'JEOPARDY!' TO MARK 6,000th EPISODE MILESTONE DURING SEASON 27
New Season to Feature First-Ever Teachers Tournament, IBM Supercomputer to Rival Humans and More
Episodes to begin Monday, September 13
CULVER CITY, CALIF. (September 10, 2010) - Jeopardy!, the most honored quiz show in television history, begins its 27th season of syndication Monday, September 13. This season the blockbuster series will reach its 6,000th episode milestone and introduce a set of challenges never seen before.
Jeopardy! will play host to a variety of special competitions, including a brand new two-week Teachers Tournament featuring 15 outstanding teachers, set to air in May 2011. This is the first time a new competition has been introduced on the popular quiz show since Kids Week in 1999.
Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek said, "We have found that teachers perform very well on Jeopardy!. We are looking forward to showcasing their achievements, rewarding them for their dedication and recognizing their commitment to the future of America."
The winner of the tournament will receive $100,000 and a spot in the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions.
As previously announced, IBM is continuing to develop a supercomputer with the ultimate goal of competing against Jeopardy!'s best and brightest contestants. Code-named "Watson" after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, the computing system is designed to rival the human mind's ability to understand the actual meaning behind words, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant content, and ultimately, demonstrate confidence in delivering precise final answers. Jeopardy! will be used as a benchmark for Watson's intelligence because of the show's high level of accuracy and its challenging game format.
IBM will continue to host sparring matches with Watson and top Jeopardy! players throughout the fall. More information about Watson will be available later this year.
Jeopardy! also continues to expand into new formats. This November, for the first time, the series comes to the WiiTM and Nintendo DSTM. The video game, voiced by host Alex Trebek, comes to life with an authentic studio set that includes lights, cameras, a "live" audience as well as visual clues presented by Kelly Miyahara from the Clue Crew. Up to three players can compete and are represented by MiiTM characters - personalized avatars. Utilizing the latest technology, players can verbally respond to clues using Wii SpeakTM and write in answers using handwriting recognition technology on the DS version. During the fast-paced commercial breaks, players will compete in mini-games to unlock special prizes, such as trendy outfits for their MiiTM characters. The video game includes a comprehensive tracking system that stores the players' statistics, such as number of wins and fastest response time.
In addition, Jeopardy! is now available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. With more than 1,500 clues, mobile contestants will be challenged and feel like they're playing on the Jeopardy! set. Not limited to the Jeopardy! "think" music, the iPod library integration feature allows gamers to rock out at their virtual podiums to iTunes favorites. For those who can't get enough of America's Favorite Quiz Show�, new content and avatars will be made available for purchase through Apple's App store. Gamers can also use Bluetooth or the networked multi-player capabilities to compete against friends and see who takes the crown as champion of their group. The "recommend to a friend" option also allows players to invite more iPhone users to the game. Jeopardy! fans who play on the iPad will have access to increased graphics and 3D avatars as they play their way to Final Jeopardy!.
Jeopardy!, the winner of 28 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp.
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