JEOPARDY! {4000th EPISODE SPECIAL} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of game/quiz programs, hosted by Alex Trebek, in which contestants are given answers and must reply with the corresponding questions. This special episode, filmed at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, celebrates the series' 4,000th installment.
Trebek takes the stage and, after saluting longtime announcer Johnny Gilbert, introduces clips of the show's earliest days back in 1964 with original host Art Fleming. In an interview clip, series creator Merv Griffin describes worrying that no networks would buy a quiz program after the infamous 1950s quiz-show scandals, prompting his then-wife Julann Wright to suggest creating a show in which the host "gives them the answers." Griffin then considered the bland title "What's the Question," but later switched to the more tantalizing "Jeopardy!".
Trebek then discusses the ideal contestant, noting that one must be "dignified and grounded" and possessed of quick reflexes, introducing a series of funny clips of nervous, elated, and tongue-tied contestants. He highlights the popular celebrity episodes, which have raised at least $2.5 million for various charities and shown many famous figures at their cleverest — or their worst, like when basketball star Charles Barkley missed an obvious Michael Jordan question. Trebek then praises the writing staff, known for coming up with clever category names and clues, often involving puns, and notes his own involvement with the USO.
Next, the host highlights the many changes and new developments over the years, including the recent decision to double the prize amounts in every category and the creation of international games, college championships, teens and kids shows, and the debut of the "Clue Crew," four roving correspondents who deliver clues from all over the globe. Finally, Trebek discusses the show's great popularity and influence on popular culture, displaying a series of TV shows and movies, like 1988's "Rain Man" and 1993's "Groundhog Day," in which the series is notably mentioned or shown. Also included are the parody sketches on "Saturday Night Live," in which comedian Will Ferrell portrays a perpetually exasperated Trebek. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: November 30, 2001 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:71733
- GENRE: Game/Quiz
- SUBJECT HEADING: Game/Quiz; Specials
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1964-1979 / Syndication - 1974-1975; 1984-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harry Friedman … Executive Producer, Writer
- Lisa Finneran … Producer
- Rocky Schmidt … Producer
- Gary Johnson … Producer
- Swampy Hawkins … Producer
- Veronika Lineberry … Producer
- Gina Russo … Producer
- Renee Reynolds … Associate Producer
- Lisa Adkins … Segment Producer
- Terre Catalano … Segment Producer
- Kate Varley … Segment Producer
- Merv Griffin … Created by
- Kevin McCarthy … Director
- Alex Trebek … Host
- Johnny Gilbert … Announcer
- Merv Griffin … Interviewee
- Charles Barkley
- Will Ferrell
- Art Fleming
- Michael Jordan
- Julann Wright