Just who came up the idea to require that contestants phrase all responses in the form of a question? Or should I say “This person came up the idea to require that contestants phrase all responses in the form of a question”?
Who was Merv Griffin?
The short answer is, yes, Merv Griffin and his then-wife came up with the idea for Jeopardy.
At the time they were devising Jeopardy, there was a wave of quiz show scandals, involving “21” and “The $64,000 Question.” It was revealed that, on those shows, certain contestants had been given all the answers.
Well, reasoned the Griffins, on our show, we’ll give ALL the contestants the answers- we just won’t tell them the questions! They’ll have to tell US the questions!
Hence, the “Who is” or “What is” gimmick.