Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 10, 1993 TAG: 9305080163
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
The question: What is "Jeopardy!"?
Harry Eisenberg, a former writer for the popular show, said in a new book that clues and topics were altered at the last minute to be more "female-friendly," like replacing a category on weapons with one on clothes.
The show's producers said "Jeopardy!" is fair and denied any wrongdoing.
Jesse L. Riddle, an attorney representing the book's publisher, Northwest Publishing, said higher ratings may have been the goal.
"We have an unaggressive female champion. Let's give her some easy stuff," producer George Vosburgh is quoted in the book as telling his staff before the taping of a June 20, 1989, show, Riddle said.
One time, questions about basketball star Michael Jordan were replaced with questions about ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, Riddle said.
"Jeopardy!," created nearly 30 years ago, has a reputation as a class act in the game show pack for its challenging questions and sharp contestants.
Alex Trebek, the syndicated show's dapper host since 1984, isn't connected by Eisenberg to any tampering allegations.
Eisenberg, who lives in Atlanta, wasn't giving interviews before the book, "Inside `Jeopardy!': What Really Goes on at TV's Top Quiz Show," is released later this month, Riddle said.
Eisenberg worked for "Jeopardy!" from 1984 to 1991, first as a writer and then as an associate producer, Riddle said.
Other "Jeopardy!" employees gave Eisenberg sworn statements backing his description of last-minute changes by Vosburgh, Riddle said. The book alleges that decisions to make such changes were confined to the show's producers, Riddle said.
Federal law prohibits action to predetermine the outcome of a game show, Riddle said. The law was enacted after quiz show scandals in the 1950s revealed popular programs were fixed.
"Jeopardy!" was broadcast by NBC from 1964 to 1975 with host Art Fleming. He also hosted the show when it first appeared in syndication during the 1974-75 season and when it returned briefly to NBC as "The All New Jeopardy!" in 1978-79. In 1984, "Jeopardy!" returned to syndication with Trebek.
by CNB