Line #1 Main/JeopardyThinkingMusic


1	->''Thinking, Thinking, Thinking hard.\
2	I know what the answer is; I got it.\
3	No, that can't be, I'm so wrong,\
4	I guessed [[UsefulNotes/MaoZedong Mao]], but it's Creator/BDWong.''
5	-->-- ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''
6
7	"Think!" is the title of the ThinkMusic played on the game show ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' while contestants write their questions in its final round, "Final Jeopardy!", and was at one point universally recognizable. For readers who've never heard it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGhvoekY44 here's the original (and most famous) version]], used on all incarnations of the show until 1997. Note the TruckDriversGearChange at the halfway mark.
8
9	Creator/MervGriffin, the creator of ''Jeopardy!'' (and sister show ''Series/WheelOfFortune''), composed the well-known "Think" music. He [[SelfPlagiarism self-plagiarized]] it from "A Time for Tony", which he wrote as a lullaby for his son; the original "A Time for Tony" later became a prize cue on ''Wheel'' in the 1980s.
10
11	Using the Jeopardy Thinking Music, or a MusicalPastiche of it, is common when stupid characters are stumped by a simple question. Briefly replaced by the ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' {{sting}}s.
12
13	The version of "Think!" in Final Jeopardy! is played at 136 beats per minute and is 17 measures long, including the "bum-bum" at the end. This makes it exactly 30 seconds long. This is one reason it's used on ''Jeopardy!'': it's good for timing the round while sounding slightly more relaxing than a bare ticking clock.
14
15	For examples of "think" music in general, see ThinkMusic.
16
17	Older shows, or those who can't afford to license "Think!", may substitute Leroy Anderson's "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Syncopated_Clock The Syncopated Clock]]" (which, coincidentally, predates ''[=Jeopardy=]!'' by roughly twenty years). In the United Kingdom, the iconic [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2dhD9zR6hk theme]] from ''Series/{{Countdown}}'' will usually be substituted. In Japan, the music from ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6V5whgQF-Y Time Shock]]'' is a common choice for timing 60 seconds.
18	----
19	!!Examples:
20
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
24	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'' used a sort of variant of the theme: When Tulio asks Miguel to think carefully about what Chel meant to both of them, a little bell can be heard as if symbolizing Miguel's thought process. When he comes to his conclusion ("Chel is... off-limits?"), a bell goes off like a game-show timer.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
28	* In ''Film/TheSantaClause'', the theme plays while Scott Calvin's co-workers wait for him to finish eating.
29	* In ''Film/MusicAndLyrics'', Alex Fletcher plays the tune on the piano in hope of inspiring Sophie to write. It only makes her more nervous.
30	* In ''Film/InspectorGadget1999'', when Gadget is being taught how to use his new abilities, one scenario is that he's supposed to stop a jewelry-store robbery by giving the robbers [[{{Pun}} the slip]]. While he's thinking, [[IdeaBulb a lightbulb rises from his hat]] and the first eight notes of "Think!" plays. When he gets an idea, the bulb lights up, and his next line: "Go, go, gadget oil slick." (buzzer sound) [[ItMakesSenseInContext Toothpaste comes out.]]
31	* Used at one point in [[TheFilmOfTheSeries the feature film adaptation]] of ''Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies'', when Elly May mentions that Beverly Hills has smog. Granny asks, "What's a smog?", and as the Clampetts ponder the matter, a truncated version of the original "Think!" cue plays, after which Jethro deduces: "[[ComicallyMissingThePoint I reckon it's a small hog.]]"
32	* Used multiple times in ''Film/MessageInACellPhone''.
33	** The opening play when Jeremy asks the guy claiming to be Felix Reiser why he needs the cell phone when he already has one. It happens again when the kids ask him who the guy from the pool is.
34	** It also plays when Mac asks a woman claiming to be Felix's wife if Felix had any birthmarks, scars, or tattoos on his body.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
38	* ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' itself capitalized on this by changing its own theme tune to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6rHqrLA7aw an upbeat remix of "Think!"]] in 1984. Various other themes had been used during the Art Fleming-hosted versions of the show (the original 1964-75 theme was called "Take Ten" and was written by Merv Griffin's wife at the time, Julann). One year's college tournament was hosted at Yale University and had Final Jeopardy for the tournament's finale accompanied by an ''a cappella'' performance of the song by Yale's ''a cappella'' ensemble, the Whiffenpoofs.
39	* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': Mork insisted on humming or singing it on several occasions while waiting for answers to questions.
40	* The very last episode of ''Series/{{ALF}}'' used this.
41	* ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''. At one point it even had several cast members mentally singing a little ditty along to the music. "Thinking, thinking, thinking hard..."
42	* In an episode of ''Series/FamilyMatters'', Steve Urkel ''hums this aloud'', in a very annoying fashion, while waiting for Carl to make up his mind about something.
43	* When [[Series/TheDailyShow Jon Stewart]] interviewed Betsy [=McCaughey=] regarding her opposition to President Obama's health care proposals, she trotted out a huge binder containing half of the proposed bill. Jon challenged her to show him the passage that she cited to prove her (made-up) points against the bill, and as she thumbed through the pages of the binder, he started humming the ''Jeopardy!'' theme. Later, when she searched for another passage, he started singing "[[Series/TheBennyHillShow Yakety Sax]]."
44	* Used at least once in ''Series/AmericasFunniestHomeVideos'':
45	** It was dubbed into a home video of a man at the altar taking his sweet time thinking over the "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" question.
46	** Another episode had a man performing the music with a bicycle pump and hand farts.
47	* On ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', it was one of the features of Raj's sound effect shirt.
48	--> '''Leonard:''' I can't decide if I want Creator/StanLee to sign my ''Journey into Mystery'' 83, first appearances of [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], or my ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' number 5, first appearance of Doctor Doom.
49	--> '''Raj:''' ''[Plays ''Jeopardy!'' music]''
50	--> '''Leonard:''' Hmm... Alex, I'm going to go with: What is you're a dumb ass?
51	** Sheldon plays it on the recorder in "the Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification".
52	* In ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' episode "How I Spent My Summer Vacation", Will hums this after he [[TemptingFate goads a talking car into sounding its alarm, believing that it wouldn't.]]
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Magazines]]
56	* An issue of ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' in the late 1990s featured [[WithLyrics lyrics for the theme]], in an article entitled "11 ways to piss off Creator/AlexTrebek":
57	-->This is Final Jeopardy!
58	-->Having trouble with this category
59	-->Today's champion won't be me
60	-->Don't know Greek mythology
61	-->Hope my friends don't watch the show
62	-->Then they'll say there's nothing that I know and
63	-->I'll look like a total {{heel}}
64	-->Wish instead I'd gone... on... ''[[Series/WheelOfFortune Wheel]]''!
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Music]]
68	* This shows up in a live rendition of Music/RayStevens' "It's Me Again, Margaret". As the character in the song starts to dial the phone, he [[OverlyLongGag spends way too long]] doing so, and the first two bars of "Think!" play.
69	* Music/FaithNoMore would play it in concert as a joke.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Video Games]]
73	* The Chinese ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' [[SerialNumbersFiledOff clone]] ''Duludubi Star'' somehow [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJxuyxqWg-w#t=4m13s managed to plagiarise it]] for usage in a '''non-thinking''' context.
74	** The bootleg video game ''Super Mario World 64'' for UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis (yeah, [[UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars you didn't read it wrong]]) used this theme for nothing less than... [[https://youtu.be/A-jhSjft_lM?t=738 the ice level]].
75	* The music that plays during ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest IV'''s CopyProtection sequence is a remix of the ''Space Quest'' theme designed to sound like this tune. A minor [[{{Tonality}} key]] variant of the traditional ''Jeopardy'' theme also plays in [[VideoGame/SpaceQuestVTheNextMutation Space Quest V]] when Roger has to take the [=StarCon=] Aptitude Test.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Webcomics]]
79	* In ''Webcomic/{{Avalon\|1999}}'', Mr. Corner the chemistry teacher once played this during a test until Joe told him to knock it off.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Web Original]]
83	* Used in WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's review of ''Film/{{North}}'', when the Critic was searching for the apparent "joke" when the Texan family lamented their "big loss". It was used again in the ''WesternAnimation/RoverDangerfield'' review.
84	* Misteroo's Flash Animation ''WebAnimation/{{Arfenhouse}}'' uses the Think Music briefly.
85	* This was used in the Creator/{{wileyk209zback}} poop "Caillou's Biggest Temper Tantrum!" right before Daddy reveals that the circus isn't until tommorow.
86	* Website/YouTube creator [=NerdECrafter=] uses the Think Music when she is puzzling over something, particularly if she has to do math calculations.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Western Animation]]
90	* ''[[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow Ren and Stimpy]]'' episode "Out West" uses a SuspiciouslySimilarSong of the tune twice.
91	* In the ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' episode "Closing Time", Beavis and Butthead imitate the theme in a "rock" style while the health inspector checks on Burger World.
92	* Edited in, hilariously, to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScM2-mOMNuc this portion]] of the ''WesternAnimation/MegaManRubySpears'' cartoon.
93	* Appears in several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''.
94	* A ''WesternAnimation/TomTerrific'' story arc had Tom and Mighty Manfred trying to find Sindbad the Sailor and get him to use his last wish so the genie that granted the wishes can return to his lamp. Tom and Manfred encounter a sorcerer in a flying booth, and they ask him where Sindbad could be. The sorcerer, like a contestant on the quiz show ''Series/TwentyOne'', thinks and gestures like a contestant with think music playing in the background. Manfred even says, "Take all the time you need."
95	* The ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' spin-off film ''Film/BorisAndNatasha'' features the theme at one point after the title duo has been questioned by authorities.
96	* The Bakshi ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' episode "See You In The Funny Papers" had the hero bound by a villain, and his only means of escape is by solving a rebus. As he tries to, the music from the "Cover Up" game on ''Series/ThePriceIsRight'' is used. (Both shows had their music furnished from Score Productions.)
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Other]]
100	* Sports example: The tune is frequently played over the stadium loudspeakers during [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL instant replay reviews]] or mound conferences at baseball games.
101	* Played on ''Radio/TheHowardSternShow'' when someone has been asked a tough question or is taking a long time to respond.
102	* The shorts featuring the mascot of [[UsefulNotes/GermanTVStations German children's station Kika]], ''Bernd, the Bread'', often feature "Think!" whenever Bernd is trying get something across to his TooDumbToLive "friends" or the producers, or whenever he is [[DeadpanSnarker Deadpan Snarking]] about them not getting something which should be obvious.
103	* Due to "Think!" being easy to remember, easy to whistle or hum, and exactly 30 seconds long, it is frequently used to approximate lengths of time too long for counting by seconds to be practical.
104	* Creator/{{GSN}} [[https://youtu.be/34BQtgscUKw used it as background music]] for their [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties technical issues standby card]].
105	[[/folder]]
106	----

Context Main / JeopardyThinkingMusic