Due to the running WGA Strike, many of the last season’s champions of Jeopardy! say that they refused to participate in the annual event because they don’t want to cross the picket lines. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the biggest winners of the 2022-23 season will not play in this year’s tournament due to the WGA strike that is still ongoing. Sony Pictures TV expressed that they “never had any intention” to record the tournament until the strike was over.
The program hires Writers Guild of America members and the show was planning to continue to roll on re-runs of episodes from its 39-year career while they filmed for the 2023-24 season. Typically, the Tournament of Champions tapes during August and September, however as of current events, this will have to be pushed back due to the strike.
Ray Lalonde, who is a TV set builder and painter located in Toroto, stated in an email to the show’s producers on July 21 that he will not participate in the tournament amidst the still occurring strike. Lalonde won $386,400 over the duration of 13 games last season.
Lalonde also touched upon his absence in the tournament in the Jeopardy! Reddit forum, stating, “I am and will always be grateful for the experience I had on the show and the opportunity to participate in the TOC is beyond a dream come true for me. That being said, I believe that the show’s writers are a vital part of the show and they are justified in taking their job action to secure a fair contract for themselves and their fellow WGA members. As a supporter of the trade union movement, a union member’s son and a proud union member myself I have informed the show’s producers that if the strike remains unresolved I will not cross a picket line to play in the tournament of champions.”
A spokesperson from Jeopardy! released a statement stating that, “Jeopardy! never had any intention of producing a Tournament of Champions for season 39 until the strike is resolved. Further, no contestants from season 39 have been contacted regarding their availability for any postseason tournaments, including the TOC. The Jeopardy! postseason represents the pinnacle of our competition, and it should feature our strongest players playing our toughest original material.”