Airlines And Airwaves

Jeopardy! is one of the longest-running American game shows still on the airwaves today. It came eight years after The Price Is Right, but 11 years before Griffin’s other hit show, Wheel of Fortune.

When he was first looking for a host for Jeopardy!, he saw a Trans World Airlines ad starring actor Art Fleming. Fleming seemed “authoritative, yet warm and interesting” to Griffin, so he invited Fleming to audition. The actor had never hosted on television before, but his agent advised him to “act like a game show host” and the not-so-helpful advice got him the job.