If you don’t know the Greek word for the fear of the number 13, but know that it’s Taylor Swift’s favorite number, “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” might be the show for you.
“Pop Culture Jeopardy!” first aired early last month on Prime Video. The “Jeopardy!” spin-off “combines the academic rigor of ‘Jeopardy!’ with the excitement and unpredictability of pop culture,” according to the show’s website.
Each episode features three teams of three competing to advance in the challenge.
According to Prime Video, the first season features “eighty-one teams of three compet(ing) in the first ever ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ tournament for the grand prize of $300,000 and ultimate bragging rights.”
The game show is structured like “Jeopardy!” Contestants choose from a series of categories and answer questions with increasing monetary value. The twist is that every question relates to the modern zeitgeist.
The official “Jeopardy!” website lists the following as potential trivia topics: “Movies, TV, Music, Broadway, Books, Social Media, Sports, Fashion, Comic-Con, Current & Iconic Events, Fads & Trends, and more.”
Colin Jost hosts the game show. The American comedian is known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” as a writer and a co-anchor on the “Weekend Update” segment.
Jost’s announcement as host was divisive, but it has been relatively well received since the show started airing. In fact, some critics say his comical behavior is perfectly suited for a show inherently less serious than its original.
New features have been introduced and are distinct from the original, such as a bonus question reminiscent of a Daily Double called “Triple Play.” Contestants are asked a question with three answers in which each member of the team must answer one correctly to win.
In the “Jeopardy Fan Group” Facebook page, which has just under 12,000 members, many fans of the original show praise Jost. However, some fans acknowledge the show is probably better suited for younger audiences.
Younger contestants with a finger on the pulse of rapidly evolving pop culture have a better chance answering questions about new artists and trends. Questions about celebrities have fans who haven’t even watched the show abuzz online. Yet the show hasn’t failed completely to resonate with fans of the original “Jeopardy!”
On the same Facebook page, members admitted that despite not knowing the answers, they still enjoyed watching the show. “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” may provide a rare moment where the joy of “Jeopardy!” can become multi-generational.
“Pop Culture Jeopardy!” is the fourth spin-off of “Jeopardy!” since the show's conception in 1964. The first, “Jep!,” was a children’s version that aired in the summer of 1998. Jeff Probst, current host of “Survivor,” hosted “Rock & Roll Jeopardy!” from 1998-2001, based entirely on questions about the music genre. “Sports Jeopardy!” aired from 2014-16.
The show’s official Instagram has 29,000 followers, a number growing daily. On TikTok, clips of the show have over 100,000 likes. “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” is arguably the most successful “Jeopardy!” spin-off to date.
While it’s too early to tell how “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” is performing in the competitive realm of streaming services, it’s clearly finding its footing on social media and with younger generations.
If you think you would be apt at rapid fire bar trivia, it might be time to apply to be a contestant on “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” Also, the Greek word for the fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia, based on a real “Jeopardy!” question aired last week.
New episodes of “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” air every Wednesday on Prime Video. The show is produced by the “Jeopardy!” team and Sony Pictures Television.
