What did definitions have to do with it in 1990?
Very true. But I will give them credit that, even as "a game of definitions," it was still a knowledge-based trivia game. Facing the Jeopardy juggernaut wasn't going to be an easy slog, and attempting to differentiate in the approach was worth an effort. It didn't work, and probably wasn't going to work no matter what they did. Compared to Tic Tac Dough's revival, and all other potential shortcomings of both shows set aside, the pace of Joker felt much better compared to Tic Tac Dough. By 1990, in just those few years, the pace of a traditional Barry & Enright quizzer felt so much slower after a few years of Jeopardy.
Veering off into "problem solving" and whatever else it is they have in mind for this version is the part that leaves me feeling, well, "meh" about the whole thing. I'll try to keep an open mind. I happily admit I changed my pre-judgement about To Tell the Truth. They took a staid concept, great for its time, and sticking to the core game, made it fun and engaging overall (and most of the things I didn't particularly like about it weren't deal-breakers, they were just, also, "meh" type things).
Maybe the new elements will be great. Maybe the show will be a hoot. I agree you couldn't bring back the original as is--it's too slow in this today's world. And Snoop? Not my cup of tea, but in a hosting role, custom designed around him, maybe it will work out well. I hope it does. I'd love to be able to have a show I loved from back in the day thrive again, like Pyramid, Truth and Match Game.
More power to them.