And the question is …
Jeopardy … danger of loss, harm or failure. This is a simple definition of a word most of us associate with a game show. This is true. The late Merv Griffin, known for his talk show in the 70s and his ability to come up with great ideas, first developed the now very famous and popular game show “Jeopardy.” It first aired in 1964 with Art Fleming as the host. I was in the 10th grade at that time.
I remember other quiz shows of my youth, like Groucho Marx’s “You Bet Your Life.” It was so silly. Sometimes I wouldn’t get the funniness of the show, but my mama and daddy did and would laugh hysterically.
I remember another game show when I was a kid called “Queen for a Day.” The contestants were women who were not exactly rolling in money and would compete for things like washing machines and dryers, a new refrigerator or stove. I remember getting really bored with that show. I actually asked my mother why anyone would want a new washing machine. I told her I’d rather have a sparkly ring or some good smelling perfume like Jungle Gardenia or maybe new key skates. My mother tried to explain that these women needed washing machines or other appliances, but I was not convinced.
Most quiz shows were on during the day like “The Price is Right” and “Truth or Consequences.” I wasn’t nuts about those shows. I always wanted people to have sense and intelligence not just guessing games or games of chance; then “Jeopardy” came along in 1964. It was different. The contestants were given the answer and they had to provide their response in the form of a question. Are you confused? I was hooked by it. Our family was hooked. I tried not to miss it.
Here’s the thing, I like to learn something new every day and I did even back when I was a teenager. That show supplied me new knowledge.
Call me nerdy, but I learned a lot from the early days of “Jeopardy.” It went off the air in the late 70s and returned as the “New Jeopardy” with a new host, Alex Trebek, a Canadian-American who was ideal for the job. He was a game show host and television personality before “Jeopardy.” It became pretty apparent that he had found his niche.
By the mid 80s with “Jeopardy” regaining its popularity, our growing family began to watch the show.
Our daughter, Heather, was a natural.
She seemed to know so many of the answers even at age 10 or 12. She certainly knew more than Bill and me, putting us to shame in geography, history or even musical theater! As the boys grew older, they “kicked butt” (their quote, not mine) when it came to sports. Our youngest of the three boys was a whiz at history and gave Heather a run for her money.
It was fun when the whole family started competing against each other. I could hold my own on literary stuff, anagrams and some theater, even science, but math was a problem for all of us!
As time went on, our four did what most kids do. They grew up, went to college and built lives for themselves. They found spouses and had kids When they come to visit us, we all watch “Jeopardy” together even though the little ones don’t know what’s going on. They just know we’re having fun.
My mother came to live with us in 2013, three years after my dad died. She loved “Jeopardy”, and Bill and I started going into her little apartment attached to our home to watch “Jeopardy” with her every night at 7:30. In her early 90s, she was pretty sharp and was really thrilled when she got a question right.
Now, Bill and I watch “Jeopardy” every night, and if we can’t watch it, we record it for later. I think Bill appeases me when it comes to this show. He likes it alright, but he’d just as soon watch news or “NCIS.” Not me.
Alex Trebek died Nov. 8, 2020, after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. I felt like I had lost a good friend. Heck, I’d been watching the show for all of his 36 years as host.
Ken Jennings, the biggest money winner of all time on “Jeopardy” with over $3 million, will be the first new host. Alek Trebek and Jennings became friends after his long stint as a contestant. Apparently, Trebek thought Jennings would do a good job as a host.
But, I will miss Alex Trebek. No matter who is the eventual permanent host, I will watch “Jeopardy” until my ashes are scattered to the wind. And that’s my final answer.
Coleen Brooks is a longtime resident of Gordon County who previously wrote for the Calhoun Times as a columnist. She retired as the director and lead instructor for the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Adult Education Department in 2013. She can be reached at coleenbrooks1947@gmail.
com.