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Season 36 (2019-2020)[]

Season Changes[]

  • With the start of the season, Jeopardy! has a new opening sequence: Various categories names with corresponding objects surrounding them. The Jeopardy! logo zooms out to the center of the screen, with golden beams of light appearing on both sides of it, creating a purplish sky background. Finally, the Jeopardy! logo then zooms forward, revealing the 2013-present set.
  • The contestant introductions, Daily Double, Video Daily Double, Double Jeopardy!, Final Jeopardy! graphics, and the split-screen closing credits gained a new look to match the season's title card.
  • The Daily Double logo next to the contestant's right shoulder has a shadow outline.
  • The Clue Crew consisted of Sarah Whitcomb-Foss and Jimmy McGuire, who are also the original members.
  • Sarah Whitcomb-Foss became the executive director.
  • This is the last season with Harry Friedman as the executive producer, as he retired at the end of the season.
  • This is the last season to be produced by Sony Pictures Television, who had produced the show since Season 19.
  • This is the last full season to be distributed by CBS Television Distribution, due to changing its name to CBS Media Ventures in the next season.
  • This is the last full season with Alex Trebek as the host before his death from pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2020 at the age of 80.
  • This is the only season in which the College Championship used the Sports Jeopardy! music package. It is the last season where the College Championship aired on the syndicated run.
  • This is the last season where the Teachers Tournament is held, it was replaced by the Professors Tournament in Season 38.
  • Filming was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020, along with sister show Wheel of Fortune.
  • This is the third season which doesn't have 230 half-hour episodes, and the first time since Season 2 to not have 230 episodes. Additionally, this is the shortest season to date, with only 190 episodes.
  • The Audio Daily Double is retired, but later returned in Season 39.

September 2019[]

October 2019[]

  • October 4, 2019: The real 8,000th episode of Jeopardy! aired.
  • October 31, 2019: Steve Moulds finishes with a 3-day total of $85,603.

November 2019[]

  • November 4-15, 2019: The Tournament of Champions airs after two years of absence. James Holzhauer, Emma Boettcher, and Francois Barcomb make it to the finals, with Holzhauer winning the tournament and the $250,000 grand prize, defeating Boettcher the second time they match up, and becoming the last Tournament of Champions winner in the Alex Trebek era. A tribute is also made to honor Larry Martin, who died on January 25, 2019, shortly after winning the tournament. James became the longest winning streak, the highest regular winnings for a ToC winner. Emma is the first 3-time champ to make a ToC final since S24 player Doug Hicton. She also becomes the fourth and last finalist as a 3-time champ.

December 2019[]

  • December 4-16, 2019: Jennifer Quail wins $228,800 in eight games, surpassing Larissa Kelly as the second highest-winning female contestant.

January 2020[]

  • December 26, 2019-January 7, 2020: Karen Farrell became an 8-day female champion with $159,603.
  • January 7-14, 2020: Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time airs on ABC, making the last Jeopardy! event hosted by Alex Trebek.
  • January 17, 2020: Veronica Vichit-Vadakan finishes with a 4-day total of $89,001.
  • January 20, 2020: The closed captioning sponsor is announced right after Alex Trebek reveals the Final Jeopardy! category.

February 2020[]

  • February 17-27, 2020: MacKenzie Jones became another 8-day female champion, accumulating $204,808 in total winnings and becoming the last female 5 or more time champion in the Alex Trebek era.

March 2020[]

  • March 11, 2020: Paul Trifiletti finishes with a 5-day total of $106,801.

April 2020[]

  • April 6-17, 2020: The College Championship airs.
    • The Sports Jeopardy! music package is used, including the Final Jeopardy! segment. Previously, the music from Rock & Roll Jeopardy! was used for the College Championship.
    • This is the last time, the College Championship is held in the syndicated version.
  • April 30, 2020: Sarah Jett Rayburn finishes with a 4-day total of $89,300.

May 2020[]

  • May 4-15, 2020: The Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time encore Event airs, including Ken Jennings first and last appearances from 2004.
  • May 18-22, 2020: These episodes are taped without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • May 25-June 5, 2020: The Teachers Tournament aired, making the last Jeopardy! tournament hosted by Alex Trebek.
    • He announces at the top of the show that these episodes are new and hopes everyone is staying safe from COVID-19.
    • As Alex makes his entrance, a disclaimer at the top reads "Taped February 2020".
    • Will Satterwhite, Meggie Kwait, and Ben Henri made it to the finals, with Ben Henri winning the $100,000 cash prize.
    • It is also the last Teachers Tournament in the syndicated run and the last two weeks of shows with an audience in the Trebek-era.

June 2020[]

  • June 8-12, 2020: These episodes are taped without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • June 9, 2020: Zach Newkirk makes his Jeopardy! debut.
  • June 12, 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Season 36 ended early.

Post Season[]

  • June 15 - September 11, 2020: Summer reruns air, including classic episodes from the Jeopardy! vault.
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