Amazon Nabs the First Jeopardy! Show Made Exclusively for Streaming

May 14 is a day of firsts: the first upfront presentation for Amazon, which has just ordered the first Jeopardy! show to be created exclusively for streaming.

Pop Culture Jeopardy! will “[combine] the academic rigor of Jeopardy! with the excitement and unpredictability of pop culture,” according to the press release. Instead of offering up one or two categories a round to give those not-so-well-versed in physics and plant species a fighting chance, this new Jeopardy! series — which marks the first time that Sony Pictures Television Game Show Division will expand the Jeopardy! franchise into streaming — will require contestants to know their Avengers from their Boys, their Mamma Mia! films from their original West End productions, and their Zendayas from… well, there’s no one quite like Zendaya, so, trick question!

Contestants will play in groups of three in a tournament-style event for the “grand prize and ultimate bragging rights,” so it really will feel like your regular bar trivia night. Emmy winner Michael Davies will serve as executive producer. The press release indicates the host will be announced at a later date, though we wonder if the search for Alex Trebek’s successor didn’t turn up some contenders. Here’s an even more pressing question: “How can *I* apply to compete?” After all, this show seems tailor-made for pop culture lovers, the kind who, at this very moment, may be reading (or writing) an article on a site dedicated to thoughtful TV criticism. Unfortunately, all we know is that Amazon says the application process will be available soon.

Suzanne Prete, President, Game Shows, Sony Pictures Television, raved about the new partnership with Amazon, saying "With Michael Davies at the helm, Pop Culture Jeopardy! is going to be a nail biter" and "a must-watch for long-time viewers and new fans alike." There’s no word yet on a release date, but Pop Culture Jeopardy will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Danette Chavez is the Editor-in-Chief of Primetimer and its biggest fan of puns.