The 40th season of Jeopardy! kicked off in September, but fans probably weren’t expecting the slew of changes to come.
For starters, Ken Jennings is set to take over as the quiz show’s only host following co-host Mayim Bialik’s exit in December. Just a few days later, the program unveiled a new logo and opening sequence that provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse with shots of crew members, Johnny Gilbert putting on his jacket, as well as Jennings and contestants making their entrances.
The American TV game show Jeopardy! has been entertaining people since 1984. If you haven’t seen one of the iconic show’s 8,000 plus episodes, contestants are presented with a piece of information from a category and contestants must answer in the form of a question.
While changes could risk the nostalgic appeal of Jeopardy!, the show has a faithful fan base that spans multiple generations. Providing some stability is Jennings, a former contestant on the show in 2004 who won 74 consecutive games.
The quiz content for the rest of the season will be a mix of new and old clues that the show’s writers wrote before the Writer’s Guild of America strike over the summer.
In addition, second and third place winners get more prize money. Both amounts increased by $1,000. Second place will take home $3,000 and third will win $2,000.
Last month, the showrunners also introduced mini-tournaments like The Second Chance Tournament and the Champions Wildcard. Both give previous contestants another shot to win money.
Season 40 of Jeopardy is underway on affiliates like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, or The CW, but you can enter your zip code on the show’s website to find out where you can watch the show.