# Ask the guy in the Jeopardy! UToC **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219 "2005-02-28T01:12:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/21 "2005-02-28T16:28:46Z")
More of an nitpicky observation than a question. Why does every Jeopardy! contestant I’ve ever seen opt to use the 2 syllable phrases “_what is_” / “_who is_” as opposed to the single syllable contractive forms “_who’s_” / “_what’s_”. Is it tradition - or some kind of rule? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/22 "2005-02-28T16:40:04Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Which of the other ULTIMATE CHAMPIONS would you least like to face. That Lezek (sp) guy is the most intimidating to me. Yes, I am glad I avoided last Friday’s game of Leszek & Tad Carrithers. Tad is very good on the buzzer, and appears to have great concentration. Everybody did seen to be in such awe of Leszek, and a little puzzled that he wasn’t one of the Nifty Nine who received first round byes. Today’s match-up is pretty tough also: a former TOC winner, the long-time one-day record holder for winnings, and one of the best female players ever. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/23 "2005-02-28T17:31:54Z")
What were you wearing at the taping of the show so we know which one of them is you? ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/24 "2005-02-28T17:37:42Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > What were you wearing at the taping of the show so we know which one of them is you? bah, nm, I’ll learn to actually read your entire post before I reply. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/25 "2005-02-28T18:25:33Z")
So is the taping for the UToC done or are they still taping it? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/26 "2005-02-28T19:08:29Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > So is the taping for the UToC done or are they still taping it? Taping for the first round was completed last week. Taping for the second round begins the week of March 22. The finals are being taped in May, with almost no turnaround time at all. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/27 "2005-02-28T19:54:44Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > And on the third hand, the game is a hell of a lot more difficult to play live in the studio, than when you are watching it at home. Not so much because you are nervous about being on stage, under the lights, in front of the studio audience. I think it is because one, the buzzer, you have to anticipate the the lights which tell you when are allowed to ring in. Two, live competition against players that are at least as good as you are. You can know the vast majority of the questions, but if you can’t ring in to have Alex call on you, you are going to lose. What’s it like to have three hands? Seriously, hope you did/do well and I’ll try and tape and watch. I’m sure you done us proud! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/28 "2005-03-01T01:23:26Z")
I’m looking forward to watching you on Jeopardy tomorrow. BTW, did anyone here watch the episode last week where two of the contestants were negative before Final Jeopardy? They still went ahead with it because the one guy with cash had $11,800. The winner of each game is guaranteed $15,000 but more if they end with more, so he bet something like $11,000 and ended up with $22,800. I think Alex said the following evening that it was the first time that two players had been eliminated before Final Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/29 "2005-03-01T01:59:55Z")
Hey, I remember you when you were initially on the show! I’ll be sure to tune in. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/30 "2005-03-01T05:29:49Z")
Hello. I’ve always wondered what the contestants and Alex Trebek are discussing at the end of the show. It seems that the winner and Alex are the only ones with their lips moving and the other two (or one) are just nodding politely. Why weren’t the celebrity tournament champions invited to participate? 😛 I understand that Jennings is automatically in the Finals (makes sense) and there are second seeded players, who were the previous record holders. Is there a certain hierarchy for the remaining players or are they all selected randomly, regardless if they were five-time champs (who squeaked by in their wins) or ToC winners? Does the position of the players at their podiums follow any particular order (such as the bigger money winners being closer toward the left)? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/31 "2005-03-01T20:48:54Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Allusions to SDMB: watch very carefully to Final Jeopardy. Okay, this episode is _just_ over where I am. I missed this (although I think I know what you’re referring to), even though I was forewarned. Could you put it in a spoiler for those of us who are curious? (That was a tough game, by the way: those ‘before and after’ things always throw me. Having them as the final category would have hurt my brain. The final score would have hurt my brain worse, however!) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/32 "2005-03-01T21:54:36Z")
Salad? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/33 "2005-03-01T22:10:56Z")
Very subtle! final score alluded to the 1920s style death ray Proud of you, man. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kaitlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/34 "2005-03-01T22:37:12Z")
Blah, I wish I didn’t have class tonight. I love Jeopardy, and tonight’s ep would normally have been impetus to skip, but I just can’t. Frown. Also missing Gilmore Girls. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/35 "2005-03-01T22:40:57Z")
Kickass… I’ll be watching tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/36 "2005-03-01T22:42:45Z")
Some of you have already seen today’s show? What time does it air where you are? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/37 "2005-03-01T22:45:17Z")
It just ended here (Colorado). "Did you just say ‘I blew it?’ " Apparently not! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/38 "2005-03-01T22:59:11Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Some of you have already seen today’s show? What time does it air where you are? 4:00 pm these days. OKC Has been scheduled at 10:35 pm (after late news), 11:00 am, and 6:30 pm over the years. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/39 "2005-03-01T23:06:10Z")
> [@Tony](#): > > Hello. > > I’ve always wondered what the contestants and Alex Trebek are discussing at the end of the show. It seems that the winner and Alex are the only ones with their lips moving and the other two (or one) are just nodding politely. > > Why weren’t the celebrity tournament champions invited to participate? 😛 > > I understand that Jennings is automatically in the Finals (makes sense) and there are second seeded players, who were the previous record holders. Is there a certain hierarchy for the remaining players or are they all selected randomly, regardless if they were five-time champs (who squeaked by in their wins) or ToC winners? Does the position of the players at their podiums follow any particular order (such as the bigger money winners being closer toward the left)? I have played 7 games, and I cannot remember what we talked about while the credits were rolling. The position by podium was determined the contestants blindly picking a numbered ping-pong ball from a container just before the show. I am sure the producers did some sort of ranking to try to even out TOC champs, college champs, teen champs and garden variety 5 time champs, and to make sure they didn’t end up with three Jims in one match. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219/40 "2005-03-01T23:38:35Z")
> [@Tony](#): > > I’ve always wondered what the contestants and Alex Trebek are discussing at the end of the show. I’m curious about this too. > [@](#): > > It seems that the winner and Alex are the only ones with their lips moving and the other two (or one) are just nodding politely. Last week I caught a rerun with a college buddy of mine (I even figured indirectly in his story!). Although he lost, during the credits conversation he was plainly driving the conversation and he made this big goofy swooping gesture with his arm – that was Jake all right! –Cliffy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-in-the-jeopardy-utoc/292219.md?page=3)