The gang heads to the set of Jeopardy! when both Velma and Shaggy score high enough to win a place on the program. Though everything at first proceeds normally (despite Scooby interrupting to cheerlead for his best friend), Max Kilobyte, the first robotic contestant on the show, soon displays a humanlike ego and temper.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: Max the robot, who does not take being bested at Jeopardy! by not only Velma but also Shaggy very well. Though in the end, it turns out that the only reason Max went crazy is because he was being hacked by a Jeopardy! cameraman, who had invested a lot of money in the company who built the robot and decided to take matters into his own hands to make sure Max won.
- Crazy-Prepared: Somehow, Jeopardy keeps a spare lectern around in case it's necessary, meaning that the show can continue with barely a beat after Max beats the lectern to pieces in a tantrum.
- This is actually more believable when you think about it — it's a long-running game show, they'd naturally have spare set pieces and props around if one gets lost, destroyed, etc.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: The culprit turns out to be the cameraman.
- Game Show Appearance: "Total Jeopardy" has Velma and Shaggy as contestants on Jeopardy!, with the late host Alex Trebek as the episode's guest star. Shaggy manages to win.
- Golden Snitch: In Final Jeopardy, Shaggy manages to correctly answer the final question with baking powder, which only earns him one dollar. However, both Velma and Max answered wrongly with baking soda, and since they both bet all their cash, Shaggy is declared the winner.
- Miracle Rally: Shaggy manages to take the lead in the second round due to most of the questions being food related.
- Punny Name: Max Kilobyte, a robot, is named after a measure of computer storage. "Max" is also an abbreviation for "maximum", so "Max Kilobyte" is a good name for a robot supposed to be able to win Jeopardy!
- Red Herring: The scientist who invented Max Kilobyte enters to mess with his circuits after his initial outburst, and he mutters that no human can beat his invention. He isn't the culprit.
- Running Gag: Scooby interrupting the show trying to support Shaggy.
- Rousing Speech: Alex Trebek gives the gang a spirited speech asking them to prove the amazingness of the human mind against Max Kilobyte, who has been putting down humans as utterly inferior.Alex Trebek: I ask you all to stand with me this day, a day that will hopefully be a history question on Jeopardy! in the future. A day when humanity stood up for itself against a robotic bully. I want you kids to win against this robot fair and square. Show the world that the human mind is an amazing gift, and one that should never be wasted!
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: When Max starts ranting about how inferior the human mind is, Alex Trebek snaps back that his career on Jeopardy has taught him to respect the human mind and he won't accept Max's behavior.Alex Trebek: Whoa, hold on just a second now. I've hosted this show long enough to be truly amazed and inspired by the power of the human mind, and this human mind will not allow himself to be bullied.
- Sore Loser: Max Kilobyte considers himself superior to humans and does not take it well when Velma gains a substantial lead, or when Shaggy surprisingly does the same. He destroys at least two lecterns and chases the gang and Alex Trebek around the studio in a rage. Some of this may have been due to his being hacked.
