Jeopardy Then and Now

Jeopardy, one of the most successful shows in game show history, started it's 25-year trek with Trebek on September 10, 1984. Currently on break between the 25th and 26th seasons, NBC aired this first 1984 episode last night and I'm happy to say I have taped! Wow, have things changed... Trebeck walks out looking so young and dapper in his charcoal gray suit, crisp light peach shirt and handkerchief in his pocket. A full head of dark hair and a nicely trimmed handlebar mustache, the young Trebeck was a lot less tanned and cocky than he is now.

The contestants are introduced - Greg, Lois, and Frank - two copywriters and an "energy demonstrator". The clue board looks homemade like someone took some cardboard, red garland and a magic marker and whipped it together in their garage the night before. Dollar amounts are minuscule, ranging from just $100 to $500, whereas now they start at $200 up to $1000 for the first round.

The very first clue in the category "Animals" was so elementary, a fourth grader could have responded correctly. The pace of the game is painfully slow despite the fact that during the first season contestants were allowed to buzz in before Alex was finished reading the clue. (They later changed that to allow contestants more time to ponder their responses and to make it more enjoyable for those of us playing at home.) Contributing to the slow pace is the applause after every question and the dramatic gasps of horror after an incorrect response - most of which were aimed at poor Lois who didn't ring in for the first 9 clues then answered her first three tries incorrectly until she hit her stride with the stereotypically female category of "Foreign Cuisine".
She was rewarded with a mere $200 at the end of the first round and a hearty "good girl!" from Alex.

The final round is an exciting one. The clue in the category "Holidays" was"The 3rd Monday in January starting in 1986." All three contestants responded correctly (as did those of us playing at home) and the winner took home a little over $8,000 - the average for the first season. The average take home winnings this past season? $23,000.

Other interesting Jeopardy factoids:

Before 2003, champions were limited to five wins on the show with a winnings cap of $200,000. After that was abandoned, the most famous Jeopardy champion, Ken Jennings, competed in 74 consecutive games with winnings exceeding 2.5 million dollars.

The first Jeopardy episode ever was in 1964. Created by Merv Griffin and hosted by Art Fleming, it ran during the day time but was never syndicated.

The smallest amount of winnings ever was $1.00 and has only happened once.

Only once have all three contestants tied for the championship and all appeared against each other again in the next game.

After the first season, if a contestant attempts to ring in before Alex has finished reading the clue, they are locked out of ringing in for two tenths of a second.

Second place contestants currently receive $2,000 and third place $1,000 for being on the show.

From 1997 to 2002, in addition to their cash winnings, champions also received a car.

In 1999, Jeopardy's first blind contestant, Eddie Timanus, appeared on the show. The only special assistance given to him during his games was a card on which the category names were printed in Braille (which he only received at the very start of the round), and a computer keyboard to type out his response for Final Jeopardy. There were also no video-based clues during his appearances. Timanus won five consecutive games and, according to the rules in effect at that time, then retired undefeated. His winnings totalled $69,700 plus two new cars. He also went on to win $50,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire in 2004.

Jeopardy will begin it's 26th season next week with a brand new set! Can't wait!