Jennings on Jeopardy! – Nice Guys Do Finish First

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 27 November, 2004 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[drjimmy]

he was "fed" easy answers and his opponents have been absolute dolts, at least the first several weeks he was on, because we don't watch Jeopardy anymore until "kenny" is off.... I think Jeopardy wanted to have an "event" to boost their show....JMHO.....
How do those sour grapes taste? From someone who has been there, I can tell you that nobody gets "fed" anything on Jeopardy! The contestant matchups are completely random from among the pool. You may not care to watch, but based on the ratings a whole lot of people do. And if you think he had "absolute dolts" for opponents, no one is stopping you from trying out yourself.

[green iguana]

I think Jeopardy wanted to have an "event" to boost their show.

If Jeopardy really wants to have an event to boost the show, then it'll heavily advertise the segments leading up to where Jennings gets knocked off. I know I'll be watching all next week. Not that I want to see him lose, but that I want to see how he gets beaten.

[GRRRRR]

I'll take women's underwear for $500 Alex...

"What are Anna Nichole's?"

G

[eureka!]

bttt

[jimfree]

Hey Billybob. What fun! I'd just like to try out myself. Maybe someday.

[Getready]

As someone who has tried to get in on Jeopardy I noticed a
few things:

1) There were about 100 of us. The approx.50 question test which
featured handwritten answers (not computer dots, etc.) were
"corrected" in about 11 minutes. I thought that was strange
since I believe two people came out with the tests. I don't
think 2 people can go through 5,000 seperate answers in 11
minutes (or so).

2) First time I tried, they only chose college students for
the interview. Second time they took the 30-40 year old crowd
only. I think they target different demographics for their
contestants so they can get a good "mix" during the shows.

I think they do what another writer on this thread said,
they want you to be reasonably intelligent, have a good
personality, smile, not take losing very hard. When you're
in the TV studio, they can scan you with their cameras and
see if you are photogenic. I also believe they want you to
have some type of "interesting" story, so when Trebek
interviews you he can make a funny comment, or the audience
will connect with you. Or if you have very bizarre happenstance
occurence in your life(make sure it ain't the aliens coming
to take you away).

Finally, the show is about them, not you. Don't get too
nervous if you are trying to get on...Just play the game...

Also, please note: Jennings, on one of the shows, said that
one of his previous jobs or avocations was creating the
questions used on different quiz programs, so he has been
through a lot of information that would be considered "trivial"
However, he really seems to be sharp anyway....

[CoolChange]

We watched that one last night and got Helen Keller too. Who is Rachel Carlson?

[KC_for_Freedom]

Author of "Silent Spring", the book that got DDT banned as an insecticide.

[CoolChange]

Thanks. With the education system we now have, I guess it's easy to see how college age students would think of her first.

[uncitizen]

is there anything this guy doesn't know?

Yes he didn't know which female novel character was originally named "Pansy" and named changed before publication.

But that's totally understandable. Only the most die-hard GWTW fans would know that if they read analysis books of GWTW.

[uncitizen]

Was "play til you lose" a bad idea? Every body i know knows who Ken Jennings is now. People who never woulda watched Jeopardy before.

[don-o]

On a roll, eh Congressman?

Meet with Bork, and now this! Congratulation to Kem.

Keep us posted, and if you think of it, ping me.

[newgeezer]

The trade press says the show where he loses has already been taped, and will air in about a week.

I'll always wonder if the producers finally got sick of his run and ever-so-slightly sabotaged his button.

[cyclotic]

Me too.

I was jumping around the house high fiving my kids. In fact, with a little prodding, my 11 year old figured out Helen Keller before the young geniuses dropped Rachel Carson.

[newgeezer]

ping.

Therapists

Thepenismightier

Drat, I can't remember any of the others...

[jocon307]

"I was jumping around the house high fiving my kids."

LOL!

[It's me]

I stopped watching Jeopardy moths ago. I couldn't stand the arrogance of Ken Jennings!

Yeah, he's good but he is also a fast "clicker." My daughter was on the winning Academic League (High School Jeopardy with harder questions!!). She pressed the button fast and got the first chance to answer the question. That's what a lot of it comes down to, who presses the button first.

I'll be sure to watch Jeopardy this week to see the demise of Ken Jennings.

Oh dear, flame away...

[Calico Cat]

I tried out for "Jeopardy" in 2000, passed the 50-question test, then bombed in the trial game (I kept forgetting to phrase in the form of a question and kept biting my lip--nervous habit) and had absolutely NO interesting, funny stories to tell about myself (nervousness again!) I knew I wouldn't get called, and I wasn't. ("Jeopardy" called me to come to the tryout when I was in the hospital, one day after having a baby--so I'd had lots of sleepless nights, too!)

I'll try again, but only after this Ken is GONE! The man is a machine!

[Gritty]

Congratulations to Kem for getting nearly to the end. That in itself is an accomplishment!

We are not fans of Jeopardy!, but having Kem on as a contestant is one thing that will spur us to watch!

Keep all of us non-contestants informed on the when, etc., so we can cheer on the new "Nice Guy"!

[didi]

I have not been watching Jeopardy!, which used to be my favorite show....it's eating me up.....if 'Who is Helen Keller?" is the question, what is the answer??