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Jeopardy! is a daily syndicated trivia game show, created by Merv Griffin in 1964. The series ran on NBC from 1964 to 1975, and in syndication from 1974 to 1975 and 1978 to 1979, with all versions hosted by Art Fleming. The syndicated version was re-launched in 1984 with new host Alex Trebek, becoming a TV staple. Trebek remained with the show until his death in 2020.
Beginning in 1992, the show has featured celebrity tournaments, and the show created a celebrity of its own with contestant Ken Jennings, who won 74 consecutive games on the show.
The series theme song has entered the pop culture lexicon, and the show itself has been parodied on shows ranging from The Simpsons, to Saturday Night Live (whose oft-recurring parody of its celebrity tournaments included three Muppet references), and has even been an important element of an episode's storyline, with characters appearing on or auditioning for the show on shows such as The Golden Girls, The Nanny and Cheers.
Appearances[]
Kermit in July 2002
- July 8, 2002 — Kermit the Frog appears in a pre-taped clue: "In 1979, I had a Top 40 hit with this song from The Muppet Movie."[1]
- April 4, 2006 — The Sesame Street cast appeared on the show from the Sesame Street set to promote the Season 36 "Healthy Habits for Life" initiative. The first round included a special category, "Sesame Street Eats." When players chose to answer questions in that category, they were shown a short clip of Trebek on the Sesame set, talking with the Muppets about healthy food. Big Bird, Elmo, Rosita and Oscar appeared, as did a dozen Muppet Eggs. The episode was reran in December 2020. (YouTube)
- Sarah Whitcomb, a member of the Clue Crew, appeared at The Muppet Whatnot Workshop for a question on FAO Schwarz and the Muppets.
"Sesame Street Eats"
Alex with Elmo
Oscar and Alex
Alex with Rosita
Big Bird with Alex
A Dozen Muppet Eggs
Sarah Whitcomb at the Muppet Whatnot Workshop.
References[]
- In episode 108 of Muppets Tonight, The AL-1995 Plus Tax computer plays the Jeopardy! theme while he calculates the answer to 2+2.
- Much like how on Jeopardy! the questions are answered in the form of a question, in the Sesame Street game show sketch "The Anything-in-the-World Prize Game," Guy Smiley mistakes Oscar the Grouch's question "Who is this guy?" as an answer in the form of a question.
- In the Farscape episode "I Shrink Therefore I Am," Pilot tells Crichton that nobody is available to assist him. Crichton asks, "Well, what are they doing? Watching Jeopardy!?"
- In his book, Before You Leap, Kermit says his dad has been asked if he is interested in appearing as a contestant during "Celebrity parents Week" on Jeopardy!
- A pastiche of the Jeopardy! theme is used in Episode 4216 of Sesame Street as Leela removes stains from Gabi's sweatshirt.
- Music parodying the Jeopardy! theme appears when Cookie Monster starts playing "The Waiting Game" in the Sesame Street song "Good Things Come to Those Who Wait."
- In The Muppets episode "Generally Inhospitable," Pache says, "What is do you guys ever do any work around here?"
Muppet Mentions[]
Kathy Ireland giving out a clue in 1997.
- Over the years, categories have included "People with Muppet Names," "Rhymes with a Muppet," "Muppet News," "Know Your Muppets," "Survivor 12: The Muppets," "Name that Muppet," '40 Years of Sesame Street," "Jim Henson," "Nom de Muppet," and "Parody Songs on Sesame Street." Also, various non-Muppet categories have had clues relating to the Muppets, including Final Jeopardy. (YouTube) One Final Jeopardy in 2022 specifically referenced Sesame Street Test Show 1. (YouTube)
- The Jeopardy! fansite J! Archive had a listing of questions that mentioned the Muppets, Jim Henson, Sesame Street and Fraggles and more.
- On the January 12, 2022, episode of Jeopardy!, contestant Emma Shirato Almon describes having been one of the kids on Sesame Street when she was 4 years old.
- The Final Jeopardy! for September 22, 2022, had the category "Pop Culture" with the clue being "In 2011 Leland, Mississippi, where Jim Henson grew up, honored Henson and his Muppets by renaming a bridge this, also a song title," with the correct response "What is Rainbow Connection?"
- June 20, 2023 — In the category "Fictional Bands": "Not just the house band on this "show", Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem did "Can You Picture That?" in a 1979 film," with the correct response "What is The Muppet Show?"
Connections[]
Celebrity Jeopardy! Contestants have included many individuals who have worked with the Muppets and/or productions from the Creature Shop.
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Other connections:
- Bob Bergen hosted Jep!, the children's version of the show.
- Don Pardo was the announcer for the original version.