In the midst of the WGA strike, Jeopardy! has become a focal point for TV production issues. It all started when co-host Mayim Bialik decided not to cross the picket line out of respect for the WGA members who write the show’s clues. Ken Jennings stepped in as the host in her absence. Then, Tournament of Champions participants also refused to take part in the show until the strike is resolved. To add to the mix, a representative from producer Sony Pictures Television revealed that the show’s return was delayed due to the strike, with plans to exclusively use the best WGA-written material. This meant that old clues would be repurposed for new episodes.
Recently, Jeopardy! showrunner Michael Davies shed some light on the situation in an episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast. Davies confirmed that the show will be utilizing previous clues that have been “re-deployed” from past seasons, along with material that the WGA writers had prepared before the strike, which is still in the database. However, he stated that it would be unfair for new contestants to answer old questions. Thus, the next season will commence with a tournament exclusively for players from the previous season who lost their first game, providing them a “second chance tournament” opportunity.
During the duration of the WGA strike, it seems Jeopardy! will feature former contestants tackling old clues. But here’s another twist, though it won’t have a significant impact on the viewers: Davies also announced that the prize money for runners-up will be increased by $1,000. Therefore, the second-place winner will receive $3,000, and the third-place winner will be awarded $2,000. This change was implemented due to growing criticisms aimed at the show for requiring first-time contestants to cover their own travel expenses. It could be disheartening to be the smartest person in Iowa, travel to California to compete on Jeopardy!, place third, and then be left with only $1,000 to cover the journey back home. However, having $2,000 instead would make the situation slightly more bearable.