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JEOPARDY!'s phenomenal ratings over the years are a testament to its extraordinary popularity.  Merv Griffin created "JEOPARDY!" in 1964 in the dining room of his apartment. Griffin also composed the show's "think" theme music.

Since its 1984 syndication debut, "JEOPARDY!" has been the recipient of 19 prestigious Daytime Emmy Awards.

"JEOPARDY!" is the favorite quiz program to numerous stars and famous personalities, some of whom have appeared on the show for charity and fun. Star contestants who have played in the celebrity competition to date include Oliver Stone, Rosie O'Donnell, David Duchovny, Mike Piazza, Robin Quivers, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Jason Alexander, Mark McEwen, Jon Lovitz, Larry King, Buzz Aldrin, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Robert Kennedy, Jr., Jane Curtin, Tom Clancy, Rob Schneider, Kirsten Dunst, Jeri Ryan, Carl Lewis, Bill Maher, Wolf Blitzer, Naomi Judd, Rebecca Lobo, Kelsey Grammer, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Stephen King, Isaac Mizrahi and Carol Burnett--to name just a few. As a result of the celebrity tournaments, "JEOPARDY!" has awarded over $1,000,000 to charity.

 Frank Spangenberg, an officer with the New York Transit Police Department, holds "JEOPARDY!'s" all-time regular winnings record. Officer Spangenberg's winnings to date total $144,397 and he has played in "SUPER JEOPARDY!" and won "JEOPARDY!'s" 10th Anniversary championship.

 The quiz show's production staff includes four full-time researchers and ten writers whose job is to create and assemble categories and questions for the show.

The unique answer-question format of "JEOPARDY!" has become a popular tool with educators across the country. Teachers recommend that their students watch the show and often create their own versions of "JEOPARDY!" to encourage student participation in the classroom. In an issue of Dartmouth magazine, a powerful testimony to "JEOPARDY!'s" ability to teach while it entertains was made by Assistant Professor of Government Thomas M. Nichols, who said that "JEOPARDY!" is "the SAT of television game shows."

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