# How does the Jeopardy! buzzer work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [February 19, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779 "2022-02-19T14:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/21 "2022-02-22T15:58:13Z")
I was on for two days in 2003. The buzzer (at least back then) has a “lock out” so if you buzz in before the lights on the board (visible to the players) go off (or on, can’t remember), you can’t buzz in for a bit. So a lot of this goes to timing… which is why I was fortunate to not go up against the 4-time champ who destroyed the other contestants on my taping day. We noticed them jamming their thumbs on the buzzer, but Mr. 4-time had the rhythm down perfectly. I have pretty good reflexes and I practiced watching the show with a ball point pen to prepare, and I think it served me well. I can only remember getting locked out once or twice. My success, and ultimately failure, was about my knowledge and betting, not buzzer shenanigans. But there is an advantage for those with quick reflexes and I worry about the level of access for participants. I always tell armchair Jeopardy! enthusiasts that they need to replicate the experience with a buzzer type implement before confidently declaring they could beat Contestant X, Y, or Z. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/22 "2022-02-22T17:39:26Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > The guy who wrote that book about _Jeopardy_ ( _Lost In Trebekistan_ IIRC) said he spent a LOT of time practicing but buzzer. What is a typo? Otherwise, I don’t know what to ask. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/23 "2022-02-22T18:33:20Z")
What is _Prisoner of Trebekistan_ by Bob Harris? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/24 "2022-02-22T18:33:25Z")
Dang. I didn’t even notice that. Definitely a typo. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/25 "2022-02-22T20:23:02Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > I was on for two days in 2003. The buzzer (at least back then) has a “lock out” so if you buzz in before the lights on the board (visible to the players) go off (or on, can’t remember), you can’t buzz in for a bit. So a lot of this goes to timing… which is why I was fortunate to not go up against the 4-time champ who destroyed the other contestants on my taping day. We noticed them jamming their thumbs on the buzzer, but Mr. 4-time had the rhythm down perfectly. I did go up against a four-time champion. When I was on they only let someone on 5 times, and then gave them a car. Which they did. His name was Fred, and one of the categories for the first round was Famous Freds. I creamed him on it. They rebroadcast the episode one Saturday, but I found you don’t get two prizes. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/26 "2022-02-23T13:54:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But why? I’d think the likelihood of Watson knowing an answer would be high enough that the best strategy would be hitting the buzzer immediately on every answer. I don’t know. I’m just repeating what Trebek said on-air. ETA: Watson did get questions wrong, often hilariously so. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/27 "2022-02-23T14:13:42Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > ETA: Watson did get questions wrong, often hilariously so. Perhaps most famously in Final Jeopardy for the first game, answering “Toronto” in the category “U.S. Cities.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/28 "2022-02-25T15:27:45Z")
Nicely done **Voyager**. How did you do? I’ve never known Jeopardy! to re-air episodes! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/29 "2022-02-26T23:11:37Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Nicely done **Voyager**. How did you do? While you wait for a more detailed answer, see [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-on-jeopardy-the-list/275535/374). ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779/30 "2022-02-28T13:32:04Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > I’ve never known Jeopardy! to re-air episodes! At least in some markets (mine, for one), repeat episodes will air on Saturdays in the regular M-F time slot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work/959779.md?page=1)