Week Of February 18: What Is Jeopardy?

By Sylvia Gurinsky

The presence of Watson, an IBM-designed computer, on "Jeopardy!" has generated new interest in the long-running quiz show.

The program that's been hosted by Alex Trebek since 1984 is actually the second version of "Jeopardy." It was originally created by talk show host Merv Griffin in 1964, when his then-wife suggested a show in which the answers and questions were reversed.

From an initial title of "What's the Question?" came the suggestion of the show needing more jeopardies from a network executive. The "Daily Double" reference is popular in horse racing.

NBC originally telecast "Jeopardy!", mainly in the daytime. Art Fleming was the host of the original version, which ran from 1964-79 in various forms.

Trebek has continued the consistency started by Fleming. The syndicated "Jeopardy!" is currently the second-highest rated program of its kind - behind "Wheel of Fortune," another Merv Griffin creation.

Part of the discussion over Watson's success on "Jeopardy!" this week has centered on whether a computer can create creatively.

Could a computer top Merv Griffin? I don't think so.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!