Short answers, pulled from the story.
Jeopardy! was created by Merv Griffin, who came up with the answer-and-question format based on a suggestion from his wife Julann during a flight from Duluth to New York City. The name came from NBC executive Ed Vane, who rejected Griffin's original concept, saying it did not have enough jeopardies; Griffin discarded his first title, What's the Question?, and used the executive's own criticism as the new name.
The daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! premiered on the 10th of September 1984. It was launched partly in response to the success of the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune and the rise of electronic trivia games in pubs and bars.
Alex Trebek hosted the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! from its premiere in 1984 until his death on the 8th of November 2020, a tenure of over 36 years. His last episode aired on the 8th of January 2021.
Ken Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak, winning 74 consecutive matches between the 2nd of June and the 30th of November 2004 before being defeated by Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. He amassed $2,522,700 during that run, for an average of $33,636 per episode.
"Think!" is the 30-second countdown music played during Final Jeopardy!, originally composed by Merv Griffin as a lullaby for his son under the title "A Time for Tony". Griffin estimated that the song earned him more than $70 million in royalties during his lifetime, and it won the BMI President's Award in 2003.
The daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! has won a record 45 Daytime Emmy Awards, including nineteen wins in the Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show category, the most in that category's history. The show also received a Peabody Award in 2012.