It's always frustrating when a game show or variety show updates something on the show. Sure, there are many parts of a TV show that have to be updated, especially if that show has lasted 10, 20, or 40 years: the set, the logo, maybe even the theme music. But sometimes those changes go too far.Case in point: the new "Final Jeopardy" music on Jeopardy! I'm not talking about the update they made to the music a while back, I'm talking about the new rockin' theme music that debuted a few weeks ago (or, at least, I only heard it for the first time a few weeks ago). It's the same melody, but they've changed it to an irritating faster rock version, and by rock I mean that lame, generic rock music you sometimes hear in the background of sitcoms and dramas. It's THIS close to Muzak, and it's really, really terrible.
But the worst part of the new music? It doesn't even fit into the show. The old, slower "Final Jeopardy" music had a beat and rhythm that sounded like "thinking." It was 30 seconds of music that mirrored the thinking that the contestants did as they tried to figure out the question to the final answer. What's the point of making the "Final Jeopardy" music faster?
Over the past several years, Jeopardy! has changed its logo, its set, the podiums, the opening, and the dollar amounts for the questions. But this latest change is really unnecessary. I think if we all protest enough they'll change it back. (Note: I heard this on the latest "Teen Tournament" week, and I'm hoping it's just a temporary change for the kids to make the show seem more hip. Or something.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2008 @ 2:13PM
NuggMaster said...
Hah, i noticed this too, but luckily i think its more funny than annoying. It started about when the kids Tournament of Champions began, which should be ending soon btw.
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11-16-2008 @ 2:21PM
tingrin87 said...
link to music in question?
i'll watch it if the TV is already on, and i was watching the news before Jeopardy...
so about once every 2-3 months
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11-16-2008 @ 2:29PM
budder said...
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jf2xypoUjo&feature=related
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11-16-2008 @ 3:04PM
Paulo Rules said...
The "Think Theme" you're referring to is being used only for the Teen Tournament. It's actually the Final Jeopardy! music from VH1's "Rock and Roll Jeopardy!" from a few years back. The producers did introduce a new "Think Theme" this year for the show's 25th anniversary, and I think that theme is more jarring than the tourney one.
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11-16-2008 @ 4:15PM
Matt said...
Also, even the "Rock and Roll Jeopardy" version is not faster, because contestants have 30 seconds to come up with the question. All the versions take 30 seconds.
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11-16-2008 @ 5:20PM
Bob Sassone said...
Budder: that link is not the music I'm talking about. This is a faster theme, with guitars, and it might just be for the teen tournament (I hope).
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11-16-2008 @ 5:57PM
smashthesymbols said...
I think they are using a variation for the Teen Tourney, but they also changed the music for the regular shows this season and it's awful. I don't mind when shows change things up, but there's a limit. You don't mess with something as iconic as the Jeopardy theme.
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11-16-2008 @ 8:45PM
Cyantre said...
Hate is a strong word. I heard the new theme and I don't particularly like it, though the version they used for the Teen Tournament was even more irritating.
The Final Jeopardy music shouldn't be tweaked, because it's a classic as it is.
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11-16-2008 @ 8:59PM
LinkTiger said...
The entire show's music package (sans the end theme) switched to the Rock & Roll Jeopardy package just for the Teen Tournament. From what I hear, Alex just loves the Teen Tourney and wants to make it as "special" or "different" as possible. I guarantee it'll change back next week as regular episodes commence.
Besides, at least this version has the timpani beats at the end.
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11-16-2008 @ 9:44PM
wolfkidex said...
Here is the link to the "Rock and Roll Jeapordy Think Theme" being used in this Teen Tournament. I don't think it's too horribly jarring, though I definitely prefer the original one. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=tg8B3D3vORs
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11-16-2008 @ 11:00PM
Bob T said...
I also dislike the new opening music (for the normal shows, not the Teen tourney.) And what's up with the lack of the "beep-beep-boop" when they fill the board with questions at the beginning? A few years ago, they stopped doing it for the second round, but now they don't even do it for the first round...
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11-17-2008 @ 11:09AM
Karen said...
Hmm...I don't hate it. I was expecting something a lot worse.
I miss the beep-boop-beep sounds though.
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11-17-2008 @ 5:50PM
MarcDom7 said...
That's just for the Teen Tournament.
There has been a new version for the regular shows, too, and it sounds like Frontierland's version of the Jeopardy theme.
Go back to the older one, fools. And bring back the beep-be-deep-be-beeps for categories.
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