A EMMY AW RDS

38th Annual Daytime Entertainment CREATIVE ARTS EMMY ® AWARDS
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HARRY FRIEDMAN
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You said you “couldn’t get over here fast enough” when you were asked if you might want
to work at “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!.” Why?
When you talk about “Wheel,” it’s a great game. Every kid my age certainly grew up playing hangman, and it’s just
the idea of being able to play a simple puzzle game, and get rewarded for it. “Jeopardy!” is completely different.
It’s a show about knowledge and interests, and tests what you as the viewer and contestant know, and it informs
you likewise about what you might not know. What’s great about both shows is that they’re family friendly, and
appointment television.
The two programs run back to back in most markets. Is there a synergy?
I think there is. We do know we have quite a bit of overlap. Each one challenges you in a different way. A lot
of “Wheel” contestants would not be able to qualify for “Jeopardy!” and, oddly enough, a number of “Jeopardy!”
contestants would not qualify for “Wheel.” We like to say “Wheel” is a game show and “Jeopardy!” is a quiz show.
What does it take to be a successful game show/quiz show producer?
We are constantly trying to improve, tweak, energize every aspect of our shows. We’re very much into being
sensitive to trends but making sure it’s not just the trend of the moment because we don’t have to do that. We can take
our time. One of the things we like to say about both shows is that they’re reliable, but never predictable.
At “Wheel,” you created the “Wheel Watchers Club,” the first of its kind online viewer loyalty program
which now has more than 5.7 million members. How else do you keep the show fresh?
We keep adding new elements to make it visually interesting and more exciting. The game is still basically the
same. But we add more ways to win and more reasons to watch. It’s so important for “Wheel” to be that respite from
the rigors of the day.
Your decision in 2003 to eliminate the “Jeopardy!” five-day rule for contestants was a key move?
That really was a game changer, literally. It just said that we believe there should be no limit to excellence, so if you
can keep winning we will let you. We didn’t anticipate someone would do that for 74 games.
Was there a lot of debate beforehand?
Sure. The downside was a concern that what if someone gets on the show that our viewers dislike? In a way, we’re
inviting someone into our home and what if they are the guest that won’t leave. It was definitely a risk and fortunately
the guy who probably is today most associated with the show as a contestant-- Ken Jennings—fortunately, he turned
out to be a great guy.
In September 2006 yours were the first syndicated shows to convert to High Definition?
It was a huge investment; the studio spent about 4 million dollars. Viewers noticed immediately; I was so surprised
because the penetration of HD sets in the marketplace was pretty low at the time. Viewers still talk about it. It adds an
energy to both shows, [particularly] “Wheel” because it is so bright and animated and it just makes it more so in HD.
What new features can viewers look forward to coming up?
For “Jeopardy!”, we’ll be sending the Clue Crew and Alex Trebek to even more exotic locations to shoot clues;
they’re going to the Far East this year and they just came back from the Antarctic. We’re really going to be bringing
the world to our viewers. As for “Wheel,” we’re adding some game elements that will allow more viewers at home and
in-studio contestants to win prizes.
Your hosts have been there for many years. Have you thought about eventual succession?
Nothing is ensured forever, and I’m sorry to hear that, too. We have the best hosts in the business and we just hope
they’ll stick around for as long as they want to. n