My girlfriend just ICQed me at work to tell me that the new one day record for Jeopardy was set today. A guy named Myron made $50,000+ on his first day on the show. The old record, IIRC, was about $32,000. Even granting the fact that this is with the new, doubled money (Single Jep is now $200-$1000, Double Jep is now $400-$2000) this is a remarkable achievement of mental acumen. Being a trivia geek myself, it’s very exciting. Naturally it happened now that I’ve got a job and couldn’t see it. Why oh why didn’t Myron make it on the show this winter and spring when i was laid off and watching Jeopardy every day?
Did anyone see the game? What was the exact score? Was this guy up against a bunch of pansies or what? Is he some kind of trivia colossus or did he just happen to hit the jackpot with the categories?
And finally, I was trying to come up with an equivalent feat in athletics. Kareem Abdul Jabar’s 100 point basketball game, perhaps? Does anyone with a better knowledge of sports history have a suggestion? It would have to be something unequaled–a profound shattering of an existing record.
Sigh I was a Jeopardy! champion before they doubled all the dollar figures. And before they put contestants up at (Merv Griffin’s) Beverly Hilton. I had to find my own digs.
See? I told you I didn’t know sports. But at least I knew somebody had a 100-point game. No way I could have done a $50,000 game. Did anybody see the show? Were the questions easier than usual or is this guy some kind of trivia god?
I didn’t see the whole show (Sox game on, ugh), but when I tuned in, they were just going into Final Jeopardy. Myron had $39,000 and the only other person remaining (the current champ ended in the negative side of things) had $2000. I was hoping he’d have some balls and bet $35,000 (or at least $34,999) to get an even bigger payday. 50 grand is great, but I think he chickened out a bit by betting “only” $11,000. Turned out to be a really easy final question too.
I saw most of the show. It didn’t strike me as being any easier than usual, but it depends on what you know, really. One of the categories was “All I Want For Isthmus”, so if you’re some sort of expert on isthmi it’d be a walk in park.
About the middle of Double Jeopardy he already had a big lead, $18,000 to $5,000 or $6,000, and he got a Daily Double. (Halfway down the board, so not a terribly difficult clue.) He wagered $12,000 and got it right. The woman in second place found the other DD very late in the round and had to bet everything to even have a chance of catching him. She got it wrong and wasn’t around for the final.
Now, as for Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points. The game was between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks, to demonstrate your true trivia studliness, what city was it played in?
At that point in time, the $39,000 was my money. I’d won the game. Final J! was a mere formality.
You try betting 35 G’s on anything some time. I considered it briefly, but ultimately sense won out. That’s a LOT of money. I spent my balls on a “True Daily Double” in Round 1.
Although, had I though of it at the time, I would have aped Cliff Claven, and gone for “22,000 Big Ones.”
www.tvgameshows.net has a story on my episode, for anyone who wants more info.
And yes, you should bone up on your sports trivia.
You know, that game would only have been worth $25000 (not a record) before they doubled the prizes.
Meantime, I’m hoping the contestant searching will come to Montreal again. I got through level 1, but couldn’t go to 2 because my new job was starting that day. Damn.
Congrats, Myron. Considering the shows were taped months ago, I hope you ended up doing well.
