Two more pilots were taped on Augas Wheel of Fortune, now hosted by Edd Byrnes with Charlie O'Donnell as announcer and Susan Stafford hired at the last minute to turn the letters of the puzzle board. The resulting pilot (which had been produced and directed by Bill Carruthers) was panned by Bolen, Merv, and test audiences, leading to a large-scale overhaul. This pilot, commissioned by Bolen to boost network daytime ratings among women 18-34, was hosted by Chuck Woolery with Mike Lawrence as announcer.

In September 1973, Merv Griffin Productions produced a pilot for NBC at the request of Lin Bolen, under the title Shopper's Bazaar. The Merv Griffin Show returned to television in 1965, remaining in production until 1986. A clause in the Jeopardy! contract stipulated that in the event it were cancelled, Griffin could produce a replacement show.

The company's first production was Jeopardy!, which aired from Mato Januon NBC (with a nighttime version airing in syndication for the 1974-75 season).

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