Milestone has 'Jeopardy!' feeling like a million

By David Bauder
Associated Press

'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek talks with contestants during the $1 million tournament. Associated Press 'Jeopardy!' 5 p.m. weeknights KHON

It wasn't a rock star or a particularly limber Rockette. Instead, it was a man standing onstage under hot lights, answering trivia questions so arcane they would give most people a headache.

At a pivotal point in the first "Jeopardy!" $1 million tournament, the contestant made a bold gamble that instantly impressed the audience with his courage.

The vagueness here is intentional; the person's name, the risk and outcome won't be revealed, to preserve the surprise. The two-week "Jeopardy!" tournament that began last Wednesday will conclude with the two-day finals next Monday and Tuesday.

During the taping in Manhattan earlier this spring, contestants waded through categories tougher than the typical game: "Four Syllable Words," "Near East Ancient History, "Circus and Carnival Cinema" and "Architects."

The finale is terrific — a tight, taut contest that, like the tournament itself, calls attention to a game that's been successful for so long that it's taken for granted.

The competition was filmed in New York, away from its usual California studio, to help mark the 4,000th episode filmed since "Jeopardy!" was revived as a television game show in 1984.

Recently, producers have tweaked the show a bit, adding a team of well-scrubbed young people who travel nationwide filming video clues; it's also doubled available prize money. "Changing the show without changing the game," said executive producer Harry Friedman.

The $1 million tournament is a longtime dream. Many ABC stations air "Jeopardy!," and the network was wary about whether a high-stakes contest would give viewers a bad impression of game shows, Trebek said. The success of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" eased those concerns.