CBS Television Distribution’s Jeopardy! opens its 35th anniversary on Monday, and in the season to come the game show will run its first ever Jeopardy! All-Star Games.

“After nearly 35 years, it is exciting to do something we’ve never done before,” said Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek in a statement. “The returning contestants have all been incredibly successful as individual players, so we look forward to seeing what they can achieve in teams. How will they strategize? How will they adapt? What new skills will they discover? We will all find out together.”

RELATED: Alex Trebek Reflects on 35 Years of Jeopardy!

The event will run from February 20 to March 5, 2019, and feature six teams of three players each. Fan favorites Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, Julia Collins, Austin Rogers, Colby Burnett and Buzzy Cohen will serve as team captains. Roster players are Leonard Cooper, Roger Craig, Jennifer Giles, Ben Ingram, Matt Jackson, Alex Jacob, Larissa Kelly, Alan Lin, David Madden, Pam Mueller, Monica Thieu and Seth Wilson.

Teams will be determined after all 18 contestants travel to Los Angeles for a draft event that will air on Facebook Live and be hosted by Alex Trebek on Saturday, September 22, at 10 a.m. PT.

Throughout the season, fans can participate in the lead-up to the Jeopardy! All-Star Games, including a fantasy league and sweepstakes where viewers can draft their own all-star team and follow their progress through the tournament.

Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Harry Friedman. CBS Television Distribution distributes the show to TV stations in syndication.

Brief Take: Even after 35 years on the air, Jeopardy! continues to reinvent itself and devise new events to engage fans.

[Images courtesy of CBS Television Distribution; a version of this story by the same author is also posted at broadcastingcable.com.]

Tags: alex trebek cbs television distribution jeopardy sony pictures television


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