But today’s contestants might not be as forgetful if “Jeopardy!” creator Merv Griffin had simply named the show “What’s the Question?” — which was actually his first choice.

Merv Griffin didn't have the name "Jeopardy!" in mind for the iconic gameshow when he created the concept. In fact, he had a wildly different title picked out.

Created by Merv Griffin, Wheel of Fortune started as a daytime TV show but quickly spun its way into primetime fame.

LOS ANGELES — Merv Griffin, the big-band-era crooner turned impresario who parlayed his "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune" game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, died Sunday. He was 82.

Back in 1963, Griffin was brainstorming ideas for a new NBC game show with his wife Julann when he began to lament the scandals that had plagued the quiz shows of the 1950s.