‘Jeopardy!’ champions say they received’t cross writers strike picket line

They’re not placing any writers in jeopardy.

“Jeopardy!” champion Ray Lalonde introduced final week that he wouldn’t cross the picket line to take part on this season’s “Match of Champions” if the continued Hollywood writers’ strike continues into the autumn.

“As a supporter of the commerce union motion, a union member’s son and a proud union member myself I’ve knowledgeable the present’s producers that if the strike stays unresolved I cannot cross a picket line to play within the match of champions,” Lalonde wrote in a Reddit post within the r/Jeopardy discussion board.

The Toronto contender defined extra about his choice to The Put up on Monday, describing that he had heard rumblings in regards to the present’s taping plans from “business insiders” on Fb.

He additionally noticed that The Hollywood Reporter had reported that the syndicated collection would use beforehand written materials from the previous 4 a long time, and he famous that the present’s web site listed taping dates for August.

“My speedy thought was ‘Rattling, in the event that they do this I can’t play,’ adopted by the thought that in the event that they tape tournaments beginning in August they’ll be calling me quickly with airline and resort reservations, so I’ve to warn them quickly,” Lalonde advised The Put up in a press release.

Lalonde wrote that he “wrestled with this for a few days,” claiming that he despatched an e-mail about his choice to the staff behind the present.

He additionally posted in “Jeopardy!” teams throughout varied social media platforms, together with a non-public Fb group for the present’s former gamers, in an effort to “attain as a lot of the ‘Jeopardy!’ group” as he might.

“My first thought was to present the present a couple of days to learn my e-mail first however after stewing about it for half an hour I made a decision to simply publish my assertion and the web very quickly did the remainder,” Lalonde defined.

“Like I stated I hoped that a couple of folks would learn it and agree and that may put some stress on the present to not undertake this plan of action, I by no means anticipated the response it received, particularly from my fellow Match qualifiers, so now this can be a greater factor and we’ll quickly see how the present responds,” he continued.

The Put up reached out to Sony Footage for remark.

Lalonde received 13 consecutive video games this season for a complete of $386,400.

Many former “Jeopardy!” contestants weighed in on Lalonde’s Reddit publish, together with champion Cris Pannullo, who pledged to remain behind the picket line through the ongoing strike.

The discussion board’s moderators confirm the identities of the present’s contestants, in keeping with The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“As I’ve already advised Ray personally, although like all of us I’m an enormous Jeopardy fan and it was a dream to look on the present, I absolutely agree together with his stance and won’t take part in any video games comprised of recycled clues whereas the WGA strike is in impact,” Pannullo wrote.

Pannullo received almost $750,000, way over contenders for the subsequent Match of Champions.

Ben Chan, one other match hopeful, who had a nine-game winning streak, thanked Lalonde for his message.

“Ray, thanks for taking this stand,” Chan commented. “If you’re out, I’m out.”

“I’ll stand with you, Ray!” wrote former contestant Hannah Wilson, an eight-game “Jeopardy!” champion. “A TOC with all recycled clues doesn’t sound like a lot enjoyable to play in, anyway.”

Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike in Might to petition for increased wages, regulation surrounding synthetic intelligence, and higher pay from streaming providers.

Writers are a vital a part of “Jeopardy!,” as they write the questions which are learn every episode.

Following swimsuit, earlier this month, the Display Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Tv Artists (SAG-AFTRA) unanimously voted to cease working after its contract expired, which means that extra leisure professionals have joined the picket line.

In Might, The Put up reported that “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik walked off the set through the closing week of taping for Season 39 in help of the WGA strike.