Jeopardy!

This is the version of "Jeopardy!" I REALLY remember and enjoy.

When I was 6 years old in 1968, I would run home from school at lunchtime just to watch "Jeopardy!" And, for some strange reason, I would always applaud whenever a contestant found a Daily Double (maybe because the audience did?). Sometimes I would also hum the "think" music, and my younger sister made up her own nonsensical lyrics. (The theme of the original "Jeopardy!" was an instrumental, not the "think" music, which featured a muted trumpet solo.)

Another big difference between the original and current versions, in addition to adjusting for inflation in the dollar amounts of the clues and technological advancements, is that during the contestant interviews in the original, there weren't any smart-assed jokers who thought they were funny (e.g. doing idiotic impressions, playing body parts as "musical instruments," or making up stupid puns, which were most likely scripted; that kind of, to rephrase the title of one of George Carlin's monologues, "goofy crap" seems better suited for "The Gong Show" or if John Waters decides to make a "Polyester, Part 2" in Odorama - get it about the latter reference?). In the original "Jeopardy!," they were mostly ordinary people who acted and played like adults, which is more than can be said for some of today's contestants.

If Sony was smart, they should have put THIS original version of "Jeopardy!" on DVD; after having seen a snippet of it on "American Dreams" last year, that only whetted my appetite even more. When Game Show Network reran the original "Jeopardy!" in 2001, my landlady did not have the tier that had GSN added on her satellite. Now that she since has, GSN recently told me in an e-mail they have no plans to show the original "Jeopardy!" again anytime soon, sadly.

But, for those of us who WOULD like to see the original late 60's - early 70's version of "Jeopardy!" released on DVD, be sure to go to TV Shows on DVD.com and vote for it; the original version was added to their list three weeks ago.

Who wants to see a DVD mostly full of Ken ("The Cheater") Jennings? I sure WOULDN'T waste my hard-earned $20 on that one! (And since they currently own the rights to the track, as well as now being a part of Sony's corporate family by virtue of Sony's purchase of BMG Music, perhaps Arista Records should re-release pop group Bob Kuban and the In-Men's 1966 Top 40 hit "The Cheater" as a CD single, put Jennings' face on the CD label, and include it as a bonus with that forthcoming DVD of "Jeopardy!" Or better yet, maybe Arista should make a music video using snippets of Jennings' "Jeopardy!" appearances with "The Cheater" as music and release that as a bonus DVD single with the DVD of "Jeopardy!" L.A. Reid, if you're reading this, and since you're now Arista's president, be aware - you're sitting on a potential goldmine!)

However, Sony, PLEASE do all of us who would like to see the ORIGINAL late 60's - early 70's version of "Jeopardy!" with Art Fleming again a BIG favor - PUT IT ON DVD SOON!!!!

In the meantime, anyone who would like for that to happen please be sure to go to TV Shows on DVD.com and vote for it; thus far, the original "Jeopardy!" netted only 31 paltry votes. Let's turn that number into 100 or more votes and tell Sony we want the ORIGINAL "Jeopardy!" to be released on DVD!

OK, OK,OK,OK. so this is the original jeopardy, eh? leave it to Art Fleming to host the show.

so for all of you who haven't seen the original or the newer jeopardy, here's the basics: you get a board with 30 questions, and 6 categories to split them up. the idea of the game is to respond the question instead of an answer. the answer is given, and the contestant will ask the question. pretty cool, eh? But remember, this is olden day jeopardy, so, let me break it to you easy. the dollar values ranged from 10-50 dollars. the board was covered by a curtain. and not-so-flashy music to introduce the game. well, in 1984, Merv griffin made the right choice, and brought the show back, and then hired Alex Trebek.

the old game is just like a 60's game-show. old school. but, if you find one of the old jeopardies game-shows, or find one of the first 1984-1985 season episodes, put it in a museum. the game-show is history itself.

just give it the 7.5/10. pretty good for an old game, eh?

The original Jeopardy was a warm, kindly show about knowledge, instead of cut-throat competition and money. The questions were every bit as difficult, but all the contestants came away looking smart if they got even one answer correct. I remember being impressed with my mom for knowing a few answers ... and my mom really was never that smart!

When Art Fleming informed a contestant that an answer was wrong with his "No ... sorry," you believed he was truly sorry. Art never pretended that he knew all the answers before his writers provided them to him. What a lovely guy. One thousand times better and nicer than that *current* host.

Even the theme music sounded friendlier back then. The whole show was a little less polished and a little more natural than today's version. But that's the way of the world, I guess.

EVER since the dawning of the Broadcast Era via Signore Marconi's Wireless Wonder, the old Quiz Show has been a popular staple of the networks annual offerings of items on the Public's dietary listening/viewing menu. Day after day, monthly habits varied little year to year. At the end of the "day", after all is said and done, the top shows' categories consistently reflected our collective need for light, escapism; accordingly, the two genres that gave us the chance to get our rationing of levity were the Comedies and the Quiz/Game Shows.

CARRYING the tradition over from Radio to the upstart cousin medium of Television, literally hundreds of ideas were put into play, some new to TV (Dotto*, Play Your Hunch, Tick-Tack-Dough) to some carry over adaptations from the Radio Daze (Truth Or Consequences, People Are Funny). But regardless of the origin of the shows, we must ask the question; just what sets a successful show from an also ran? What elements endow one program with a seemingly cult following of loyal, die-hard fans; yet leaves the majority of candidate shows either D.O.A. or foundering as a meandering also ran?

MAKING the ultimate difference between success and failure is the ability to bring a unique angle and philosophical outlook to its presentation; while, at the same time, maintaining a simplicity of execution. Luck, as in all endeavors, is also an intangible; for who was it who said, "I'd always rather be Lucky than Good"?

CREATED by the fertile mind of Mr. Merv Griffin, JEOPARDY leads the pack in being the least forgettable of the game shows. As indisputable proof to any doubters or detractors, we remind you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury; that there have been two (that's 2) separate and distinct incarnations of the Show. The initial run, which was first to tickle our fancies ran 11 years on NBC from 1964-75 when it captured an unanticipated following. The Second and Current Edition is currently running in Syndication. Its life span has gone over the 20 year mark; being 1984-Present and beyond to ????

INASMUCH as we've already addressed the success of the "Modern", Alex Trebek version; we will confine our remarks and analysis to the "Original", Art Fleming hosted series.

AS far as can be ascertained the success of the show is due to the following elements which are all inter-connected, elementary and obvious; which all add up to a successful and memorable series.

FIRST of all, where a laugh or two never hurt any entertainment; dignity is always maintained, first and foremost.

SECONDLY, the prize $$$ is substantial; but never so extremely high as to encourage any extracurricular tutoring and coaching of the contestants; ultimately leading to cheating and widespread dishonest sneakiness!

THIRD off, we have a stimulating array of questions; all of which range from moderately difficult to "real hard". Furthermore, the questioning is presented in a sort of topsy-turvy, reversal of the norm in its format. In this case, we see how the otherwise simple switch of giving the Answer and requiring the Contestants to respond with the proper Question makes for something that is seemingly totally other.

LASTLY, and to no small cause, the selection Mr. Art Fleming (1924-95), an Actor by trade, as the original Emcee/Host/Head Inquisitor, was an exercise in absolute TV Brilliance. Art gave us a Moderator who maintained a high level of dignity and academic curiosity; while at the same time emanated a high level of proper humor, good will and sympathy for the Studio Contestants.

IN any case, Creator Mr. Merv Griffin and Host, Mr. Art Fleming deserve to get an A+ for bringing us JEOPARDY; as does Mr. Alex Trebek for Reviving, Producing and Hosting the Series' 2nd Coming. In this, both Schultz and I heartily concur.

NOTE: * Ironically, it was this daytime DOTTO, picture-puzzle game, rather than the Big Money,Heavy Hitter$ like THE $64,000 QUESTION and TWENTY-ONE, that began the Big Quiz Show Scandal of the Mid-'50's.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!