A producer for the game show Jeopardy! issued an apology after a recent error resulted in the end results of an episode being shown before any clues were provided.
The long-running programme, which debuted in 1964, flips the typical question-and-answer style of many other quiz shows by giving participants hints before requiring them to formulate their response as a question.
While several episodes have broadcast without a hitch, a recent episode’s premature airing marred the outcome for the viewers.
At the opening of the March 8 broadcast, a view of the participants’ final scores appeared on the screen.
They emerged just after the emcee, Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory, had thanked the contestants for making it onto the show and wished them luck.
Jackson Jones’ total was displayed as $24,000, whereas Justin Bolsen’s was $13,570.
The score of their rival Maya Wright was $3,370.
Last week, executive producer Michael Davies apologised for the mix-up and acknowledged that they “completely messed it.”
‘Right off the bat, apologies to the audience, we totally blew it,’ he said when appearing on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast.
He went on to explain a ‘horrible series of errors’ that lead to the oversight, and how it had not been noticed in multiple stages of preparing the episode to go to air.
After stating that the involved teams were intent on learning from their mistakes, they implemented a number of measures to “avoid this from happening again.”
‘We live and we learn, but we apologise to anyone whose experience of this program was ruined,’ he added.
‘We take these mistakes to heart so hard.
‘[But]… there is no excuse for this. It’s too basic and we are going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.’
Throughout the years, there have been four UK adaptations of the game show, although the last local season aired in 1996.
Last year, though, it was rumoured that discussions were being held to resuscitate it once more.
At the time, an ITV insider stated that the network was exploring the possibility of reviving the legendary game show.
Nevertheless, it was revealed last month that Stephen Fry will be the new presenter for the UK edition.
Fry, 65, stated in a statement, “In the United States, Jeopardy! is a phenomenon unlike any other.” While I’m in the United States, I do my damnedest to watch it every weekday.
The ITV revival will air during the day, and 20 episodes are reportedly already in development.
Jeopardy! airs on NBC in the US.