Jeopardy!

One of the most iconic American television game shows of all time, Jeopardy! was created by Merv Griffin in 1964 as a quiz competition. The nightly syndicated version of Jeopardy! familiar to modern-day viewers premiered in 1984 and has aired every year since.

The game show gives contestants clues in the form of answers for a variety of trivia topics, and players are tasked with coming up with correctly giving their guesses in a “What is…?” format. The top scorer in each game takes home their winnings in cash and returns to play each night until their winning streak ends.

Alex Trebek served as host from 1984 until his death in 2020. Trebek was beloved among contestants and viewers alike, leaving big shoes to fill on the Jeopardy! stage. Following a lengthy search, former contestant Ken Jennings and Big Bang Theory alum Mayim Bialik were tapped to serve as hosts. (Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on the show, winning 74 matches in 2004 and amassing a prize of over $2.5 million.)

Jeopardy! premiered its 40th season in 2023, making it one of the longest-running game shows of all time. The daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! has won 43 Emmys — more than any other game show ever — as well as a Peabody Award.

International versions of the show have been produced worldwide, along with spinoffs such as Rock & Roll Jeopardy!, Sports Jeopardy!, Jeopardy! Masters and Celebrity Jeopardy! The Jeopardy! media franchise also includes books, games and more.