Jeopardy! Timeline (syndicated version)/Season 12

Season Changes[]

This is the last full season of several things:
- Various shots of the set is used, and the closing animations between the Jeopardy! logo, a shot of Alex, and the day's winners.
- The 1991-1996 grid set is used.
- The large Jeopardy! logo lit up in a rotation of colors.
- The contestant podium monitors turn red for Double Jeopardy!
- The microphone is on the host podium, which was removed from the set early in the following season.
- The Final Jeopardy! responses and wagers were animated in front of the contestants.
- The Jeopardy! logo appeared on the copyright card.
- The sponsor list and the closing credits appear in Korinna font until Season 34.
- The contestants names appear in gold Korinna font.
The Jeopardy! logo and the globe are slightly recolored like more turquoise than blue for the globe. An Atlanta 1996 logo can be seen during the introductions on Olympics tournament episodes.
The word "Jeopardy!" spins around the globe in the center instead of spinning from the left of the screen.
However, the Jeopardy! bumper card and Daily Double logos still remains the same.
The closed captioning bug was removed from the opening credits, but it was only used on Olympics tournament episodes.
Johnny did a slight variation on the Jeopardy! opening catchphrase starting on the July 15, 1996 episode: "An official sponsor of the 1996 Olympic Games, this is Jeopardy!". The sound of the audience chattering returned at the beginning of the show.

September 4, 1995: Season 12 premieres, and Isaac Segal retires with $56,700 despite losing his fifth game, becoming the second champion to split their run across 2 seasons.
September 18, 1995: Len Krisak retires with $43,399 despite losing his fifth game.
September 29, 1995: Linda Roberts retires with $50,404 despite losing her fifth game.

October 5, 1995: Gordon Wean retires with $44,985 despite losing his fifth game.
October 19, 1995: Paul Thompson retires undefeated with $72,199.
October 31, 1995: Vanna White appeared in the clues for the "Halloween/Costume" category.

November 6-10, 1995: Celebrity Jeopardy! is held.
- Stephen King, Lynn Redgrave, and David Duchovny compete on Monday.
- LeVar Burton, Melody Thomas Scott, and Dan Jansen compete on Tuesday.
- Noah Wyle, Shawntel Smith, and Charles Shaughnessy compete on Wednesday.
- Swoosie Kurtz, Charles Kimbrough, and Bill Maher compete on Thursday.
- Jeff Foxworthy, Yasmine Bleeth, and Thomas Haden Church compete on Friday.
November 13-24 1995: The Tournament of Champions airs. Ryan Holznagel won the tournament.
November 27, 1995: Alexandra Grochol lost due to a clue discrepancy in Final Jeopardy.

December 6, 1995: Michael Daunt retires undefeated with $64,198.
December 7, 1995: Alex's children, Matthew & Emily, appear on camera before Final Jeopardy!
December 15, 1995: Brad Plovan retires undefeated with $61,402, this episode aired on the same day; Sabrina was released.
December 18-29, 1995: The Seniors Tournament was held for the last time. David Cuneo was the last winner of the tournament.

January 16, 1996: Barbara Walker retires with $46,100 despite losing her fifth game.
January 22, 1996: Bill Dickenson retires undefeated with $48,401.

February 2, 1996: Bill Sloan retires undefeated with $62,800.
February 12-23, 1996: The College Championship airs. Shane Witlock won the tournament.
February 28, 1996: Bob Scarpone retires undefeated with $42,401.

April 5, 1996: David Sampugnaro retires undefeated with $72,101.
April 15, 1996: Michael Dupee retires undefeated with $66,401.
April 26, 1996: Beverly Spurs retires with $59,001 despite losing her fifth game.

May 6-17, 1996: The Teen Tournament airs.
May 17, 1996: The second final game of the tournament had all 60 clues given correct responses in the Jeopardy! and Double Jeopardy! rounds with two rebounds, and all three contestants gave the correct response to Final Jeopardy!. This game was to determine the overall winner between Derek Bridges and Amanda Goad. Derek had a high enough score going into Final Jeopardy! to wager for the win but mistakenly wagered for the tie, rather than the win. Both of them took home $31,200. Amanda Goad responded correctly and went on to become the 1996 Teen Tournament winner.
May 28, 1996: Alexandra Grochol returned to the show due to a clue discrepancy in Final Jeopardy and lost again the next day.

June 21, 1996: Mary Hirschfield retires with $56,004 despite losing her fifth game.

July 15-18, 1996: the Olympics tournament is held. Ulf Jensen wins the tournament.
July 19, 1996: Season 12 ends, the same day the Centennial Olympic Games opened in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 22-August 30, 1996: Summer reruns air.