Exclusive Inside Look at the Jeopardy! Director's Booth | JEOPARDY!

Our crew behind the scenes is the best in the business. Go into the director's booth to see how each episode is created in real time!
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JEOPARDY!, America’s Favorite Quiz Show™, is in its 38th season in syndication. With a weekly audience of over 20 million viewers, JEOPARDY! is the top-rated quiz show on television. The show has won a total of 42 Emmy® Awards, holds the Guinness World Records® title for the most Emmy® Awards won by a TV game show and received a Peabody Award for “celebrating and rewarding knowledge.”
#Jeopardy #DirectorsBooth #BehindTheScenes

[@benjamincrall8065]

It would be awesome to get an entire episode from this perspective

[@marycanary]

I totally agree!

[@Barber747]

Come to think of it, I definitely second that!!

[@patritchie1317]

I would pay for this.

[@HolyMarkMcGrath]

That'd be awesome!

[@yellowtents]

there was a jeopardy dvd that had this

[@jasonthesnow]

That director had exactly 0 chill during final jeopardy

[@tristangardner3889]

Kevin McCarthy definitely knew how to direct Jeopardy! during his long career as its director before he retired at the end of the 2017-2018 season.

[@skeletonpapa4146]

@@tristangardner3889 that is Clay jacobsen

[@Ally_Rayne6]

@@skeletonpapa4146 Clay Jacobsen took over in 2018. Kevin McCarthy retired after the 2017-2018 season

[@patricklickman9972]

@Joseph Lomeo OP isn't criticising, he's just noting the businesslike way he went about directing the game.

[@scrogglez1062]

@@tristangardner3889 I too started to notice around 2018 I really hated watching the show cus of the camera...now I know why!

[@Soulphx]

That switch board is a monster! That switch operator is the most impressive part of all of this. Wish I could've seen the audio board too.

[@robertholtz]

The "switch board" is called a "switcher."

[@Jacob-io7ct]

That one looked like it has 3 M/E (it can produce 3 different outputs on separate rows of inputs). Live events like ESPN and such are know to have up to 5 M/E and upwards of 50+ inputs!!

[@robertholtz]

@@Jacob-io7ct Indeed. At first I assumed it was a GVG but being that they're on the SONY lot and the show format is owned by SONY, that's more likely to be a SONY Broadcast switcher.

[@Jacob-io7ct]

That's what I assumed by the looks of it. Personally I prefer the Ross acuity, but as it's a Sony lot a Sony switcher would make sense.

[@bobdonovan34]

I think the switch operator is called the technical director ...

[@CharlesLumia]

Awesome behind the scenes look at the show. Great job to everyone in the back there taking care of things and ensuring that the show goes well.

[@qwertyuhi8221]

James Kiley Music Why

[@AdderTude]

It's so cool that the director calls each episode exactly like a stage manager for a theatre production.

[@moimeme6533]

Also similar to a music Conductor with the hand gestures

[@AidanMcLeodProductions]

Darn, I really wanted to see how they cue the graphics for the randomly selected questions so fast

[@Proximityillusions]

Me, too! That is the part that intrigues me most, as a former communications major and video machine runnier.

[@khallilmarshall]

That’s mostly in post. I’ve seen the taping live and when the clue is selected, there’s a good 5 second delay on the game board.

[@MCNathanF]

@@khallilmarshall yeah

[@MCNathanF]

@@khallilmarshall there are people with computers there i don't know what that's about

[@mykalimba]

I'm not sure how much has changed in the past 20 years, but when I worked the show in the 1990's, the game board was controlled from a PC in a separate booth just off stage. At the start of a "taping" day, someone from the production staff worked with the game board operator to build pages in a Chyron machine (a super-fancy graphics generator used in broadcast television) for each clue. Then during the game, the PC is running a special program (they weren't called "apps" back then) that can send commands to various pieces of video equipment, including the Chyron and the video wall controller. The game board operator has a video and audio feed from the stage (just like the main control room shown in this video) and listened for the category & amount requested by the contestants. The PC screen had a layout that looked like the Jeopardy! game board, and the operator used a light pen interface to quickly make the appropriate selection. The program would then send the appropriate commands to the equipment to trigger the reveal of the clue on the game board.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

You just never picture how EVERY game show has a crew like this making it happen.

[@BrandonshanesProductions]

Every 24 hour television channel aswell

[@Proximityillusions]

More like this! Can we please see how a round is done, with contestants picking the clues and such?

[@savannahbonenfant9871]

I love Jeopardy behind the scenes.I love seeing them recording the show and what it looks like.😊

[@HolyMarkMcGrath]

Clay seems so calm and composed in that control room.

[@daver9643]

The amount of work it takes to create this show. The dynamics involved.

[@activematrix]

After 30 years in various control rooms, still love to see behind the scenes and how different shows come together live - how he rolls through the mispunch at 1:07 : ) Awesome female TD rocking the Sony! Love to see that. No cues for GFX/Chyron tho. Guess they have a whole other control channel for gfx? He just goes to source numbers and the titles are already there or says "bring it in" without specificity.

[@Grey_Duck]

To be fair, the whole crew probably has hundreds or thousands of episodes under their belts, each of which is virtually identical to the last. I suspect the TD knows what he wants even before he says it.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

This control room scene is so exciting that I wish I were there.

[@andywood5699]

I love this perspective. It must be very hard work. There is another one during the Tony awards that is very impressive.

[@billl1127]

Amazing. Imagine what a more complicated sports broadcast must require.

[@BrandonshanesProductions]

This is the same process with everyday TV channel

[@brenlenstrong8034]

I'll take "In the Control Room" for $500, Alex!

[@Angie2343]

Me too!

[@AdamDaley1]

Man you guys just read each others minds because you've been doing it so long.

[@macforme]

Whoa...they can see the questions the contestants are writing IN REAL TIME. That may be to block any unacceptable answers that may show up... but I doubt people smart enough to get on Jeopardy would do such a thing. That seems like an overwhelming job to process all those monitors and not lose focus. I have trouble with one. This was so cool can we have some more behind the scenes peeks.

[@felipe93edition]

This director looks like a conductor conducting an orchestra. That's very beautiful!

[@zeapbelac98]

I'd love to see a whole episode from this view. So cool!!!!

[@nemesism]

RIP alex trebek :( he was my favorite game show host of all time :(

[@HuskyDog88]

According to the title card at 0:00, this episode was taped exactly 3 years before Alex Trebek passed away.

[@GreenLeafCityVideoGaming]

*Please show more of these!*

[@JavanHamiltonTV]

The TV control room: my old stomping ground. 🙌🏾

[@JavanHamiltonTV]

Bip Nop Nope. In a newsroom with my master’s degree, something you could never achieve. Must feel good talking shit behind a device. 😂

[@JavanHamiltonTV]

Matthew Temple Yes, you are. You’re the reason I’m pro-choice...

[@JavanHamiltonTV]

Bip Nop Oh, and by that logic, if my stomping ground is a control room *in a jail,* wouldn’t that make me the warden and you the inmate? You’re putting that Trump U. degree to work...

[@BrandonshanesProductions]

@Matthew Temple wait why are you guys arguing and why did the first guy say in jail please tell me

[@calebtheplotagaonanimater2703]

R.I.P. Alex Trebek 1940-2020

[@jeil5676]

Its like the bridge on startrek

[@PleatherGirl]

This is so cool! I love how calm, cool and collected everyone seems. I would be so stressed out working in that control room. Look at all those monitors! Thank you for uploading this!

[@roundingcorners]

it's prob. because they've been airing it for so long its like the back of their hand.

[@sensemille]

they are cool and collected because there's guys with cameras filming them.

[@somethingdemonic1]

PleatherGirl it's not that bad

[@charlieboy5515]

They've only done it a couple thousand times

[@MarkPentler]

You should see a live show control room - very chaotic

[@Dzonemp]

That was fun. its great to see all the cameras and see what they are writing down for final Jeopardy.

[@eddie5680]

0:37 John Giambrone kinda looks like James Holzhauer

[@Lovuschka]

Sad that this isn't shown more often. It'd be really interesting to know how exactly shows are directed, etc.

[@kristopherloviska9042]

This is so sedate. He doesn't even have to cue the camera ops to begin their moves. Such a well oiled machine. The TD doesn't even really need director calls. You want to see some directing, watch the director of a baseball game. I love working studio shows. The stress level is so much lower when every day is pretty much the same as the last. Plus the crew doesn't have to strike everything when the day is done. The pretty much get to just walk away. Most of my work is on sports broadcasts, so when I book studio work, I always enjoy it. Jeopardy won't be the same without Alex.

[@andyrose5616]

In the last couple of years, there have been many episodes where the TD, Lucinda Margolis, was also credited as the director.

[@AWB-Official-u1b]

This is amazing!

[@baylinkdashyt]

Having watched the rest of the clip now :-) the part that I find most interesting is how much the individual people in the seats do on their own - there's a whole bunch of stuff that the director does not call. I suspect that is largely because they shoot five shows a day for a week every time they're in their control room together, so everybody knows what the plan is. But it's different from what I am accustomed to on both sides of the mic.

[@samdance7388]

Can you guys do a show from Johnny Gilbert's perspective?

[@6jonline]

More BTS would be awesome. I wanna see how the board is built, how daily doubles happen, etc.

[@jonathanwilliams5235]

Fantastic to be able to get a inside look and to hear how they run the show. Great work 👍

[@Spidivercity]

Wow! I am trying to compare this to knowledge I know, and I learned so much, you would be surprised. there is ALLOT that would have to take for simply the words to make sense within the timeframe of the multiple displays presenting, it is really amazing, I also notice what could be considered strange behaviors' with the lead speaker would bob a bit forward and back, and it is clearly because he is tense, and in the moment, and just as much presenting and carrying the momentum as Alex Trebek in my opinion. Thank you Directors Booth, it is a pleasure to get even this small peek into things. Clearly it is not enough to understand it all, but it is beautiful to see in action!

[@justinm.1]

I wish we saw the director's booth when they had the TOC in 2017 (finals day 1) 😜

[@ajsy1090]

In the case of Sadie's loss to Megan, this video will clear it up about the players' handwriting during FJ in the director's booth (which is currently directed by Lucinda Owens Margolis). The director's booth, the judges' table and host's lectern have screens to monitor the player's handwriting within the time limit. Sadie still wrote the response even at the final 2 notes of Think Music & the current co-host Mayim Bialik started to ask Molly to reveal her response.

[@iampaulder]

Very relaxing TD nice job

[@vassa1972]

Loved the show and I hope that Alex gets better

[@Angie2343]

He's....no longer on Earth with us.

[@Leahyummy]

​@@Angie2343it's been 4 years since alex died.

[@Angie2343]

@@Leahyummy I know. 😢

[@matt-30-]

Dream job.

[@Ephisus]

Great work.

[@sikesgirl]

this is so cool!

[@dannystevens6774]

I thought all of the graphics were done after the show was recorded. That’s impressive it’s done live.

[@Boomistirr]

RIP Alex

[@tjmatthews461]

Wow that’s awesome, interesting, impressive, I like /love watching the scenes, videos

[@markkilby2012]

RIP Alex 🙏

[@doublecontralto818]

I'm really impressed with the TD running the board - got it down to a science and making it look like easy. And she's super cute too :)

[@jaredjds2011]

This would be hella fun but at the same time you gotta be paying attention so you don’t fuck up on TV lol

[@jockfl24]

Thanks for sharing.... so cool to see how they call the show!!! Ever thought about doing a show live on prime time? Ild definitely watch!!!

[@MEasties]

Mind numbing. I'd go nuts directing the exact same show every single day. Eeesh!

[@stolasgoetia93]

LOL! I wouldn't especially if I made a few thousand per episode.

[@MEasties]

@james crowe If that's all one wants out of one's work, I fully support it. I was speaking only to what my own personal reaction would be after a while of doing that. And I rarely direct anymore. I'm a producer these days. ;)

[@MEasties]

@@stolasgoetia93 See above.

[@judd1157]

It’s 5 shows taped in one day...even more impressive. It does seem odd that they need to cue Johnny Gilbert. He’s been doing that for 50 years.

[@fidikvien7682]

"Take'n'ding!"

[@mykalimba]

When he's readying and taking camera 6 at the end, the video in the lower left corner does not represent what's actually happening.

[@williamgibb5557]

Would like to see the podium that Alex stands at. What controls does he have? My prayers vare with him.

[@mykalimba]

If I recall correctly, Alex's podium has a place to set his physical printout of the game (you can often hear him marking clues off with a Sharpie). I believe there is also a small button and/or lighted indicator (or both) for signaling to/from the control room when a "stop tape" is needed (an unscheduled break from the normal flow). This would be used e.g. to stop Alex from proceeding in the cases where the booth wants to pause the game to check something with the judges.

[@68corvette08]

Does Alex wear an earpiece to hear the director?

[@KaseyWynne]

Almost certainly.

[@Eggs_is_eggs]

@@KaseyWynne I don't think so. The director is speaking to the other crew members, not Trebek. Trebek probably has an ear piece connected to a producer.

[@KaseyWynne]

@@Eggs_is_eggs Ahhh, that's a good point. He probably does. (I just assumed he had an earpiece so that someone could give him offstage directions. Forgot about the producer)

[@k03hl3r]

Talent is on the comm line with the producer, correct. Producer can hear these guys though, but this is unnecessary for talent to hear.

[@RealityBitesize]

Absolutely. 100% guarantee it.

[@cooperkozak5867]

Who else is here after Alex died?😔 rip

[@anthonyc9131]

How I talk to my wife in the bedroom 🤪

[@shaneinkster4775]

One year before Trebek got sick

[@Lipolimtown]

Clicking on the comment section I felt like I was bringing it in

[@Adeseo]

I thought these were filmed months in advance, why is this all done live rather than edited in later?

[@thatsnoternie]

The show is filmed in what's called "live-to-tape." It's actually a common practice among shows of this type, and also of the late-night talk shows. It's shot as if the show is live, but can be edited later. When contestants are in the game, they have to see the clues for the first time in order for the game to be fair, but the production team can edit stuff later (that doesn't affect the show's outcome) if need be. It's also a better experience for the in-studio audience if the show "feels" as much as possible like the show they watch on air. For that reason, the crew needs to maintain an atmosphere like the show is live, but if Alex flubs a line, a visual doesn't work right, it takes too long to find a clue on the board, etc., that segment can be reshot and edited in between taping day and the airdate.

[@Adeseo]

@@thatsnoternie this was very helpful, thank you!!!

[@pouyamg]

nice keyboard.

[@vassa1972]

Interesting

[@MarkPentler]

We have an issue here, if somebody can clear it up: End of the episode, Trebek does his sign off, walks to to the contestants... only the programme and preview windows in front of the director show no such thing. Trebek is standing on his mark still, briefly turns around and looks behind him, but starts NO move towards the contestants. How does this happen when the shot bottom left, apparently showing the live output, sees both the camera operator and Trebek at the contestant desk etc. It was fine up until you took camera 2 to show the three-shot of the contestants, and then around 3:20 the bottom left switches to not sync up with the control room monitors...

[@andyrose5616]

They have the host pause at that point to provide space for a sponsorship announcement, if there is one. If there isn't, they edit that gap out. So the raw line feed you see on the monitors doesn't exactly match what aired.

[@tigerguy1013]

0:06 0:15 0:19 was that even English?

[@elephantgrass631]

@6 "Hard Roll" @15 "Pan Out" @19 "Hello Mr.Hunter"

[@grantedklass777]

Tigerguy 101 yes

[@elephantgrass631]

@@mash6487 Not according to the people who uploaded the video.... who would be the team of Jeopardy, as per their own work of subtitling.

[@elephantgrass631]

@@mash6487 I trust the people who posted this instead. I win the internet.

[@justinm.1]

Tigerguy 101 it was probably hard to tell because of the sounds he makes when saying words

[@zfilms4858]

I got to see a BTS on a local gameshow

[@j.cbutterfly3293]

It looks like behind the scenes on the booth

[@aaronbays4]

Man as "complex" as this looks, its nothing like trying to film live action sports like football. Honestly I think college football would be the hardest thing on earth to film/broadcast. The NFL is a bit more conservative on its play calls, but either one would be hard to direct, you really have to know the game, the formations, to make that right call on which camera to turn on so people at home can see the game.

[@RealityBitesize]

I direct and TD live professional hockey and have sat in on a couple NFL games in the truck. They really aren't that different. The one constant between all live sports is to have the best camera people on the planet. Those guys are the foundation to good sports programming.

[@tommyb.6064]

I don't really understand why the one who tells the shot simply doesn't operate the switch board himself. I guess that some directors does it but not all of them?

[@scotthix2926]

I have done switching at church with video cameras, it is pretty technical. It requires both hands. Usually your left hand previews the shot to the director (guy in middle) the call is "ready 1". this also tells the camera guy to be ready for on air, graphics slide to ready his slide, the current on air camera to find his next shot, any music audio prompts . The director then calls cut 1 or fade 1, this tells the switcher with right hand to bring in that shot. While this is going on the director has to see what camera is ready for the next shot, He was also calling out wrong and right answers so the graphics guy could add or subtract the winnings. This all happens in about 2 seconds and repeats continually for the entire song or show. If he tries to do both he is more likely to hit a wrong button and if you are live like at a concert there are no do overs.

[@mykalimba]

At the core, it's because the Director is making "artistic choices" based on what he sees on the preview monitors and hears over the speakers, and he needs to be able to observe and listen unencumbered with any other tasks.

[@kristythomas5929]

“take a Ding”

[@KieranMullen]

This is so cool! I love how calm, cool and collected everyone seems. I would be so stressed out in that comment section. Look at all those comments! Thank you for uploading this!

[@markthornsberry9484]

Exactly. It takes a lot of people talented in their respective craft to put the whole thing together in a way we have no idea what happened. Nice work!

[@freuderickfrankenstein8417]

Why all the fake comments??

[@fanheroteam6504]

Why in 1:21 the Jeopardy round into the Final Jeopardy!?

[@thatsnoternie]

That was a cut from this video's editors. They can't post the whole episode because 1) they want you to watch the actual show when it airs and 2) showing behind the scenes stuff usually involves revealing trade secrets, and they don't want to do too much of that.

[@gameshowguy2000]

As for the Takes: Take 4: Whole board. Take 3: Individual monitor. Take 2: All 3 contestants. Take 1: Individual contestant. Usually said after they ring in. This is why you hear, "2, ready 1. Take 1."

[@Coleputt]

John Lee Ehh. No. When he is calling those shots he’s calling camera numbers which the TD (the girl) is hitting. The camera operators are just on point and know where they are supposed to be and when. Which is why you’ll see he always gets off an individual contest before going to the next individual shot because camera 1 has to move.

[@my_youtube_name7938]

Must be cold in the control booth, that guy has his jacket on..

[@RealityBitesize]

My control room is a constant 66 degrees. When I do hockey games, obviously the room is even cooler. Equipment puts out heat and broadcast equipment isn't cheap. Their switcher was probably a half million by itself. I used to run a smaller version of their Sony switcher. Gotta keep it cool or *kaboom*.

[@theepicabe22]

Hello I want to learn how to do something like this. What sort of education is needed? Anyone?

[@mykalimba]

Kevin Damn McCarthy.

[@josephhtoo1]

I was confused at first

[@thephantomeagle2]

Very cool perspective. I got the final instantly, upon CDC. Of course being born in that very hospital helped as well.

[@Habanosify]

I get anxiety watching this video.

[@ItsPickaxe]

4 months.

[@Christina-q1i]

Dont touch fossil ..seriously ..

[@nakuneki3148]

It would be more happy if Alex dind't die :'(

[@jorgepadilla9945]

that dude lost 10k.... how do people not curse on live t.v??

[@Grey_Duck]

Jeopardy isn't actually live, it's "live to tape." If they needed to make an edit, they could.

[@nomju6411]

Only the winner gets to keep their money. So even if this guy had wagered nothing, he would've never seen that 10k.

[@flatfingertuning727]

​@@nomju6411 Yup. With scores of $20,400 and $10,600 a wager by the leader in the range $801 to $9,799 would guarantee a win if either he questions the answer correctly, or the runner-up questions incorrectly, regardless of what the opponent wagers. Unless the leader wagers more than $9,799 the runner-up would have no possibility of winning without questioning correctly, even if the leader questions incorrectly. With these scores, I question the runner-up's decision not to bet everything, since if the leader were to wager exactly $801, the runner-up would have to bet all but $1 to have any chance of even tying, and winning with $1 would not be a realistic possibility.

[@missyleutz5119]

Milk

[@ucctgg]

It seems like the entire control room could be computerized. It is very old school.

[@comment2009]

A game show has unpredictability. Any of the three contestants could ring in.

[@moosedenied]

:O

[@danielpowers7393]

I'm here from Reddit.

[@hejhejhejhejhejheize]

How is this not automated? the whole show could be run by 40k lines of code, a server and two pcs. is this from the 70's?

[@Grey_Duck]

Adventures in automated television production have gone poorly...even for TV giants like the BBC.

[@JordanBahrPian-UkePlayer]

@@Grey_Duck In addition, the BBC has multiple networks to worry about, in multiple locations.

[@OptimalShot]

sometimes extra comments will be made that cause it too last longer. u never know what can be said, thus required to do

[@ophello]

They could replace this entire room with a single app. No reason to have an overpaid dude barking orders. You should just be able to tap on screens and select takes.

[@somethingdemonic1]

I used to do this, not for crappy jeopardy though

[@somethingdemonic1]

Also if you don't hit the button you're a bitch

[@savannahbonenfant9871]

Sedzen your crappy then what did Jeopardy do to you 😡.Don’t be a jerk.

[@XXX-cq9uj]

Holy shit..! Wow!

[@Survivor1547]

Who knew The Jeopardy Game Board activated by pressing the button in the control room how cool is that we nerver saw on TV.

[@mykalimba]

The game board itself is not controlled from the main booth. The people in this video are controlling what camera feeds, video effects, credits scroll, etc. that get recorded for air. The game board is controlled in an auxiliary control booth closer to the stage, and the scoring is operated from a station just off stage.

[@vincentjohnflorio]

@jc Or what? You gonna nothing him to death? LOL

[@richardstarr6134]

This is so cool! I love how calm, cool and collected everyone seems. I would be so stressed out working in that control room. Look at all those monitors! Thank you for uploading this!

[@Sn0reSnoreDan]

Yo. This was pretty cool. Thanks for letting us see what goes on behind the scenes.

[@afterfurtherreview]

As someone who has directed/produced live sports for ESPN, I gotta say I forgot that this job doesn’t always involve white knuckles! This guy was really relaxed and sure of himself, sign of a real pro. The chemistry he’s built up with the TD and producer means they knew what shots he wanted before he even started calling for them. I love seeing the production of this stuff.

[@losttribe3001]

I enjoyed this. Is there a video of the judge's table?

[@marycanary]

Yeah, I would like to know the answer to that to actually.

[@suehedges]

I love all this behind-the-scenes stuff from TV programmes and whatnot. My mum and dad went to a live taping of a spinners concert and apparently they had to do things over and over again. They said it was like as though almost the audience were extras. I only have there word on what happened. I wish I could’ve seen it myself. That’s why I love all these videos because I’d like to see what goes on.

[@horse19821]

There's no other guessing games like it,with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!"Rest In Peace Alex and thanks for inspiring for all us and everything what you have done us.We all missed you a lot.1940-2020.❤

[@Kaynos]

Wondering if he speaks like that at home...

[@Brodyborgy]

Rip Alex