Canadian contestants question ‘Jeopardy’ decision to film during strike

TORONTO-Canadian “Risk“competitors are questioning the decision to continue filming new episodes using old questions while the show’s writers are on strike.

Ray Lalonde, the Toronto-based set builder who won 13 straight games last season, said the show is forcing potential competitors to decide whether or not to cross the Writers ‘ Association of America’s milestone line.

“I hate that they’re putting people in that position,” he said by phone on Wednesday. “People have dreamed of getting into the show. This is their show on TV. It can happen once in a lifetime and they have to fight with it for themselves.”

The writers are responsible for the design.”Risk“trivia clues.

Lalonde, who as one of this year’s top performers would be ready to compete in the annual tournament of champions, said last week on social media that he would not take part if invited to make the post-season programme that pits the former winners against each other.

Lalonde, a lifelong supporter of the syndicate, posted his stance on Reddit, and other winners from last season agreed.

A few days later, a spokesperson for the show’s producers Sony Pictures Entertainment said that they never had any intention of continuing with post-season programming like the tournament of champions, but that they would continue with filming season 40 using Material Written by gildave members before going on strike.

“We have always been careful to honor our agreements, and we would never broadcast game material that was not created by the writers of the. However, just as we did, led by Alex Trebek, during the 2007-2008 strike, we will be delivering the first episodes again this fall to more than 200 affiliated stations across the country,” the spokesperson said.

The show is also set to share “exciting plans” for the rest of the season next month, they said.

Lalonde says,”Risk“it’s a hit production, so he’s disappointed that the show is going on while its writers are on strike.

“The fact that they’re planning an entire season of shows and the studio hasn’t even scheduled a conversation with the writers? I don’t think it feels like respect to me.”

Mattea Roach, the most successful Canadian competitor to take “Risk“stage, said they too are questioning the movement of the show.

In an ideal scenario, Roach said, the studios would comply with the requirements of the VANCGA and that would be a non-issue.

But given the current lack of planned negotiations with studios and union members represented by either the company or SAG-AFTRA, that seems unlikely, they said.

“It would be preferable for the season not to start with new episodes until the strike is resolved,” Roach said.

However, Roach said, they are not sure if there are contractual obligations that have forced the show’s hand.

Regardless, they said, writers are essential to success.”Risk“and the decision not to continue with the post-season reflects that.

“When I participated in the tournament of champions and when I did.”Risk Masters’), it was very clear that the writers were attuned to the level of material that was needed,” they said. “It’s clear that the producers of the show recognize how critical the writers are to make the show what it is.”

A New York-based editor originally from Toronto who was in second place last season said he’s not sure what he would do if he were called up to the show this year instead of last.

“If I had been put in that situation and asked to potentially cross a picket line, that would have been a really tough call,” Ron Nurantanisah said.

“I’ve been a lifelong fan of the show and a lifelong nerd of trivia, and to play what I like to call the most fun trivia round you’ve ever played was a great experience.”

But he agreed with Roach: without the writers, the show wouldn’t be what it is.

“At the end of the day, I want to stand in solidarity with those workers and those writers,” he said.

This report by Canadian Press was first published on July 26, 2023.