Why the 1978 Version of Jeopardy Failed - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howilu · 04-27-2025, 09:02 AM

Three years after NBC canceled Jeopardy, the show returned in October, 1978 with Art Fleming as host and John Harlan replacing Don Pardo as the show's announcer. Also, this version was taped in Burbank instead of New York. Unfortunately, this incarnation was canceled in March 1979. So why did this version of Jeopardy fail?

1. The game was changed drastically. After the Jeopardy round, the lowest scoring player was eliminated and only two players competed in Double Jeopardy. There was no Final Jeopardy in this incarnation, replaced by the new Super Jeopardy bonus round where a contestant could win a minimum of $5000 if they can get five correct questions in a row without missing three.

2. It was likely there were low network clearances since the network aired the show at 10:30 ET where the Twin Cities affiliate at the time aired a local talk show Twin Cities Today while others may have carried Phil Donahue. When NBC moved the show to noon ET, a number of affiliates probably aired local news instead of Jeopardy.

Feel free to post your thoughts on this run of Jeopardy.

Dude111 · 04-27-2025, 06:33 PM

I like how it was when it started...... (Well how it was when I started watching it in the 80s)

04-27-2025, 09:02 AM	#1
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Why the 1978 Version of Jeopardy Failed Three years after NBC canceled Jeopardy, the show returned in October, 1978 with Art Fleming as host and John Harlan replacing Don Pardo as the show's announcer. Also, this version was taped in Burbank instead of New York. Unfortunately, this incarnation was canceled in March 1979. So why did this version of Jeopardy fail? 1. The game was changed drastically. After the Jeopardy round, the lowest scoring player was eliminated and only two players competed in Double Jeopardy. There was no Final Jeopardy in this incarnation, replaced by the new Super Jeopardy bonus round where a contestant could win a minimum of $5000 if they can get five correct questions in a row without missing three. 2. It was likely there were low network clearances since the network aired the show at 10:30 ET where the Twin Cities affiliate at the time aired a local talk show Twin Cities Today while others may have carried Phil Donahue. When NBC moved the show to noon ET, a number of affiliates probably aired local news instead of Jeopardy. Feel free to post your thoughts on this run of Jeopardy.
	Last edited by howilu; 04-27-2025 at 09:02 PM. Reason: misspelled word

04-27-2025, 06:33 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,843	I like how it was when it started...... (Well how it was when I started watching it in the 80s)