Suggestions and Changes for Season 40: A brand new set. The current set has been in use since Season 30, and there were only minor changes to the set in 2020 and 2021 (much like in 2006 when the metallic set was slightly modified to accomodate the move from SD to HD). Prior to the current set and save for the original set used 1984-85, Jeopardy! would roll out a completely new set every 4-7 years. But I can understand why the current set has been in use for so long. There were talks of Alex retiring from the show by the time the late 2010s rolled in; and that's why in Season 35 there weren't any significant changes in terms of sound or looks, despite being a milestone season. In 2018 (if not mistaken), Alex extended his contract through the end of last season. After Alex's passing in November 2020, the producers were scrambling to find a new host to replace him full-time. First we had the rotation of various guest hosts to finish off Season 37 Mike Richards was tapped to be the new permanent host last season, but his stint only lasted the first week; he resigned and was subsequently fired as the EP of both Jeopardy! and Wheel shortly there after. As a result of the above, Ken & Mayim took turns hosting for the remainder of Season 38. But they were named permanent co-hosts this season. A completely new arrangement of the familiar Jeopardy! theme and Think! music. There was a music change last season, but like with the set, it wasn't a large-scale overhaul. Even though Bleeding Fingers Music scored the new theme, it's only just an updated version of the previous arrangement composed by Chris Bell Music back in 2008. And the Think! cue from the '08 package carried over (I don't think it matches the updated theme). Just like with the set, I think we're also overdue for a more large-scale music change. For the first 25 or so seasons, the Jeopardy! music package was overhauled every 11-13 years. And here is something that came to my mind. Many of you recall that Jeopardy's sister show Wheel of Fortune revived "Changing Keys" as its main theme when that show's 39th Season kicked off. And I was thinking for Season 40, Bleeding Fingers Music ought to score a more modern arrangement of the pre-2008 versions of the Jeopardy! theme and Think! music (from a musician's perspective, the main theme starting in F major and the familiar melody keeps looping in different keys, the FJ! think cue starting in C major and ending in E-flat major and timpani playing the final two notes). New title card, and from that point moving forward, resume the practice of having a new one every season. Bring back the beep-boop sound for when the dollar amounts pop in at the start of the Jeopardy! round, especially if it's being used on the Inside Jeopardy! podcasts. We may never know why they got rid of the original sound in Season 25 and then replaced it with the bell chimes and the synth chimes in Season 26 and Season 33, respectively. Slightly tweak the format for the ToC. Keep the pool of 21 players, but have seven quarterfinal matches. Everyone plays in the quarterfinals, including super-champions. No automatic byes to the semifinals (I think that put Matt & Mattea at a disadvantage) Because of the slight change, the seven quarterfinalists who won their respective matches automatically qualify for the semifinals, and two players with the highest scores among non-winners advance to the semifinals as a wild card. Maybe reinstate the 2-point total affair for the finals, unless viewers prefer the first-to-win-three-matches best-of-seven series over the Resume holding the Teen Tournament, as that was Alex's favorite tournament. And maybe resume the Teachers Tournament as well, unless it was already replaced by the Professors Tournament. Hold a special reunion tournament featuring 21 tournament/ToC winners and super-champions. The winner takes home $1M while the runner-ups receive $250K and $100K for finishing in second and third place respectively. Here is a list of possible participants: Amy Schneider Sam Kavanaugh James Holzhauer Alex Jacob Ben Ingram Colby Burnett Roger Craig Austin Rogers Dan Pawson Larissa Kelly (won the 2019 All-Star Games w/ team Brad) Celeste DiNucci Julia Collins Michael Falk Mattea Roach Pam Mueller Sam Buttrey Francois Barcomb David Madden (won 2019 ASG with team Brad) Eric Newhouse Matt Amodio Matt Jackson Bring back the set changing its background from blue to red for the Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds. While the set does turn red for the 30-second thinking period in Final, the old practice from the '80s and '90s was discontinued in October 1997, shortly after the start of Season 14. Initially when the old practice was discarded, the set stayed blue throughout the whole show with a couple of exceptions. The set turned red for DJ! and FJ! one last time on the Celebrity Jeopardy! Sportscasters episode that aired in January 1998 During the first week with the metallic set in use, the set turned red for the thinking period in FJ! This practice became permanent starting in Season 22. On CJ!, have the set be blue for the Jeopardy! and Double Jeopardy! rounds, and then turn red for Triple Jeopardy! and Final Jeiopardy! Bring back the swooshing sound at the top of the show, or perhaps use a similar sound effect. Bring back the practice of popping in the dollar figures at the start of Double Jeopardy! On CJ! have the dollar figures pop in at the start of the Jeopardy! round, Double Jeopardy!, and Triple Jeopardy!