# Even Jeopardy is resorting to cheap gimics! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816 "2014-09-18T13:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/1 "2014-09-18T13:22:02Z")
Just another example of the dumbing-down, least-common-denominator television. Alex Trebek grew his mustache back during the off season. And he wants us to vote to decide if he keeps it! What next? Voting contestants off the game? Where is the purity of Jeopardy? I think I need to lie down a while… ---
**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:** [September 18, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/2 "2014-09-18T13:37:01Z")
What purity? For _years_ they’ve had categories about whatever movie Sony Pictures is releasing or some new TV show that someone wants to promote, sometimes as a cross-promotion with someone like the National Geographic Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/3 "2014-09-18T13:37:01Z")
I think Alex is just having some fun. He actually has a good sense of humor. Jeopardy doesn’t have to be stuffy. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/4 "2014-09-18T13:37:48Z")
What emotion is experienced when you see the username in conjunction with the topic of the thread? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/5 "2014-09-18T13:51:04Z")
> [@](#): > > **Even Jeopardy is resorting to cheap gimics!** Are those anything like gimmicks? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/6 "2014-09-18T13:56:23Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Just another example of the dumbing-down, least-common-denominator television. > > Alex Trebek grew his mustache back during the off season. And he wants us to vote to decide if he keeps it! > > What next? Voting contestants off the game? Where is the purity of Jeopardy? > > I think I need to lie down a while… Cheap gimmicks? Dumbing-down tactics? You mean other than the Clue Crew? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/7 "2014-09-18T14:14:11Z")
Not to mention linked clue categories, special guest stars reading clues, punny titles, salutes to whatever holiday it is, tournaments, etc., etc., ad nauseum. I’m not seeing a problem here. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/8 "2014-09-18T14:21:56Z")
If they had an option for “Grow Tom Selleck-style mustache,” then I’d vote. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/9 "2014-09-18T14:23:45Z")
I admit the show encourages this kind of attitude, but is Jeopardy is the only _game show_ whose fans react like this to any proposed change? For whatever it’s worth I do wish they would tone down the cross-promotion and pop culture stuff some, but I always liked Trebek better with the mustache and I’m fine with the show doing what it takes to get and keep viewers. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/10 "2014-09-18T14:46:49Z")
Note: I was being funny. Or, at least, “funny”. I don’t have a problem. I prefer the mustache myself. (But I won’t vote! Damn gimmicks\*). However, I think the clue crew is a waste of time and money, and that having people such as Sandra Day O’Connor read clues makes the game slow down, and the games ends with unasked clues. \*yes, gimics are like gimmicks, but simpler, for simpler minds.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/11 "2014-09-18T14:49:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …but is Jeopardy is the only _game show_ whose fans react like this to any proposed change? Well, I’ve never recovered from Wheel of Fortune doing away with the shopping round. The game is a travesty now… Note: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/12 "2014-09-18T14:50:21Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Note: I was being funny. Or, at least, “funny”. Ah, OK. I think you’re stealing another poster’s shtick. 😉 I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else made this complaint seriously, though. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/13 "2014-09-18T14:51:17Z")
The show’s whole premise is a cheap gimmick. We give 'em the answers, the contestants give us the questions? Oh, Merv! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/14 "2014-09-18T15:37:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Well, I’ve never recovered from Wheel of Fortune doing away with the shopping round. The game is a travesty now… > Note: 🙂 Ah the good old days, when the hardest part of the game was figuring out how to spend your money so you didn’t wind up with the ceramic Dalmatian. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/15 "2014-09-18T16:39:40Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Ah the good old days, when the hardest part of the game was figuring out how to spend your money so you didn’t wind up with the ceramic Dalmatian. You could always put the rest on a Service Merchandise gift certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/16 "2014-09-18T18:49:29Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What emotion is experienced when you see the username in conjunction with the topic of the thread? [What has happened to our _schoooooooooo_?](http://i.imgur.com/9FJhoXH.png) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/17 "2014-09-18T19:59:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I don’t have a problem. I prefer the mustache myself. (But I won’t vote! Damn gimmicks\*). Yep. He looks better, and seems less smartassy with the 'stache. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > However, I think the clue crew is a waste of time and money, and that having people such as Sandra Day O’Connor read clues makes the game slow down, and the games ends with unasked clues. YES. Clue Crew, Alex In The Galapagos/Louvre, are infuriating. You can read the unnecessarily long clues in a second or two, then wait another ten for the face to laboriously plod through it. _Especially_ when it’s S.D. O’Connor. Could she possibly read any more slowly? > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > \*yes, gimics are like gimmicks, but simpler, for simpler minds.🙂 Gimics mimic gimmicks? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/18 "2014-09-18T20:17:15Z")
I was a little concerned Sandra wasn’t going to _make_ it through the question. That was some slow reading! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/19 "2014-09-18T20:50:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I think Alex is just having some fun. He actually has a good sense of humor. I’ve always heard quite the opposite! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816/20 "2014-09-18T20:58:18Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > You could always put the rest on a Service Merchandise gift certificate. That’s not how I remember it. If you had enough left to spend on any item, you had to spend it. You only got the gift certificate when you didn’t have enough winnings left for any item. People always wound up buying the dog at the end. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-jeopardy-is-resorting-to-cheap-gimics/698816.md?page=2)