Harry Friedman
Harry Friedman (born November 12, 1946) is an American television industry executive. He was the executive producer of the syndicated game shows Jeopardy![1] and Wheel of Fortune[2] from 1999 to 2020.[3] Initially he shared the title of executive producer with the shows' creator, Merv Griffin, but from Griffin's 2000 retirement until his own 2020 retirement, he served as their sole executive producer.
Not to be confused with Harry Friedmann.
Harry Friedman
Television producer
1971–present
Executive producer on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune
2
Friedman has produced a combined total of more than 5,500 episodes of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.[3] Friedman introduced a number of new gameplay elements, theme weeks, and technological advances to both programs, and in 2006 he led both shows to make television history by becoming the first syndicated television series to broadcast in high definition.[4]
In September 2021, it was reported Friedman will be executive producer for a proposed NBC revival of the game show Tic Tac Dough with Tom Bergeron as host.[5] On April 28, 2022, it was confirmed Friedman will be the executive producer for the second season of another NBC game show revival, Capital One College Bowl.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Friedman lives in Los Angeles with his wife Judy (married since 1973), and they have two daughters, Amy (married to Dax Shelby) and Leslie (a personal trainer living in Denver), and one granddaughter, Ayla Marin Shelby.[3]
Awards and honors[edit]
Since Friedman joined Jeopardy!, the show has come to receive the most awards and honors of any syndicated game show in television history. As of 2020, the program has won a total of 43 Daytime Emmy Awards in the following categories: Outstanding Show, Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show, Outstanding Special Class Writing, Outstanding Game Show Host, and Outstanding Directing For A Game/Audience Participation Show.
Friedman has won fourteen Emmy Awards, the most won by a game show producer.[15] In January 2007, the National Association of Television Program Executives honored him with its prestigious "Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award", and, in October of that same year, Broadcasting & Cable inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
On September 29, 2022, Friedman was inducted into the inaugural class of the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame at the 1st Jeopardy! Honors event.[16]