JEOPARDY! producers have backpedaled on a major gameplay tweak that fell flat upon execution.

This season, players were asked to recite full category names when selecting clues – which drew backlash from fans and contestants alike.

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Jeopardy! producers have ‘gone back’ on players needing to say full category names every clueCredit: Jeopardy!

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‘If it’s a 12-word category, we’re not asking you to repeat all 12 words,’ the staffers saidCredit: Jeopardy!
Some Jeopardy! category names can be a mouthful, so contestants often shorten them as the round progresses.

However, that hasn’t been the case for Season 40, which kicked off in September.

Producers “decided to try” having players say the names of categories in their entirety, even when a category is underway.

The curveball was met with swift backlash from viewers and even players, which didn’t go unnoticed by the higher-ups.

‘PEOPLE COMMENTED’

On the podcast Inside Jeopardy!, producers revealed that they will no longer require contestants to say the full names of categories.

“I dont think we’ve made a perfect change. We had briefed the contestants to give full names of categories,” Executive Michael Davies said.

“We did,” producer Sarah Whitcomb-Foss chimed in.

“And then people have commented on that.

“We’ve obviously gone back. If it’s a 12-word category, we’re not asking you to repeat all 12 words.”

Davies added, “It was getting a little informal, so that’s something we’re continuing to look at.”

‘ANYONE NOTICE…’

Viewers also noticed that the category rule seemed to have eased up during the now-airing Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament.

“Anyone notice that they’ve been allowing the contestants to say partial category names rather than the whole name, since the JIT tournament began?” one Facebook user wrote.

“It was silly when they were saying the full category when it was a long title and staying in the same category,” wrote another.

“I’m glad that these contestants are shortening the titles more. When a category title is long, it’s obnoxious to have to hear the entire title stated,” wrote a third.

‘BEYOND SICK OF THIS RULE’

Although enunciating the entire category name may aid some viewers, fans didn’t mince words about the change when it was enacted.

One fan wrote on X earlier this year, “If you’re going to make them slog through the entire category name every time, #Jeopardy, keep it to maybe three words tops.”

Another viewer wrote on Reddit, pointing out a lengthy category name, “The producers forcing contestants to say ‘During Lou Gehrig’s Consecutive Game Streak’ every time is ridiculous.”

A third wrote: “Same, I’m beyond sick of this rule.”

CONTESTANT TALKS CATEGORY ‘CHANGE’

Joe Velasco, who was a semifinalist in the strike-based Champions Wildcard tournament, shared his thoughts exclusively with The U.S. Sun.

“As part of a change to the new season, and this is for the benefit of the audience moreso- they need us, or prefer us, to say the whole category every time,” he shared.

“I mean, thankfully, for a tournament of returning champions like us, we know how the game works, so we were all pretty efficient.

“I would imagine for new contestants, it would probably trip them up, and I would be afraid it would lead to some clues being left on the board.”

INTEGRITY IN JEOPARDY?

New EP Davies (formerly EP of Millionaire) has not been shy in tweaking tradition.

Aside from the embrace of past-player tournaments instead of regular episodes, he’s made many other changes in his two years on the job.

Davies floated adding cash bonuses to regular games, but faced severe backlash, never making it to air.

Other changes have been enacted, like displaying where Daily Doubles were located to viewers during Jeopardy! Masters, creating a new intro (with Johnny Gilbert, 95, in the mix), and a new Triple Jeopardy! round for Celebrity Jeopardy! – to name just a few.

One fan recently surmised on X: “Who Wants to be a Millionaire, under host Regis Philbin and EP Michael Davies, was canceled in 2001, and most experts agree it was because of overexposure.

Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.”

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Jeopardy! fans noticed that the category rule seemed to be put to rest for the now-airing JITCredit: Jeopardy!

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When EP Michael Davies (left) enacted it, fans were less than pleased: ‘beyond sick of this rule’ as others said it was getting ‘ridiculous’Credit: YOUTUBE/JEOPARDY