Latest news with #Jeopardy
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
The New Dream Job for Young Men: Stay-at-Home Son
You've mocked them as mooches and mom's basement dwellers. They prefer the term 'stay-at-home sons,' and have a new hero in 'Jeopardy' champion Brendan Liaw. Liaw, 27, has a master's degree in political science and, judging by his quiz-show performances, an expansive knowledge of everything from the Middle Ages to pop music. He won $59,398 in three contests that aired last week.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CBS allowed to distribute Sony's 'Wheel of Fortune,' 'Jeopardy' during lawsuit appeal
CBS has notched another small victory in its legal battle with Sony Pictures Television, winning an appellate court ruling that allows the network to continue to distribute 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy' as its court case continues. Sony owns the shows and produces them on its Culver City lot. Last month, a Los Angeles judge ruled that Sony was no longer obligated to provide episodes to CBS, which has served for decades as the conduit, delivering batches of episodes to television stations around the country. After that ruling, the Paramount Global-owned network appealed. A three-judge appellate panel paused the order and asked both sides to submit their arguments. On Wednesday, the judges wrote that they had reviewed filings from both sides. In a one-page order, the panel granted CBS' request to keep the stay in place, allowing the network to continue its distribution duties during the appeal . CBS maintains Sony lacks the legal right to unilaterally severe ties. Read more: 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' in the midst of a legal battle between Sony and CBS Sony terminated its distribution deal with CBS in August and later filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit that claimed CBS entered into unauthorized licensing deals for the shows and then paid itself a commission. Sony also maintained that rounds of budget cuts within CBS had hobbled the network's efforts to support the two shows. In February, Sony attempted to cut CBS out of the picture, escalating the dispute. CBS has said Sony's claims 'are rooted in the fact they simply don't like the deal the parties agreed to decades ago.' CBS takes in up to 40% of the fees that TV stations pay to carry the shows. The company took over the distribution of the program when it acquired syndication company King World Productions in 1999. King World struck deals with the original producer, Merv Griffin Enterprises, in the early 1980s to distribute 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel.' Sony later acquired Griffin's company, but those early agreements remain in effect. Read more: Judge sides with Sony in 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy!' fight with CBS As viewing of traditional TV has declined due to competition for streaming in recent years, the two daily game shows have continued to thrive and are among the most-watched programs in television. A Sony representative was not immediately available for comment. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
People are just realizing Jeopardy! nearly had a VERY different name
Game show fans are only just discovering that America's beloved quiz program Jeopardy! was nearly called something completely different. Television legend Merv Griffin, the creator of the long-running show, originally planned to call his creation 'What's the Question?' before a stroke of genius changed everything. Most fans have no idea about the fascinating story behind how it got its iconic name. While brainstorming ideas with his wife Julann back in 1963, Griffin was deeply concerned about the quiz show scandals that had been popular on television in the previous decade. In the 1950s, popular programs like 'Twenty-One' and 'The $64,000 Question' had been embroiled in controversial cheating scandals when producers were caught secretly giving answers to favored contestants. This left viewers feeling betrayed and suspicious of quiz shows. As a result, Julann made an offhand remark that would change television history forever. She suggested a show where contestants would be given the answers first. This was the exact opposite approach of other quiz shows at the time, Griffin revealed in the foreword to 1990's 'The Jeopardy! Book.' 'She was kidding, but the thought struck me between the eyes,' he said. The early concept was still under the title 'What's the Question?' It featured an ambitious 10-by-10 game board with 100 questions organized into 10 categories. While NBC executives loved the initial run-through, they worried the massive board wouldn't fit properly on television screens. But Griffin responded by dividing the categories into shorter rounds of play - but the show's iconic name was still missing. The breakthrough came during a meeting with NBC producer Ed Vane, who reviewed his notes with Griffin and made a comment that would inadvertently give birth to television history. Vane 'told me that he liked the premise but that it lacked enough 'jeopardies,'' Griffin shared in his 2007 memoir, 'Merv: Making the Good Life Last,' as reported by the New York Post. This led Griffin to decide to implement the crucial component of the game which involves contestants actually losing money if they buzzed in with incorrect responses. Griffin later admitted that Vane had 'inadvertently given me the perfect name for the show'. Jeopardy! finally made its television debut on March 30, 1964, with original host Fleming at the helm. The beloved quiz show has seen five official hosts throughout its impressive 39-season run. But it's best known for its host Alex Trebek, who led the show for an incredible 36 years from 1984 until his death from pancreatic cancer in November 2020. The show is now famously hosted by Ken Jennings, who took over full-time hosting duties after initially sharing the role with 'The Big Bang Theory' star Mayim Bialik.
The Province
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Vancouver 'stay-at-home-son' on Jeopardy! roll
High-risk sex offender arrested in Vancouver the same day he was released Canucks prospect Anthony Romani ready to give it the new college try Canucks: Why Vancouver is now a harder sell to lure NHL free agents Vancouver 'stay-at-home-son' on Jeopardy! roll Brendan Liaw heads into his third round on Jeopardy! Thursday night with close to 40k in winnings Photo by Jeopardy Productions, Inc. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Update: Brendan Liaw won Thursday's episode of Jeopardy, adding another $20,600 to his winnings. He will go for win #4 on Friday. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. 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REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers Article content Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vancouver 'stay-at-home-son' on Jeopardy! roll Back to video Article content Vancouver's Brendan Liaw is on a Jeopardy! roll. With a two-day total of USD$38,798, the UBC graduate is the returning champion on Thursday's episode of the iconic television game show. When asked about the show, Liaw was tight lipped. 'All I can tell you is: it's on at 7:30 p.m. on CHEK (on TV or streaming on their website) or KOMO/ABC,' said Liaw in an email to Postmedia about his third Jeopardy! appearance. Liaw, 27, has a master's degree in political science, but that wasn't the description he used when it came time to talk to host Ken Jennings during Tuesday's episode. 'I was unemployed at the time of taping, still am, unfortunately, and I figured 'unemployed' didn't sound great on TV. I decided to have some fun with it and suggested 'stay-at-home son,' which the producers loved,' said Liaw. 'I figured, if I lost, at least I could make some people laugh.' Canucks Report Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Jeopardy Productions, Inc. While he is still at home, Liaw says his parents are managing that reality a little better these days. 'With two wins and $38,798 under my belt, I think they're pretty content,' said Liaw. Money and happy parents aside, Liaw says he is open to job offers. 'If anyone out there wants to hire a guy who's mildly funny and has broad-based knowledge, please get in contact,' he says. 'I'm looking for employment.' When asked about what his dream job would be, Liaw said: 'something like what Anthony Bourdain did, a travel writer/host of sorts or being one of Conan O'Brien's lackeys. 'More realistically, I'd like to end up in government/law or do research work of some kind.' To get on Jeopardy! you have to do two 50-question online tests, a mock game and an interview. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Liaw reports he went through this process three times before earning a spot on the show. He taped his episodes in Los Angeles in mid-March. Once at the coveted podium with buzzer in hand, Liaw said there was no time for nerves. 'I was probably nervous, but I can't even remember. And there's really no time to even process that you're nervous,' said Liaw. 'The game starts and you just have to play. No time to worry or be nervous. 'I obviously expected it to be difficult, but I was surprised at how difficult it was. Nothing can prepare you for having to compete against other smart people on stage with lights, cameras, and an audience,' said Liaw, adding that he was surprised at how small the studio and set were. Liaw's love of Jeopardy! began almost two decades ago. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content 'I started watching around maybe 10 and noticed that I knew quite a few of the answers. That quickly ballooned into: 'I want to be on the show and show off how much I know and win money,'' said Liaw, who was on the RA McMath Secondary Reach for the Top team throughout high school. While Liaw couldn't divulge anything about tonight's show, he did say he would be watching it with family and friends and that he may do so at Bimini's pub in Kits, where he viewed his first two appearances. Since Tuesday night's appearance, Liaw has heard from all sorts of people and has got a taste of what it is like to have fans. 'It warms my heart and I'm really grateful for the outpouring of support from complete strangers,' said Liaw. 'I didn't expect this many people to care about Jeopardy! And especially about an unemployed schmuck going on television.' Read More It's hard to write a good Rom com but this B.C. writer of hit Hallmark movies wants to help TV series Murder in a Small Town has brought $4 million into the Sunshine Coast economy President Donald Trump's film tariff threat adds to stress for those in B.C.'s flagging film business Article content Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories
National Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Canadian man gunning for third straight Jeopardy! win tonight. Who is Brendan Liaw?
Anyone looking for a Canadian pride bandwagon to jump on should probably watch Jeopardy! tonight. Article content Article content Vancouver's own Brendan Liaw, a 25-year-old self-described 'stay-at-home son,' scored back-to-back victories on the game show this week and will look for a third straight win in an episode airing at 7:30 p.m. ET. Article content A win in tonight's pre-taped show will further pad his two-day total of US$38,798 (CAD$53,787) and see him defend his title again on Friday. Article content Article content It could also help get him out of his parents' house in Richmond, where he lives, having recently completed a master's degree in political science at the University of British Columbia. Article content Well uh, I did a thing. The Thing really. Finally fulfilled a lifelong dream of questioning answers on national... Posted by Brendan Liaw on Thursday, May 8, 2025 Article content The hero is host Ken Jennings, whom he identifies as a fellow resident of Cascadia — a term referring to a Pacific Northwest bioregion encompassing parts of British Columbia and Washington, where Jennings has roots. Article content Article content 'Pretty good gig,' he agreed with Jennings regarding his living situation during their pre-game banter. Article content 'I think they want to promote me to away-from-home son soon,' he said. 'But we'll see how the games turn out.' Article content In his first appearance, Liaw actually got off to a somewhat shaky start in his bid to unseat Mitch Loflin, the reigning three-time champion from California, and hold off fellow newcomer Wendy Pous of Iowa. Article content By the end of the first round, Single Jeopardy!, Liaw found himself in third place with just $1,600 and Poush at $6,200, according to a recap from TV Insider.
