‘Jeopardy’ Champions Threaten Not to Compete on ‘Tournament of Champions’ if WGA Strike Continues: “I Will Not Cross a Picket Line”

Multiple Jeopardy contestants have joined Ray LaLonde in refusing to participate in the upcoming Tournament of Champions if the Writers Guild of America strike continues.

LaLonde, who competed on the show earlier this year, penned a message to fans on the show’s Reddit forum, stating that he “will not cross a picket line” to compete in the upcoming tournament.

As a Jeopardy contestant, LaLonde won 13 games in early 2023, earning a total of $386,400.

“As a supporter of the trade union movement, a union member’s son and a proud union member myself I have informed the show’s producers that if the strike remains unresolved I will not cross a picket line to play in the Tournament of Champions,” he wrote.

He also wrote that he has heard “credible reports” that Jeopardy producers are planning to use “old and/or recycled material” to begin filming the next season if the writers strike continues.

“I believe that the show’s writers are a vital part of the show and they are justified in taking their job action to secure a fair contract for themselves and their fellow WGA members,” he stated.

He ended his message to the community with a call for others to speak out “to perhaps influence some future decision to proceed without the writers.”

The other top Jeopardy contestants who qualified for the Tournament of Champions voiced their support in the comments, stating that they will also keep from competing when the time comes. Their accounts were verified by the forum moderators.

Jeopardy Masters contestant Chris Pannullo, who won 21 straight games in 2022, voiced his support in a comment on the Reddit post.

“As I have already told Ray personally, though like all of us I am a huge Jeopardy fan and it was a dream to appear on the show, I fully agree with his stance and will not participate in any games comprised of recycled clues while the WGA strike is in effect,” Pannullo wrote.

Contestant Ben Chan also commented, “Ray, thank you for taking this stand. If you are out, I am out.”

Hannah Wilson, who won eight games in 2022, agreed. “I’ll stand with you, Ray! A TOC with all recycled clues doesn’t sound like much fun to play in, anyway,” she wrote.

LaLonde, Pannullo, Chan, and Wilson were the top four contestants who qualified for the 2023 Tournament of Champions.

Jeopardy Season 39 is wrapping up this week, and fans are growing increasingly worried about what the ongoing writers strike could mean for the next season, as the show employs WGA writers to create the clues. Production for Season 40 should technically be in full swing by now, but it is still unknown if it will continue on schedule.

Mayim Bialik also stepped away from hosting before filming for Season 39 wrapped in support of the WGA strike.

“Our words are on the screen every night,” Jeopardy writer Michele Loud told Variety from the WGA picket line in May. “There is no Jeopardy without writers. Without us it’s just an empty blue screen.”

Jeopardy! airs weeknights at 7/6c. Check the website for local listings.