For more than sixty years, Jeopardy! has stood as one of television’s most celebrated quiz shows. Created by Merv Griffin in 1964, the format flipped traditional trivia by giving answers first and requiring contestants to respond in question form. That structure, paired with its fast-paced intellect, helped define the show’s unique identity in pop culture.
The series’ legacy is inseparable from longtime host Alex Trebek, who guided Jeopardy! from 1984 until his passing in 2020. His calm authority and genuine warmth made him one of TV’s most admired figures. During Trebek’s 36-year tenure, Jeopardy! earned multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and cemented itself as a staple of syndicated television.
After Trebek’s death, the show embarked on a widely discussed host search that saw several celebrities—among them Anderson Cooper and LeVar Burton—audition for the role. Ultimately, the hosting duties were shared between record-setting champion Ken Jennings and actress-neuroscientist Mayim Bialik. Jennings, who famously won 74 consecutive games, now serves as the show’s permanent host following Bialik’s departure in December 2023.
The franchise has since expanded with successful spinoffs, including Celebrity Jeopardy! for charity matchups and Jeopardy! Masters, which pits elite players against one another. Tournaments like the High School Reunion Tournament and National College Championship continue to bring younger audiences into the fold.
This week, contestant Katy Lentz sparked online debate for her choice of strategy. A University Brand Manager from Mauldin, South Carolina, Lentz played “top-down”—starting from the lowest dollar value in each category rather than hunting for Daily Doubles.
“Katy Lentz caught some heat online after she opted to use a throwback way of using the trivia contestant’s clue board while competing against fellow contestants Emmanuel Calivo and one-day champion Tom Devlin,” The Mirror U.S. reported. “At some point during the game, Katy […] kept going to the top of the board when she picked close, seemingly implementing Jeopardy!‘s famous ‘top-down’ method.”
On Reddit, whatzite wrote: “Not saying this to be mean but Katy going to the top of the board whenever she had the chance like it’s 1983 is so odd to me, especially with both daily doubles still out there and a super strong player with a big lead.”
Another user replied: “I’ll give some more latitude if it’s a wordplay category since it’s often way harder to get the pattern when you’re bouncing. Clearly she wanted TV, which makes sense, but yeah, you gotta hunt for the DDs when you can, especially as a trailing player.”
Meanwhile, a user on X shared support for the contestant: “KATY LENTZ of Mauldin, South Carolina, you were amazing on ‘Jeopardy!’ last night, although you didn’t win, you’re still a champion to me.”
Lentz finished with $5,800, while Tom Devlin took the win and returned to compete on October 23, 2025.
Earlier this year, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune took a major step forward in accessibility. Sony Pictures Television announced that in-season episodes will now stream the day after their broadcast.
“Sony Pictures Television announced the multi-year, co-exclusive, national next-day streaming licensing deals on Tuesday,” Variety reported. “As part of the deal, Sony said this is the first time that in-season syndicated episodes of Jeopardy! and Wheel would be available on national streamers; library episodes of the shows will also be available.”
The move arrives amid Sony’s ongoing legal dispute with CBS over distribution rights, but the studio expressed excitement for the expansion. “These deals will expand Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune’s reach to a new generation of viewers while ensuring that existing fans can enjoy their favorite shows with greater accessibility, deepening the fandom overall for these formidable franchises.”
Jeopardy! continues to air new episodes on local ABC affiliates, while previous seasons stream on platforms like Pluto TV, Hulu, and Netflix. Primetime specials often premiere on ABC or Disney-affiliated services.
After over 9,000 episodes and 40-plus Daytime Emmys, Jeopardy! remains one of television’s cultural cornerstones—an enduring showcase of intellect and quick thinking that continues to captivate generations of viewers.
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