Software engineer's 'Jeopardy' run astounds show's creator

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Wherever he goes these days, Merv Griffin gets asked the same question: What is Ken Jennings really like?

Griffin, who created "Jeopardy" in 1963 and wrote its brief, unforgettable theme song, has not met the mild-mannered software engineer from Salt Lake City who has become a celebrity as the game show's richest champion. But he'd like to.

"I think he's great," Griffin said. "He's humble -- a smart, nice kid. And I think he would like to meet the creator of 'Jeopardy."'

Griffin, who no longer owns "Jeopardy," credits his former wife, Julann Griffin, with the brainstorm of giving contestants the answers and requiring them to respond in the form of a question. NBC bought the idea and put the show on in prime time in 1964.

It didn't work right away. The first version of the show allowed all contestants to keep their winnings. That resulted in a dull, conservative wagering strategy.

"No one bet on 'Final Jeopardy,"' Griffin said. "It almost killed the show."

So the rule was changed to allow only the winner to go home with cash.

Griffin also established the show's most famous rule, limiting a champion's run to five straight wins.

"We thought it would be boring," to allow a contestant to just keep winning, he said. That rule was changed at the beginning of last season, leading to the record winning streak by Jennings.

Asked if he still thought having a long-running champion was boring, Griffin said, "We'll see."

As of Thursday, the streak by Jennings stood at 42 shows, with winnings of more than $1.3 million. But a report Wednesday on TV Week's Web site said the run ended with a show taped Tuesday that will air later this fall. A network spokesman refused to confirm or deny the report.

Griffin said he watches "Jeopardy" every day to see how Jennings is faring.

He doesn't believe people will lose interest in the show after the streak ends.

"People love to watch and to give the answers before the contestant does," Griffin said. "There are more heroes at home than on the screen."

And when Jennings does lose?

"I hope they have a ceiling full of balloons ready," Griffin said. "What he has done is simply amazing."