What Happened to Jeopardy?
May 25, 2023 6:52 AM Subscribe
The ambient joy of America’s nightly game show is slowly giving way to a Marvel-brained empire.
The link above is an archive.today link because there's an unnecessary spoiler for the final of Jeopardy! Masters in this original Slate URL; the article only spoils the first couple of semifinals.
The link above is an archive.today link because there's an unnecessary spoiler for the final of Jeopardy! Masters in this original Slate URL; the article only spoils the first couple of semifinals.
Celebrity Jeopardy! is mostly pretty dumb - the questions are all significantly easier than regular Jeopardy! so the celebrities don't get embarrassed, but the problem is some of them still manage to get quite badly embarrassed and others, who might be able to play regular Jeopardy!, romp to ridiculously lopsided wins - but it's a show where you're watching famous people relax and crack jokes at each other's expense rather than a competitive quiz show. Basically it's a nerdier Battle of the Network Stars and that has its place.
posted by mightygodking at 7:19 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by mightygodking at 7:19 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
My favorite possibly apocryphal piece of Jeopardy trivia is the fact that it was dead and off the air by the early 80s, and was only revived because of the popularity of the Weird Al parody "I Lost on Jeopardy."
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:26 AM on May 25, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:26 AM on May 25, 2023 [13 favorites]
I'm okay with having Masters and the JIT and the Second Chance and all this other stuff as long as it doesn't take too many slots away from just regular people competing.
Make it so there's Original Flavor Jeopardy! running in syndication every weeknight, 52 weeks a year, with maybe a Teen and College Tournament each year plus the TOC, and then all of this higher-level Jeopardy-as-a-sport stuff whereRoman Reigns James Holzhauer defeats all comers can be on a separate show.
College football and the NFL co-exist. So can Jeopardy! and Jeopardy! Masters.
posted by Etrigan at 7:41 AM on May 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
Make it so there's Original Flavor Jeopardy! running in syndication every weeknight, 52 weeks a year, with maybe a Teen and College Tournament each year plus the TOC, and then all of this higher-level Jeopardy-as-a-sport stuff where
College football and the NFL co-exist. So can Jeopardy! and Jeopardy! Masters.
posted by Etrigan at 7:41 AM on May 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
I go all the way back to watching the barebones Art Fleming version with my mom. I took the test several times, and was in the contestant pool prepandemic ('18-'19). I'd begun to feel the changes by then, their seeking of big personalities.
Even though there's an element of the traditional base that I find too conservative, at the same time, I'm not a fan of this this flashy expansion in formats. They're diluting the brand, which was simply: Smart people who didn't look like professional game-players competing in a tougher quiz show than any other.
I'm not even watching the latest prime-time version "live," instead slowly making my way through on demand.
I'm curious about the makeup of the prime-time audience versus the syndie fan base. I think if someone watched the former first, they'd find the latter, with its two newbies and perhaps a one-day winner, boring.
So, is the purpose of all the new versions to add to the audience, or just make a ton of money. (I'm not a fan of these huge superhero franchises, so comparing Jeopardy to the MCU is not exactly a compliment in my book. /OldFart)
posted by NorthernLite at 7:42 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Even though there's an element of the traditional base that I find too conservative, at the same time, I'm not a fan of this this flashy expansion in formats. They're diluting the brand, which was simply: Smart people who didn't look like professional game-players competing in a tougher quiz show than any other.
I'm not even watching the latest prime-time version "live," instead slowly making my way through on demand.
I'm curious about the makeup of the prime-time audience versus the syndie fan base. I think if someone watched the former first, they'd find the latter, with its two newbies and perhaps a one-day winner, boring.
So, is the purpose of all the new versions to add to the audience, or just make a ton of money. (I'm not a fan of these huge superhero franchises, so comparing Jeopardy to the MCU is not exactly a compliment in my book. /OldFart)
posted by NorthernLite at 7:42 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
TV show that has been on the air for nearly 40 years in its current incarnation has come up with a few tweaks and occasional gimmicks to keep things fresh and interesting? This screed reads like the people who freaked out once they brought instant replay to sports.
The Masters tournament was like Schitt’s Creek in game show form. A group of people who clearly adored each other having the time of their lives. Sure there is some risk of overexposure, but I, for one, was happy to get an additional opportunity to see some favorites play one more time. That’s correct.
posted by The Gooch at 7:54 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
The Masters tournament was like Schitt’s Creek in game show form. A group of people who clearly adored each other having the time of their lives. Sure there is some risk of overexposure, but I, for one, was happy to get an additional opportunity to see some favorites play one more time. That’s correct.
posted by The Gooch at 7:54 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
Man, that article reads like a screed from someone who didn't qualify for the show. Some serious axe-grinding there.
I watched most of the Masters shows, though I felt it dragged-on a bit too long. One detail of the Masters shows that I pray never-ever-ever-ever makes it into the main show is the revealing of the Daily Doubles for the tv audience. I'm not at all sure what purpose that serves, but it definitely feels like an odd misunderstanding of what fans want, or why they watch.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
I watched most of the Masters shows, though I felt it dragged-on a bit too long. One detail of the Masters shows that I pray never-ever-ever-ever makes it into the main show is the revealing of the Daily Doubles for the tv audience. I'm not at all sure what purpose that serves, but it definitely feels like an odd misunderstanding of what fans want, or why they watch.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
What would be the purpose of revealing the Daily Doubles?
The only thing I can think of is that some sportsbook is taking action on it now (Prop bet / Holzhauer finds it in 4 moves over/under)
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:03 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
The only thing I can think of is that some sportsbook is taking action on it now (Prop bet / Holzhauer finds it in 4 moves over/under)
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:03 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
What would be the purpose of revealing the Daily Doubles?
They're very much in the mode of throwing anything against the wall and seeing what sticks. So it's less "What would be the purpose" and more "Well, this doesn't affect gameplay, so let's try it and see what people think."
The next thing that Davies has talked about in particular is putting the category on the screen with the question, because the new style of play is to jump around more and the viewers at home have to remember "Wait, is this clue incomprehensible because it's Before And After or because all the answers have to begin with Z or...".
posted by Etrigan at 8:07 AM on May 25, 2023 [8 favorites]
They're very much in the mode of throwing anything against the wall and seeing what sticks. So it's less "What would be the purpose" and more "Well, this doesn't affect gameplay, so let's try it and see what people think."
The next thing that Davies has talked about in particular is putting the category on the screen with the question, because the new style of play is to jump around more and the viewers at home have to remember "Wait, is this clue incomprehensible because it's Before And After or because all the answers have to begin with Z or...".
posted by Etrigan at 8:07 AM on May 25, 2023 [8 favorites]
They're very much in the mode of throwing anything against the wall and seeing what sticks. So it's less "What would be the purpose" and more "Well, this doesn't affect gameplay, so let's try it and see what people think."
My take is that the idea is seeing how close the players are getting to finding it. If the players are doing the "category by category, $200-$1000 search," then viewers can see when the players are going to hit it, building tension. I think it's kind of dumb and I don't know if it would actually improve the viewing experience, but I definitely don't think it would hurt anything either.
The next thing that Davies has talked about in particular is putting the category on the screen with the question
This would also be really key if you've got the show on at a bar or on mute. Closed captioning can help tell you the question but having the category there would be fine. We've got a lot more resolution now than in 1984.
posted by thecaddy at 8:16 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
My take is that the idea is seeing how close the players are getting to finding it. If the players are doing the "category by category, $200-$1000 search," then viewers can see when the players are going to hit it, building tension. I think it's kind of dumb and I don't know if it would actually improve the viewing experience, but I definitely don't think it would hurt anything either.
The next thing that Davies has talked about in particular is putting the category on the screen with the question
This would also be really key if you've got the show on at a bar or on mute. Closed captioning can help tell you the question but having the category there would be fine. We've got a lot more resolution now than in 1984.
posted by thecaddy at 8:16 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
My wife was on Jeopardy! and won three games! Her first episode (one of the last few with Anderson Cooper as host). The ending of her first game was a real nail biter with our girl hitting the last daily double and betting big then doing it again on the final.
I knew how the game would turn out but the surprise of that last daily double showing up when it did and living that moment along with her is one of my very favorite parts of that episode. I would have hated it if I knew it was coming before she did.
I like a lot of the new changes but not that one.
posted by VTX at 8:26 AM on May 25, 2023 [17 favorites]
I knew how the game would turn out but the surprise of that last daily double showing up when it did and living that moment along with her is one of my very favorite parts of that episode. I would have hated it if I knew it was coming before she did.
I like a lot of the new changes but not that one.
posted by VTX at 8:26 AM on May 25, 2023 [17 favorites]
Make it so there's Original Flavor Jeopardy! running in syndication every weeknight, 52 weeks a year, with maybe a Teen and College Tournament each year plus the TOC, and then all of this higher-level Jeopardy-as-a-sport stuff where Roman Reigns James Holzhauer defeats all comers can be on a separate show.
At least where I am, that’s how it runs. I watched ordinary Jeopardy! a couple nights this week (I didn’t see Ben Chan getting unseated as champ because I wasn’t home), and didn’t even know Masters was a thing that existed until I saw this post.
Regular Jeopardy! is on an NBC channel here, and Masters is on ABC, I think.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:47 AM on May 25, 2023
At least where I am, that’s how it runs. I watched ordinary Jeopardy! a couple nights this week (I didn’t see Ben Chan getting unseated as champ because I wasn’t home), and didn’t even know Masters was a thing that existed until I saw this post.
Regular Jeopardy! is on an NBC channel here, and Masters is on ABC, I think.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:47 AM on May 25, 2023
Turd Ferguson.
posted by freakazoid at 8:58 AM on May 25, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by freakazoid at 8:58 AM on May 25, 2023 [12 favorites]
OK, Celebrity Jeopardy! might not be peak TV, but where else are you gonna get the chance to see a goofy late night talk show 2nd banana absolutely wipe the floor with a "prestigious" cable news network anchorman?
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:02 AM on May 25, 2023 [20 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:02 AM on May 25, 2023 [20 favorites]
I don't know what the article author is sipping on, sounds like someone who has spent too much time on reddit or some other little bubble. I've been watching Jeopardy, or, Ken Jennings eps at least, and it seems like... Jeopardy. They do that thing where they waste time revealing the daily double now but other than seems like the same old Jeopardy to me. Don't much pay attention to the subtitle of the game gimmick, it's all a bunch of answers to questions I probably don't know and as long as the show is that, makes no difference to me.
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:04 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:04 AM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
I haven't been watching the Master's tournament so I can't really comment on that.
But one interesting thing I've noticed about the modern era of Jeopardy: during the interviews, contestants are asked to tell stories about their connections with other champions a lot more frequently than I remember in the past. Controversial contestant Yogesh Raut was criticized heavily for all his stories being about former contestants (as if he alone decided what to talk about), but I noticed that this is actually happening all the time, so I have to assume it's something the producers are encouraging. I do think it contributes to this sense that there is a Jeopardy Universe, for better or for worse.
posted by muddgirl at 9:19 AM on May 25, 2023
But one interesting thing I've noticed about the modern era of Jeopardy: during the interviews, contestants are asked to tell stories about their connections with other champions a lot more frequently than I remember in the past. Controversial contestant Yogesh Raut was criticized heavily for all his stories being about former contestants (as if he alone decided what to talk about), but I noticed that this is actually happening all the time, so I have to assume it's something the producers are encouraging. I do think it contributes to this sense that there is a Jeopardy Universe, for better or for worse.
posted by muddgirl at 9:19 AM on May 25, 2023
This rant does feel a bit like sour grapes. I really enjoyed Jeopardy Masters because it was fun. There was a real sense of mutual respect and comradery, and pretty much everyone showed a decent and/or goofy sense of humor.
The celebrity versions are just simple entertainment. Yeah, the questions are less challenging, but it's (usually) fun. Plus (and I think the article overlooked this; I stopped reading after a bit) these special versions donate decent money to charities.
I closed my eyes during the Masters after the first time. I much prefer the tension of wondering where the doubles are and who will find them.
Something interesting about these extended tournaments though is how it changes strategy. Knowing that you will get other chances to play even if you don't win a given match shifts the betting. I think this is why very quickly everyone was gong all-in on almost every double.
Made me think of a possible variation for Jeopardy: Daily Doubles require you to always bet everything. :) (Yeah, this would not be popular.)
Bottom line is, don't like a variation on the game? Don't watch. That's the choice I make when the vitamin lady is the host.
posted by Ayn Marx at 9:27 AM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
The celebrity versions are just simple entertainment. Yeah, the questions are less challenging, but it's (usually) fun. Plus (and I think the article overlooked this; I stopped reading after a bit) these special versions donate decent money to charities.
I closed my eyes during the Masters after the first time. I much prefer the tension of wondering where the doubles are and who will find them.
Something interesting about these extended tournaments though is how it changes strategy. Knowing that you will get other chances to play even if you don't win a given match shifts the betting. I think this is why very quickly everyone was gong all-in on almost every double.
Made me think of a possible variation for Jeopardy: Daily Doubles require you to always bet everything. :) (Yeah, this would not be popular.)
Bottom line is, don't like a variation on the game? Don't watch. That's the choice I make when the vitamin lady is the host.
posted by Ayn Marx at 9:27 AM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I have an ultimate Celebrity Jeopardy fantasy. The ratings would be insane, and they could raise a ton of money for some agreed-upon charity.
Former Presidents Jeopardy! Bush would be making jokes, being self-deprecating, and knowing a little more than people expect. Clinton and Obama would be making jokes and probably cleaning up. Trump would be claiming that his button was not working and complaining that the questions were either given to the others in advance or saying they were rigged against him.
Alas, I realize that my fantasy has zero chance of coming true. Trump would never agree to be in any competition. I do wish some idea like that would catch fire on the internet and create a lot of pressure for Trump to do it.
posted by flarbuse at 9:28 AM on May 25, 2023 [14 favorites]
Former Presidents Jeopardy! Bush would be making jokes, being self-deprecating, and knowing a little more than people expect. Clinton and Obama would be making jokes and probably cleaning up. Trump would be claiming that his button was not working and complaining that the questions were either given to the others in advance or saying they were rigged against him.
Alas, I realize that my fantasy has zero chance of coming true. Trump would never agree to be in any competition. I do wish some idea like that would catch fire on the internet and create a lot of pressure for Trump to do it.
posted by flarbuse at 9:28 AM on May 25, 2023 [14 favorites]
I TiVo (with a real TiVo, even) the OG Jeopardy! every day and have enjoyed the recent(-ish) rise of the superstar players who win dozens of games. I am glad that they have found the Masters format where we can see great players again, and especially against other great players. Ken is a terrific host overall but he really shines in this format, because there's mutual respect and an overall sort of joy to the tournament that you don't get on the daily game or even the Tournament of Champions.
Cinnamon Oat Crunch Cheerios are great. And so are the good old reliable yellow box Cheerios. Why not both.
posted by AgentRocket at 9:44 AM on May 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
Cinnamon Oat Crunch Cheerios are great. And so are the good old reliable yellow box Cheerios. Why not both.
posted by AgentRocket at 9:44 AM on May 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
Is Masters streaming anywhere? We don’t watch live TV, so haven’t watched any Jeopardy since they vanished from Netflix.
posted by nat at 9:58 AM on May 25, 2023
posted by nat at 9:58 AM on May 25, 2023
I'm the Hannah who was on (regular) Jeopardy recently! I enjoyed the Masters tournament and I appreciate that they've been trying new stuff out lately - I think it's a given that some of it will work (the Second Chances tournament is a fantastic idea) and some of it won't (the Daily Double location reveal thing is just perplexing).
I will say that it was kind of confusing that Jeopardy Masters was running concurrently with most of my run, and I had multiple people telling me they looked for my episodes on Hulu and found that instead. Honestly, if there was anything I wished they would change, it would be to make the regular show more accessible to cord-cutters - I have a lot of friends who resorted to watching janky and rapidly-deleted pirate rips on Youtube because there aren't a lot of other options.
posted by theodolite at 10:11 AM on May 25, 2023 [47 favorites]
I will say that it was kind of confusing that Jeopardy Masters was running concurrently with most of my run, and I had multiple people telling me they looked for my episodes on Hulu and found that instead. Honestly, if there was anything I wished they would change, it would be to make the regular show more accessible to cord-cutters - I have a lot of friends who resorted to watching janky and rapidly-deleted pirate rips on Youtube because there aren't a lot of other options.
posted by theodolite at 10:11 AM on May 25, 2023 [47 favorites]
My favorite possibly apocryphal piece of Jeopardy trivia is the fact that it was dead and off the air by the early 80s, and was only revived because of the popularity of the Weird Al parody "I Lost on Jeopardy ."
Definitely apocryphal. I wasn't aware of this song but I just looked it up and it wasn't even released until February 1984 and the syndicated version of Jeopardy! premiered in September 1984. Television just doesn't work that fast.
posted by rhymedirective at 10:12 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
Definitely apocryphal. I wasn't aware of this song but I just looked it up and it wasn't even released until February 1984 and the syndicated version of Jeopardy! premiered in September 1984. Television just doesn't work that fast.
posted by rhymedirective at 10:12 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
Well, if this article is to be believed, the story is semi-apocryphal -- the revival was already in the works when the song was released, but Merv Griffin successfully jumped on Weird Al's song as a means to promote the reboot.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 10:48 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 10:48 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Hey, mefi's own theodolite!
Hannah, congrats on your run - you and Ben were both great to watch these last few weeks and I hope to see a rematch in the ToC.
Completely agree about the cord-cutting. I too have "friends" who watch on YouTube. I (I mean, uh, my friends) would be happy to support a legitimate streaming option, but there isn't one.
posted by papayaninja at 10:55 AM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Hannah, congrats on your run - you and Ben were both great to watch these last few weeks and I hope to see a rematch in the ToC.
Completely agree about the cord-cutting. I too have "friends" who watch on YouTube. I (I mean, uh, my friends) would be happy to support a legitimate streaming option, but there isn't one.
posted by papayaninja at 10:55 AM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh man, we're behind by a bit so I don't think I've seen your matches yet! I'm excited to see you play!
posted by VTX at 11:04 AM on May 25, 2023
posted by VTX at 11:04 AM on May 25, 2023
There should be an official 24/7 ad-supported YouTube or Twitch stream of Jeopardy. It's a consistent product that you can jump in and out of without feeling like you're missing anything, and it ages well. I've never made time out of my day to watch the show but I'd rather watch it than most of the drek online.
posted by meowzilla at 11:28 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by meowzilla at 11:28 AM on May 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
theodolite, loved your episodes! Congratulations. Can't wait to see you in the Tournament. I thought it unfair that they put you against Ben another champion that had mysterious travel issues (Covid?) so had to delay his return. I guess that was somewhat random and the (un)luck of the draw. I initially thought Ben got a raw deal with his last game, but rules is rules. His answer was not correct. It wasn't a case of a spelling error on the correct answer but rather he spelled the wrong answer correctly.
The DD location reveal is worthless. I never look. What good does it do to anyone? It reminds me of the movie "Bridge of Spies" when Donovan, Abel's lawyer keeps asking him why he never worries or reacts and Abel keeps replying, "Will it help?"
I also used to think Ken had it head over heals over Mayim as a host, but this latest run of Mayim on the "regular" Jeopardy appears as if she has been coached and has changed her style to be a little more serious and little less whimsical. I am now on team both.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:37 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
The DD location reveal is worthless. I never look. What good does it do to anyone? It reminds me of the movie "Bridge of Spies" when Donovan, Abel's lawyer keeps asking him why he never worries or reacts and Abel keeps replying, "Will it help?"
I also used to think Ken had it head over heals over Mayim as a host, but this latest run of Mayim on the "regular" Jeopardy appears as if she has been coached and has changed her style to be a little more serious and little less whimsical. I am now on team both.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:37 AM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm still on team KenJen. He's a "Jeopardy! person" in ways that Mayim never will and it comes through in his hosting. He just knows the game better.
posted by VTX at 11:46 AM on May 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by VTX at 11:46 AM on May 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
> OK, Celebrity Jeopardy! might not be peak TV, but where else are you gonna get the chance to see a goofy late night talk show 2nd banana absolutely wipe the floor with a "prestigious" cable news network anchorman?
Celebrity Jeopardy also brought us this wonderful moment in time.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:05 PM on May 25, 2023
Celebrity Jeopardy also brought us this wonderful moment in time.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:05 PM on May 25, 2023
Not a fan of Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik. Trebek's and Fleming's strength was being unflappable, courteous, and very low key, not being Jeopardy winners. Occasional Celeb Jeopardy, fine, I guess, but Celeb Jeopardy is more about promoting celebs than about Jeopardy, and I am more about Jeopardy than celebs. Advertisers and TV execs do not get this as a concept.
Celeb Jeopardy with fun celebs - the ones that are awesome on SNL - would be fun, but real nerdy Jeopardy is the best.
posted by theora55 at 12:41 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Celeb Jeopardy with fun celebs - the ones that are awesome on SNL - would be fun, but real nerdy Jeopardy is the best.
posted by theora55 at 12:41 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Masters tournament was must see TV for us. I thought it was wildly entertaining, plus I felt very smart when I knew the answer and none of them did. (We are ignoring the vast majority of questions they knew and I didn't). But damn, I was disappointed by the outcome of that last Final Jeopardy question last night. Trying not to spoil it - if you watched you probably know what I mean.
*Edited to fix typo. Hopefully didn't create new one in the process.
posted by COD at 1:03 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
*Edited to fix typo. Hopefully didn't create new one in the process.
posted by COD at 1:03 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
but Celeb Jeopardy is more about promoting celebs than about Jeopardy,
This called to mind one Jeopardy change I could do without: Product-placement Jeopardy. So cringey to have categories that exist solely to hype some media product.
posted by Ayn Marx at 1:07 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
This called to mind one Jeopardy change I could do without: Product-placement Jeopardy. So cringey to have categories that exist solely to hype some media product.
posted by Ayn Marx at 1:07 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm the Hannah who was on (regular) Jeopardy recently!
Hooray!! Now I know who I'm rooting for in the next champions tournament.
I tried really hard to get into the Masters tournament, but I couldn't. Everyone except one person was just in the champions tournament from last year like just a week ago. Felt like it anyway. We saw each of them a lot last year then the champions tournament and now this tournament. I found that I didn't care who would win this time around. /shrug
Anywho, go theodolite!
posted by NoMich at 1:14 PM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Hooray!! Now I know who I'm rooting for in the next champions tournament.
I tried really hard to get into the Masters tournament, but I couldn't. Everyone except one person was just in the champions tournament from last year like just a week ago. Felt like it anyway. We saw each of them a lot last year then the champions tournament and now this tournament. I found that I didn't care who would win this time around. /shrug
Anywho, go theodolite!
posted by NoMich at 1:14 PM on May 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Theodolite, we enjoyed your games so much! Good luck in the TOC, I'll be rooting for you!
posted by muddgirl at 1:54 PM on May 25, 2023
posted by muddgirl at 1:54 PM on May 25, 2023
What would be the purpose of revealing the Daily Doubles?
So I can make laser sounds before the tv does when someone picks a daily double clue, I think. I like the reveals.
posted by twelve cent archie at 2:13 PM on May 25, 2023
So I can make laser sounds before the tv does when someone picks a daily double clue, I think. I like the reveals.
posted by twelve cent archie at 2:13 PM on May 25, 2023
flarbuse: "Former Presidents Jeopardy! Bush would be making jokes, being self-deprecating, and knowing a little more than people expect. Clinton and Obama would be making jokes and probably cleaning up. Trump would be claiming that his button was not working and complaining that the questions were either given to the others in advance or saying they were rigged against him.
Alas, I realize that my fantasy has zero chance of coming true. Trump would never agree to be in any competition. I do wish some idea like that would catch fire on the internet and create a lot of pressure for Trump to do it."
There's a minor fad of "AI Presidents" videos on YouTube making use of the newer AI voice tech, and sure 'nuff, there's a Jeopardy version.
posted by Rhaomi at 3:38 PM on May 25, 2023
Alas, I realize that my fantasy has zero chance of coming true. Trump would never agree to be in any competition. I do wish some idea like that would catch fire on the internet and create a lot of pressure for Trump to do it."
There's a minor fad of "AI Presidents" videos on YouTube making use of the newer AI voice tech, and sure 'nuff, there's a Jeopardy version.
posted by Rhaomi at 3:38 PM on May 25, 2023
My favorite possibly apocryphal piece of Jeopardy trivia is the fact that it was dead and off the air by the early 80s, and was only revived because of the popularity of the Weird Al parody "I Lost on Jeopardy."
I don't know about apocryphal, but "I Lost on Jeopardy" is the paradigmatic example of "the Greg Kihn effect," whereby a parody becomes more famous than what it was parodying. (See also Objects of the Class "Foghorn Leghorn".)
posted by jonp72 at 3:45 PM on May 25, 2023
I don't know about apocryphal, but "I Lost on Jeopardy" is the paradigmatic example of "the Greg Kihn effect," whereby a parody becomes more famous than what it was parodying. (See also Objects of the Class "Foghorn Leghorn".)
posted by jonp72 at 3:45 PM on May 25, 2023
theodolite, congratulations on your amazing run! It was so fun watching you and feeling like, hey, I kind of sort of know her! Can't wait to see and root for you in the TOC!
posted by Kangaroo at 3:57 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Kangaroo at 3:57 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
The article is fine, no need to hate on the writer :-) Some fair points made, and I understand the "expanded universe" of J! is now a thing.
I am a regular watcher of regular M-F shows - love them. I do not watch Celeb, Teen, Professor/Teacher, etc. Too "niche" or not challenging enough, etc. WHICH IS FINE - if someone doesn't like the Jeopardy-verse, they do not have to watch the "extra" shows.
On the other hand, I love love love the TOC, and the inaugural J! Masters was extremely fun to watch.
Don't care if they reveal the location of the DDs - I close my eyes for three seconds and don't even think about it. Adds nothing, costs nothing.
In conclusion, Jeopardy! is a land of viewing contrasts and preferences.
(PS - Hannah - you were AMAZING! Very much looking forward to seeing you in the next TOC!)
posted by davidmsc at 5:56 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I am a regular watcher of regular M-F shows - love them. I do not watch Celeb, Teen, Professor/Teacher, etc. Too "niche" or not challenging enough, etc. WHICH IS FINE - if someone doesn't like the Jeopardy-verse, they do not have to watch the "extra" shows.
On the other hand, I love love love the TOC, and the inaugural J! Masters was extremely fun to watch.
Don't care if they reveal the location of the DDs - I close my eyes for three seconds and don't even think about it. Adds nothing, costs nothing.
In conclusion, Jeopardy! is a land of viewing contrasts and preferences.
(PS - Hannah - you were AMAZING! Very much looking forward to seeing you in the next TOC!)
posted by davidmsc at 5:56 PM on May 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Jeopardy, and probably others to come, are getting the Disney Star Wars treatment. I can just barely see the "Jedi Babies" incarnation on the horizon.
As far as "more personality" goes, I'm not a fan, and the Final Jeopardy answers like "who is thank you to my third grade teacher Mrs. Forsythe who taught me that reading is fun" are particularly grating.
posted by rhizome at 6:44 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
As far as "more personality" goes, I'm not a fan, and the Final Jeopardy answers like "who is thank you to my third grade teacher Mrs. Forsythe who taught me that reading is fun" are particularly grating.
posted by rhizome at 6:44 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Having "special" versions of Jeopardy where they try out rule changes seems like a fine idea. Jeopardy was created before game design was established as a discipline; I think some rule changes to preserve what people like about Jeopardy while making the game more compelling would be a great idea, and if you do it as a limited series, you can try it out without upsetting the audience.
posted by Merus at 7:18 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Merus at 7:18 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Marvel-brained? Marvel-brained? I haven't actually watched Jeopardy in an age, but Slate's still #slatepitching, I guess.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:06 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:06 PM on May 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
eh, i miss trebek, but jeopardy is still jeopardy and if i’ve missed a few nights and tune in in the middle of some weird tournament i haven’t seen all of, guess what, they’re still just playing jeopardy and that’s what i’m here for. the real problem is they need to raise the clue prices, they have not kept up with inflation. winning 20 grand on jeopardy in 1990 was a lot different than it is today
posted by dis_integration at 5:29 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 5:29 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Apparently there was a Dobule Dare revival a couple years ago. That’s more like ‘Marvel Jeopardy.’
Having "special" versions of Jeopardy where they try out rule changes seems like a fine idea.
I wouldn’t mind a Masters series borrowing the Physical Challenge. Or the slime.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:46 AM on May 26, 2023
Having "special" versions of Jeopardy where they try out rule changes seems like a fine idea.
I wouldn’t mind a Masters series borrowing the Physical Challenge. Or the slime.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:46 AM on May 26, 2023
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I've actually been pretty invested in Jeopardy! again lately, having watched almost every day as a young kid, then almost not at all for a decade or so when college and not having TV limited it. But COVID and working from home gave me the opportunity again, and it's been a joy to watch the regular show nearly every day. I've also really enjoyed the Masters tournament and the camaraderie between the contestants.
I think J! needs to up it's presence on streaming platforms because that's how most people consume television, and I have been dreading waiting a day to watch Masters on Hulu because of spoilers.
The idea that you can't keep up with all of it is pretty silly. I like Iron Man, but I couldn't care less for Thor. So I just don't watch it. Likewise for, say, Celebrity Jeopardy!, which is, in fact, hot garbage. But I just don't watch and life is good.
posted by papayaninja at 7:15 AM on May 25, 2023 [8 favorites]