Show them the money!
Contestants on “Jeopardy!” appear to have become increasingly irked over the beloved game show’s refusal to pay basic travel expenses, such as airfare and accommodations — leading the fabled franchise to break its silence on the matter.
Back in June, former “Jeopardy!” contestant Ben Goldstein sparked a conversation on social media by suggesting that the show would be far more “accessible” for potential contestants if the cost of travel weren’t so high.
“Personally, I think covering travel/lodging would make the show accessible to a wider range of contestants,” Goldstein wrote. “Not everyone can afford a trip to L.A. with no guarantee of payback.”
And while he may not have phrased his comments in the form of a question, it appears “Jeopardy!” has been listening.
As showrunner Michael Davies announced Monday on the “Inside Jeopardy!” podcast, all contestants from now on will leave the stage with a larger chunk of change than before.
“The third place prize will move up to $2,000,” Davies said. “[And] the second place prize will move up to $3,000.”
This represents a $1,000 pay bump for the runners-up, who get paid just for appearing.
The change will take effect on Sept. 11, when Season 40 of “Jeopardy!” premieres.
“This is something we’ve been working on ever since I really took the reins of the show … We understand how complicated funding a trip to ‘Jeopardy!’ is for many contestants within our community,” Davies said.
“Jeopardy!” has also faced questions in recent weeks about whether Ken Jennings will continue to serve as the show’s host during the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
After Mayim Bialik stepped down from the lectern in a show of support for strikers, fans have called for Jennings to do the same.
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