Breaking News: Champions Unite in Support of Striking Writers, Jeopardy! Season 40 Hangs in the Balance!

Courtesy of NBC

Jeopardy!’s upcoming season is in question amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.

Multiple former contestants of the game show's yearly "Tournament of Champions" have declared that they will withdraw from the competition if the Writer's Guild of America strike extends into the autumn season. Ray LaLonde, a Jeopardy! winner of 13 games, voiced his support for the show's writers by publicly stating his decision on Reddit this past weekend.

"I have been a devoted fan of Jeopardy! for as long as I can remember. The experience I had on the show was truly incredible, and being given the opportunity to participate in the 'Tournament of Champions' is more than I could ever have imagined. However, as someone who strongly supports the trade union movement and comes from a union family, I feel compelled to take a stand. I have made it clear to the show's producers that if the strike remains unresolved, I cannot in good conscience cross a picket line to play in the tournament of champions."

LaLonde, a proud member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), also expressed his belief that the show's writers play a crucial role in its success. He believes their actions to secure a fair contract for themselves and their fellow WGA members are completely justified.

The Jeopardy! champion expressed his hope that by speaking up, it would inspire others in the community to do the same. Shortly after LaLonde made his decision public, several other winners committed to supporting him.

"Count me in with Ray!" remarked Troy Meyer, a six-time champion, in response to the post.

Ben Chan, who has won nine games, expressed his gratitude to Ray and vowed to follow his lead by saying, "Thank you for taking a stand. If you decide to withdraw, I will also withdraw."

Cris Pannullo and Hannah Wilson, on their part, hinted at the reliance of the "Tournament of Champions" on outdated and reused clues if the writers were absent.

"I'm on your side, Ray! Playing a game with only recycled clues doesn't sound enjoyable at all," Wilson expressed.

In the meantime, Pannullo stated, "I've already mentioned to Ray directly that, although I'm a massive fan of Jeopardy! and it was a lifelong goal to compete on the show, I completely support his position and will not take part in any games featuring reused clues during the WGA strike."

Fans in the comments section of the post were actively discussing how the champions' stance might impact the upcoming 40th season of Jeopardy!, set to air in September. One Reddit user speculated that Jeopardy! would likely postpone taping the Tournament of Champions until the strike is resolved, as multiple champions expressed their refusal to participate. However, the user also believed that the show would easily be able to find regular contestants to ensure the show's continuation without any complications.

One commenter expressed agreement, stating that it would not make sense to hold the tournament without a substantial number of top players. They suggested that the season should start with regular games and hope for a prompt resolution to the strike.

Several others expressed gratitude to the champions for their dedication to the WGA's cause. A commenter remarked, "It's fantastic to see all the champions from my favorite TV show showing their support. You guys are amazing!"

Since May, Hollywood's writers, including those from Jeopardy!​, have been engaged in a strike after unsuccessful negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for a new contract. Michele Loud, Jim Rhine, and Billy Wisse, writers for Jeopardy!, spoke to Variety shortly after the strike commenced, emphasizing the crucial role their words play in the nightly production. "Jeopardy! would not exist without writers," Loud asserted, highlighting the essential nature of their contribution and stating that without their input, the show would be reduced to an empty blue screen.

Mayim Bialik, in collaboration with Ken Jennings, serves as the host of the trivia show. In a demonstration of solidarity with the writers, Bialik expressed her support for them in May, as reported by Deadline. Consequently, Bialik opted not to participate in the last week of season 39. This month, the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined forces with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in a strike. Notably, this marks the first instance of both unions striking together since 1960.