Last month, Sony Pictures Television announced a spinoff for the beloved quiz show “Jeopardy!” focusing on pop culture. The spinoff, whose planned release date remains unknown, will be streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
Having ruled broadcast TV for the last four decades, the quiz show franchise is now looking to make a name for itself on streaming services. “Jeopardy!” announced on their official Instagram page that they are seeking teams of three to compete in the upcoming spinoff.
New Spinoff Marks Culture Change, But Isn’t Unprecedented for Jeopardy!
The announcement of “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” demonstrates that the quiz show franchise is attempting to update its focus to meet the demands of modern audiences in the social media age. However, the new spinoff does not mark a particularly radical shift.
Firstly, pop culture questions – covering bands, popular music, Broadway and more – are already a part of the main “Jeopardy!” show. Secondly, the “Jeopardy!” franchise is no stranger to spinoffs already. Previously, the franchise ran a “Sports Jeopardy!” series and a children’s version of the show called “Jep!”
Jeopardy! Look To Widen Appeal Among Gen-Z
The franchise’s new focus on pop culture represents an attempt by Sony Pictures Television to appeal to a younger audience – as does the decision to host the show on a streaming service rather than on broadcast TV.
However, the original “Jeopardy!” already seems to be popular among younger viewers. A 2022 Civic Science poll found that 18-34-year-olds were the most likely age group to say they regularly watch the quiz show.
‘Gen Z to Zendaya’: Potential Topics Revealed
Sony Pictures Television announced that “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” would span the topics “Gen Z to Zendaya – serving as further evidence that the spinoff will be oriented around the interests of younger viewers.
The “Jeopardy!” website gives further details of what topics contestants will have to be well-versed in. These include, alternative rock, The Avengers, MMA and Broadway. For those at home wanting to test their knowledge on these subjects and more, the Jeopardy website offers its own online pop culture quiz.
Host Remains Unknown: Social Media Has Suggestions
Though Sony Pictures Television have promised that the new “Jeopardy!” spinoff will be released soon, they still have not decided on who should host it. Or, if they have, they’ve done a good job managing to keep the big news quiet.
However, many social media users already have strong opinions on who would be best placed to take on this task. Numerous Twitter users suggested former viral contestant sensation Louis Virtel host, while TikTok star Sabrina Brier also received recommendations.
Not As Easy As It Seems: Pop Culture Leaves Contenders Stumped
Perhaps one reason Sony Pictures Television felt the need to make “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” is that contestants on the regular show have routinely struggled with pop culture questions.
Recently, contestants were unable to name the song “Tuesday” by iLoveMakonnen and Drake. The failure infuriated audience members who took to social media with stories of shouting the right answer at the TV while contestants stumbled.
Past Contestants Weigh In
Not all previous contestants find themselves at a disadvantage with all things pop culture. Speaking to the New York Times, former contestant Audrey Koh described having a scholarly obsession with pop culture. Koh, who was 25 when she competed on “Jeopardy!” in 2020, was eliminated when she flubbed a history question.
Alexandra Petri, a Washington Post columnist who appeared on the show in 2006, has argued that the upcoming spinoff doesn’t represent a complete 180 from the standard quiz show. She pointed out that the regular edition of “Jeopardy!” already asks questions about pop culture on almost every show.
Streaming Exclusivity Further Demonstrates Decline of Broadcast TV
“Jeopardy!” has been a landmark of broadcast television since it’s revival in 1984 and still attracts around nine million viewers on a typical night.
However, in recent years streaming has begun to outperform cable and broadcast TV for the first time ever as the preferred medium of viewing video content. The decision to air “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” on the Prime Video streaming service suggests that Sony Pictures Television are eager to capitalize on this change.
Spinoff News Comes Amidst Other Changing Tides
The announcement of a pop culture spinoff is hardly the first big change the “Jeopardy!” franchise has seen in recent years. After a stable 36 years with Alex Trebek as host between 1984 and his death in 2020, things have been all change for the franchise since.
Former “Jeopardy!” producer Mike Richards was fired as host after just one day as host in 2021. Following his dismissal, actress Mayim Bialik and former contestant Ken Jennings served as rotating hosts until late 2023, when Jennings took on sole hosting duties after Bialik’s departure.
Jeopardy! Success isn’t going to change any time soon
Regardless of whether “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” becomes a successful phenomenon in its own right, it seems as though the “Jeopardy!” franchise is going to remain triumphant.
Proving more resilient on broadcast TV than most other shows and remaining popular across the age divide, it’s hard to see “Jeopardy!” going away anytime soon. We will have to wait and see if the same can be said about “Pop Culture Jeopardy!”
