08Jan2009
A Closer Look at “Jeopardy!”‘s New Setnew
We still don’t have official press pictures, but we’re finding new images giving you a much better look at the set. You can find two wide shots of the host background in the post below. Here you can now see what the contestant area looks like along with a small look at the new podia. Also, you get a fantastic look at the new board. I don’t know; this set isn’t doing that much for me. It’ll obviously look different on television with everything ready to go, but it looks a bit barren right now, doesn’t it? We’ll see how it looks on TV and in Los Angeles.
I must admit…I’m a bit underwhelmed by the set. I was hoping for something more than more random shapes, and possibly a throwback to the checkerboard set from the mid-90s. This one just seems…bare. I like the box thingy behind Alex, but the triangles just look strange.
It might grow on me.
I agree, this is for sure the new set? looks moreso like a temp. one they use for the college tourney.
Looks like they rushed this set / they waited ’til the last minute to design it. I was hoping for a comeback of the giant letters.
OK, now for the other side…I LOVE the new set. I think it’s snazzy and I’m sure they’ll doll it up a bit more before fully unveiling it, but it looks super. I too wish they’d bring back the giant letters, but I think a nice “consolation prize” would be to put the lettering behind Alex’s podium instead of those random some-are-filled-in-and-some-are-not square pattern. Still, I think this set is a HUGE step above the current set, which I have HATED since Day One! The current set is flat-out UGLY, everything is just scattershod as far as design and symmetry and colors, and it’s hideous!! I never liked it, it looks like an MC Escher milkshake that someone stuck in the blender and forgot to put the lid on before hitting the “frappe” button. I LOVE the new gameboard especially. This is going to look AWESOME on my HDTV!!
Personally for me, the question board reminds me somewhat of Starcade.
Looks to me like the new gameboard isn’t seamless – which is a downgrade. That’s weird.
It would be awesome if the background turned from blue to red between rounds as a throwback, but I won’t hold my breath for that one.
I agree that it’s barren – this may be only for CES, but right now, it looks like four separate ideas to me.
I may like these new podia – they seem more like “Sushi Bar” ones, which I really liked.
The wide shots are awkward, but the close ones might be fine. Time/shots of the set in action will tell.
Is it just me, or do the individual clue monitors look to be 16:9?
To me it looks good and fits the new opening image of the show title. However, I will wait to make final judgment until episodes are taped back at the Sony Studios. These “on the road” sets always look different, and there could be more back in L.A. that will add to it.
Well I can’t say Im totally pleased with the new set.
I notice the game board is no longer seamless, but instead a wall of plasma flat screen televisions. Im sure it was expensive an hard to integrate, but that strikes me as a detail that only looks better in person.
The triangles make absolutely no sense to me. The current set they have now was busy to say the least, but at least I got it. All the boxes on this set, I feel at least, were inspired by the game itself. Which is why you always see them going in a line, usually with only 5 tops to a set (to reference how many questions would come in a category). The triangles make no sense to the order and logic of the game.
Alex’s background doesnt woo me just yet. But I have a feeling under lighting it will look pretty snazzy and classy.
The new podiums look pretty flashy and blue. I wonder if when a contestant goes into the red, their entire podium will change color.
One thing I do like… the random tv between Alex and the contestant. I know it seems out of place right there, but I imagine they could use it for a lot of creative camera angles. In fact it looks like they could get a good angle all three contestants looking at it, which could make the video clues and daily doubles a little more interesting.
You know what? I think I might be sold on this set if they just lose the triangles behind the podiums.
I am impressed. It’s very nice-looking. Then again, that’s compared to the current set, which says nothing really. It’s grated at my nerves ever since they debuted it. I’m pretty much thrilled for any change right now; whether be it to the set or the music. The main theme’s not so bad, but I swear I’ve heard that Final Jeopardy cue in a nightmare or two…
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/01/08/ces-2009-this-is-jeopardy-at-ces/
More photos there…I like the way the lectern lights up when a contestant rings in, it reminds me of the metal grid set from the early ’90s…
You can’t really make judgement until you see it in 16:9 HDTV. The non-seamless gameboard is a nice throwback to the early days (personally, I was not a fan of the seamless version) and every monitor is apparently widescreen. The staging of the monitor wall brings back images of the late 70′s revival on NBC.
The podia remind me of “Powerball Instant Millionaire” in terms of the way the entire video screen is exposed and obviously mounted to the podium framework.
All in all, I’d love to see this on my HDTV. All they are doing is keeping it fresh. Same way the Price is Right is making annual tweaks to it’s set (it never had the chance for 35 years).
I’m kinda on the fence about the new set, it seems like they tried a little bit too hard to try and modernize it.
Been watching the TOC this week; like the set, but some of the stuff looks a little squished fo rmy taste. (Maybe if I ever get a 16:9 monitor TV, it’ll be worth it.) Only criticism: the use of red characters on the blue field for minus amounts doesn’t show well. Keep the red background from the old podiums, and it’ll work better.
(By the by, invites have been going out this week for the Boston (4/21-22) and Charlotte (4/28-30) follow-up auditions from the last On-Line Test (I’m still hoping for Chicago).)