I was on in 2013; taped in April, show was on in July. Not sure if things have changed since Trebek's death or with covid, or if something might have been lost in translation from your relative, but it was a little different back then:

quote:
They film 5 episodes a day for a week, so in a week’s taping someone could win a month of shows.

Back in 2013 (and as far as I know, until Trebek left the show) they did tape a week's worth of shows in a day (5 episodes) but they only taped TWO days a week. Trebek only worked 46 days a year: A Day in the Life of Alex Trebek
Jeopardy! Production Schedule

quote:
The contestants watching backstage get a few hours to try to develop a strategy to fight the champ.

I wasn't on until the last episode taped that day (the Friday episode). All of the contestants for the week didn't watch from "backstage" (which is really the green room behind the audience seating), but were in the studio audience seats (in our own little section) watching the game LIVE.

quote:
A couple of the contestants don’t get called for the five taped in a single day so they get to go back to the hotel and think about what they watched and come back for the next day’s taping.

When I taped we DID have two 'alternates' for the taping day, but both were contestants from the immediate LA area and know in advance that they are alternates and will likely not be taping that day unless someone did not show, or got sick or was struck with stage fright. I actually sat with and talked to one of the alternates during the taping of the 1st four shows on my day, and he told me that's how they did it. I later saw both alternates on the show the following season (I taped the last day of the week on the last day of the season 2012-2013).