# Alex Trebek was a real jerk to this stay at home dad on Jeopardy tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274 "2015-07-16T00:06:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/61 "2015-07-17T03:12:27Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > he’s calling him lazy > > you just pop fish sticks in the oven they don’t require real cooking > > the implication is that stay at home parents don’t do anything but sit around all day > > it’s offensive to stay at home moms and dads Unlike say, Tombstone pizzas? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/62 "2015-07-17T05:56:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You guys gotta admit this is pretty offensive to SAH parents. If it’s so offensive why aren’t we hearing about the email campaign decrying it? It’s not like the stay at homes have anything better to do. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/63 "2015-07-17T09:40:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Has a contestant ever straight-up trolled a game show? Played it straight through all the preliminaries, then trolled away; “who was Hitler, Alex?” for every answer , or the like? In 1975 a team from Manchester University answered either “Che Guevara”, “Karl Marx”, “Trotsky” or “Lenin” to all of their questions as a protest against Oxbridge colleges being able to enter separate teams as opposed to just having one Cambridge team and one Oxford team. It didn’t work as a protest, but it did get broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/64 "2015-07-17T14:25:32Z")
He was really into the nutty chick yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/65 "2015-07-17T14:38:33Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > he’s calling him lazy > > you just pop fish sticks in the oven they don’t require real cooking > > the implication is that stay at home parents don’t do anything but sit around all day > > it’s offensive to stay at home moms and dads …what? Just…what? That’s what I call reading into stuff… > [@Sherrerd](#): > > Well, that’s just it. Trebek would NOT have made those comments to a woman, because to him, it’s ‘natural and normal’ that a woman stay home with the kids. By contrast, to Trebek’s generation, it’s freakish and noteworthy if a man stays home with the kids. He doesn’t hold with this newfangled idea that men and women are both people; he sees proper roles for each, and violations deserve comment. (Of course these observations are purely my own opinions based on years of watching Trebek react to contestants; they hold no more significance than do the opinions of any other viewer.) > > I mean, my impression is that he’s by no means a hateful guy–but that like many of his generation, on some level he thinks there’s a Natural Order that the stay-at-home dad violated. You guys do realize that Trebek has absolutely nothing to do with what topic is discussed during those “interviews”, right? The contestants give the producers a list of “fun facts” about themselves and the producers tell Trebek what to ask/start a discussion about about. So, again (but with regard to this post): that’s what I call reading into stuff… ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/66 "2015-07-17T16:19:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > If it’s so offensive why aren’t we hearing about the email campaign decrying it? It’s not like the stay at homes have anything better to do. Harsh, man. Harsh. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/67 "2015-07-17T16:38:31Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I imagine if that happened they’d reshoot with someone else and never air that episode > Michael Larson is the best game show troll but he was just a great player Funny–I was just talking about him and watching the game on YouTube this weekend. I actually remember seeing that episode when it happened. I just assumed I saw a rerun, but it seems that until 2003, the episode was only shown that one time, the Press Your Luck people were so embarrassed about the situation, so I must have seen the original. (And it makes sense, as I loved that show as a kid and it was on during summer vacation.) ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/68 "2015-07-17T16:56:28Z")
> [@Debillw3](#): > > You guys do realize that Trebek has absolutely nothing to do with what topic is discussed during those “interviews”, right? The contestants give the producers a list of “fun facts” about themselves and the producers tell Trebek what to ask/start a discussion about about. As mentioned above, the fish sticks thing didn’t take place in the context of the contestant interview. “Fish sticks” was the correct response to one of the clues, and Alex said something like “I bet you make a lot of those for your kids,” after the response was given. While I don’t think that Alex’s various comments to the stay-at-home Dad rise much above the level of “mildly irritating” (and the contestant did chuckle at them), I would agree that he does have what I would call a fairly old-fashioned attitude toward the sexes. He often feels the need to comment when there are three women contestants, seems mildly surprised when women do especially well at the game, suggests that women are likely to have trouble with sports-related categories, and so forth. It may not be as obvious from seeing one or two examples in isolation, but many people who watch the game regularly have noticed the pattern and commented on it. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/69 "2015-07-17T18:11:02Z")
I agree with the OP’s view towards Trebbeck’s comments. In particular, the question about whether his role was by choice or force is the most appalling, as it implies that no normal person would actually want to be a SAHP. If the guy was a plumber or a teacher, he would never be asked if that job was forced upon him. And I can’t imagine him saying that to a woman, mainly because of the disrespect implied to her spouse. As someone who wishes more men were empowered to be the primary caregiver, I think quips like this are unhelpful. ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/70 "2015-07-17T18:58:22Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > As mentioned above, the fish sticks thing didn’t take place in the context of the contestant interview. “Fish sticks” was the correct response to one of the clues, and Alex said something like “I bet you make a lot of those for your kids,” after the response was given. Yes. I don’t know where I mentioned “the fish sticks thing”. My comment was in reply to the quoted post, which wasn’t in reference to the fish stick comment, but what was said during the contestant interview & Trebek’s apparently finding a stay at home dad as noteworthy (despite his having nothing to do with that being the topic of discussion). I quote the posts that I’m replying to for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/71 "2015-07-17T19:02:46Z")
Look carefully at the first quote in your post, the one from **PSXer**. Does it or does it not contain the words “fish sticks”? ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/72 "2015-07-17T19:07:56Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Look carefully at the first quote in your post, the one from **PSXer**. Does it or does it not contain the words “fish sticks”? Yes…And my reply to that post was: > [@Debillw3](#): > > …what? Just…what? > > That’s what I call reading into stuff… …what does that have to do with the reply to the other post that you quoted and replied to? You quoted & replied to: > [@Debillw3](#): > > You guys do realize that Trebek has absolutely nothing to do with what topic is discussed during those “interviews”, right? The contestants give the producers a list of “fun facts” about themselves and the producers tell Trebek what to ask/start a discussion about about. which was in response to a completely different (also quoted) post. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/73 "2015-07-17T19:27:23Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > … While I don’t think that Alex’s various comments to the stay-at-home Dad rise much above the level of “mildly irritating” (and the contestant did chuckle at them), I would agree that he does have what I would call a fairly old-fashioned attitude toward the sexes. He often feels the need to comment when there are three women contestants, seems mildly surprised when women do especially well at the game, suggests that women are likely to have trouble with sports-related categories, and so forth. > > It may not be as obvious from seeing one or two examples in isolation, but many people who watch the game regularly have noticed the pattern and commented on it. ^This, absolutely. And again, I wouldn’t claim that Trebek is a female-hater or anything along those lines; he’s just a man of his generation, who appears to see ‘gender roles’ as being distinct and different. He seems to see what’s proper for females as being something other than what’s appropriate for males. I’m not a fan of that attitude, but it is what it is: we have only one _Jeopardy!_ > [@Doyle](#): > > He was really into the nutty chick yesterday. That was pretty funny; I’m looking forward to seeing what happens on the show, tonight! ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/74 "2015-07-17T19:42:37Z")
> [@Debillw3](#): > > Yes…And my reply to that post was: > > …what does that have to do with the reply to the other post that you quoted and replied to? > > You quoted & replied to: > > which was in response to a completely different (also quoted) post. I was going largely for cleanness of presentation, and quoting the largest chunk of your post while attempting not to be left with a batch of interleaved quotations, which are generally difficult to read (see above for an example of what it looks like). Since your ultimate reply to both criticisms was the same (“that’s what I call reading into stuff”) I figured that a reply to one implied a reply to the entire message. And I have to say that the distinction you are drawing between the mention of fish sticks and what takes place in the contestant interview was not at all clear to me. My apologies if this was confusing. I stand by the remainder of my reply. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/75 "2015-07-17T20:20:48Z")
So would it be safe to say that Ajax is an [anti-feminist](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=762527)? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/76 "2015-07-18T00:16:20Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Alex only works 4 days a month and he that ain’t working Maybe get a blister on your little finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb. Are you saying that Trebek gets money for nothing and chicks for free? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/77 "2015-07-18T00:19:46Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > As someone who wishes more men were empowered to be the primary caregiver, I think quips like this are unhelpful. Baaaah\*!\* Being the primary caregiver _ **is** _ still usually the responsibility of the man. It’s called having a job\*!\* 😛 And staying at home is not empowering. No matter how you slice it, it’s emasculating. Political correctness be damned\*!\* ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/78 "2015-07-19T09:44:54Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Of course it is. You expect a man born in the 1940s to have the sensibilities of one born in 1986? > > We are all products of our time and childhoods. I agree with this. My father-in-law is around the same age and one of the kindest and all-around greatest human beings I have ever known, and he frequently makes comments that I just sort of laugh off. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/79 "2015-07-19T20:01:50Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Maybe get a blister on your little finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb. > > Are you saying that Trebek gets money for nothing and chicks for free? I don’t know. But I do know I’d like to see him play the _GI_tar on the MTV. ---
**Author:** ![BrightSunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@BrightSunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSunshine)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274/80 "2015-07-22T00:58:44Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You guys gotta admit this is pretty offensive to SAH parents. Why is it offensive to state that SAH parents have more free time? Objectively speaking, it’s true. [Time use studies](http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus2.nr0.htm) have consistently found that stay at home fathers have the most leisure time of all parents, and stay at home mothers have more leisure time than working fathers and mothers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-trebek-was-a-real-jerk-to-this-stay-at-home-dad-on-jeopardy-tonight/725274.md?page=5)