courtesy Sony Pictured/Jeopardy!
“Two steps ahead of you, my friend,” the account captioned a short video of host Ken Jennings underneath giant letters spelling Jeopardy!
Fans immediately sounded off about the change in the comments- and most were supportive of the decision.
“Wow didn’t expect you guys to respond to me with a reel!! Loving the JEOPARDY! letters above Ken Jennings,” said the original commenter who requested the change, Jay_3085.
“It looks sick,” said another viewer.
The new feature is a callback to the studio design in the 90s until 2002, which fans affectionately call the “sushi bar set.”
During that time, massive letters spelling Jeopardy! were featured behind then-host Alex Trebek on a red screen.
Another fan demanded the show change the Jeopardy! sign back to the original colors.
“Man, I miss seeing those iconic letters go from red to white at the beginning of the show and the Jeopardy! round to blue to white during Double Jeopardy! round,” said the viewer. “Please, please, PLEASE make it permanent for Alex’s honor.”
Beloved host Alex hosted from 1984 until his tragic death from cancer in 2020.
Jeopardy! Set Secrets
Jeopardy! fans don’t see everything behind the scenes from watching on TV. These hidden set features make the show run smoothly:
Each podium has a hidden riser so that all contestants appear to be the same height.
After each clue is read, signal lights go off around the game board, indicating players can buzz in and respond.
Buzz in too early, and you’re locked out for .25 seconds.
The podiums have a small white light in the lower left corner, which tells Ken Jennings who goes next.
Contrary to popular belief, the player with control doesn’t have a buzzer advantage on the next clue.
To the game board’s left is a scoreboard so the players can see their opponents’ scores.
All contestants must bring three outfits to the studio, but only the host and returning champion change for the next episode.
There are wardrobe rules, including restrictions on busy patterns, solid white, purple (like the background), and logos.
Five episodes are taped in a single day, and sometimes more.
The categories, players (aside from the returning champion), and Final Jeopardy! for a tape day are all drawn randomly to ensure fairness.
Female contestants are asked not to wear makeup, which is applied backstage, and don’t wear mascara because of sweat.
Contestants fill out a questionnaire, and producers select five Q&A topics for the host.
Host Ken isn’t allowed to interact with the contestants until after the game.
Players can request to sit in a chair while competing without question.
JEOPARDY! PIVOT
Amid contestant Laura Faddah’s seven-day winning streak, the show paused to air the Second Chance Tournament- where this season’s contestants get another go at the game.
Regular episodes will resume in February.
Meanwhile, Pop Culture Jeopardy! is in full swing, with new episodes dropping on Wednesday on Amazon Prime.
The spinoff’s host, Colin Jost, has been praised for his “star power” and sense of humor.
Though fans initially feared the show would be “dumbed down,” from the original, OG Jeopardy! viewers were satisfied with the content.
“Colin Jost is a really good host,” one fan wrote on a Jeopardy! Reddit fan page. “I’m enjoying him immensely to be honest.
“I think Ken is really good too, but Colin is more telegenic and has a great sense of humor.
“Obviously, he has more star power than Ken too.”
5
Jeopardy! showed off the change on their Instagram pageCredit: Jeopardy!
5
Alex hosted Jeopardy! from 1984 until his tragic death from cancer in 2020Credit: AP
