# Jeopardy closing credits: what is discussed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435 "2011-05-27T15:30:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/1 "2011-05-27T15:30:36Z")
During the closing credits/music of _Jeopardy_ the contestants (always with the winner closest to the audience, I’ve noticed) and Alex Trebek are shown talking, but with no audio of their discussion. Several dopers have been on the show. Is the discussion “real” or is it “show”, as in “let’s pretend to have a discussion for the cameras”? Assuming it is a natural (though perhaps arranged) discussion, what is discussed? Was a topic suggested (such as Alex starting the conversation with “so, did you do as well as you thought you might?”)? Was it Q&A time for the contestants to ask Trebek questions? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/2 "2011-05-27T16:48:11Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > During the closing credits/music of _Jeopardy_ the contestants (always with the winner closest to the audience, I’ve noticed) and Alex Trebek are shown talking, but with no audio of their discussion. It’s real. It’s pretty brief, though. The closing credits only last a minute or so, and Trebek needs to get back to change into a different suit for the next day’s taping (they tape a whole week’s worth of shows in a single day). There’s nothing really prepped. It’s Trebek just making small talk and congratulating the champion and whatnot. Actually, unless you’re a multi-day champion, the audience tends to get more interaction with Trebek. During commercial breaks and judges’ breaks, he’ll come out and take questions and entertain the audience. The audience gets to watch 2 or 3 show tapings, so several questions get answered. There are stage marks so the contestants know where to stand. Since there’s a break in the action, the stage crew directs the contestants on where to stand, and, yes, the champion gets a particular space to stand. I did manage to ask if he ever experienced “phantom mustache” pain. He never answered and just went back to his dressing room. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/3 "2011-05-27T16:53:35Z")
I plan to ask him if he misses _High Rollers_ when and if I get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/4 "2011-05-27T17:45:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I plan to ask him if he misses _High Rollers_ when and if I get the chance. I’d ask about Concentration. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/5 "2011-05-27T17:48:30Z")
I saw a film snip in which all three contestants were standing with their backs to the podiums. Was that a judge’s break? Why, How, When? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/6 "2011-05-27T18:06:54Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I saw a film snip in which all three contestants were standing with their backs to the podiums. Was that a judge’s break? Why, How, When? Was it an old Wheel of Fortune episode? Back before it was computerized, they had to turn with their backs to the board while it was changed. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/7 "2011-05-27T18:17:19Z")
“You said you understood the rules, Marge.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/8 "2011-05-27T18:21:13Z")
Yeah, and with today’s technology you’d think they’d find a way to light up the letters without Vanna having to press a switch. I mean, really. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/9 "2011-05-27T18:24:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it an old Wheel of Fortune episode? Back before it was computerized, they had to turn with their backs to the board while it was changed. Now I’m wondering how many of those ceramic dalmatians are still out there. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/10 "2011-05-27T18:29:11Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah, and with today’s technology you’d think they’d find a way to light up the letters without Vanna having to press a switch. I mean, really. Unless I’m being wooshed.. They do have the tech, but the audience expects Vanna to have something to do. It wouldn’t make much sense for her to just stand there. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/11 "2011-05-27T18:30:53Z")
> [@Qwisp](#): > > Unless I’m being wooshed.. They do have the tech, but the audience expects Vanna to have something to do. It wouldn’t make much sense for her to just stand there. Whooooshhhh… ---
**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:** [May 27, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/12 "2011-05-27T21:20:20Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it an old Wheel of Fortune episode? Back before it was computerized, they had to turn with their backs to the board while it was changed. I’m pretty sure it was Jeopardy, and it wasn’t old footage. I’m thinking I might have noticed the clip fragment in a PBS program about how they programmed Watson. . ---
**Author:** ![TimToyGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@TimToyGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimToyGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/13 "2011-05-27T21:36:39Z")
From what I remember, the end of game small talk is just that, small talk. Alex talks to you about what happened in the game, discusses anything interesting, etc. The first commercial break you don’t have to turn around because the board is already revealed, but the second break, they do ask you to face away from the board just in case any of the clues/categories are revealed on the board. That way nobody has any prior knowledge in case anything goes wrong with the board technically. As I recall we spent most of those commercial breaks drinking water (it was dry on the set), cracking jokes with Alex and the producers, and getting our makeup touched up. Tim “toy geek” ---
**Author:** ![KittenKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kittenkat/32/306_2.png) [@KittenKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KittenKat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/14 "2011-05-28T02:21:37Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > During the closing credits/music of _Jeopardy_ the contestants (always with the winner closest to the audience, I’ve noticed) and Alex Trebek are shown talking, but with no audio of their discussion. > > Several dopers have been on the show. Is the discussion “real” or is it “show”, as in “let’s pretend to have a discussion for the cameras”? Assuming it is a natural (though perhaps arranged) discussion, what is discussed? Was a topic suggested (such as Alex starting the conversation with “so, did you do as well as you thought you might?”)? Was it Q&A time for the contestants to ask Trebek questions? As others have said, it’s a real discussion. As for what is discussed, it’s whatever Alex feels like talking about. When I was on, one of the contestants was a former Marine, and doing a Ph.D. in History, and his thesis had something to do with modern military history. Alex is apparently a military history buff, so during the post game chit chat he talked about military history with Fidelion, pretty much ignoring Jason and me (well, Jason was a multi-game winner, Alex had been chatting with him plenty). And to whoever said that the winner always stands closest to Alex, not true. I stood next to Alex after my game, and I only came in second. The director guides the contestants over and tells them where to stand. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/15 "2011-05-28T02:38:54Z")
> [@TimToyGeek](#): > > The first commercial break you don’t have to turn around because the board is already revealed, but the second break, they do ask you to face away from the board just in case any of the clues/categories are revealed on the board. That way nobody has any prior knowledge in case anything goes wrong with the board technically. Ah. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/16 "2011-05-28T05:48:43Z")
I distinctly remember as a kid, if a commercial was needed during a puzzle, you were asked to turn around,so you couldn’t study the puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/17 "2011-05-29T00:54:00Z")
> [@TimToyGeek](#): > > The first commercial break you don’t have to turn around because the board is already revealed, but the second break, they do ask you to face away from the board just in case any of the clues/categories are revealed on the board. That way nobody has any prior knowledge in case anything goes wrong with the board technically. Why would anything be revealed accidentally? Isn’t is all digital on TV screens nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/18 "2011-05-29T11:34:35Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why would anything be revealed accidentally? Isn’t is all digital on TV screens nowadays? That doesn’t stop people from messing up PowerPoint slides. The _Jeopardy_ techs are probably than that, but it’s an old tradition, and it doesn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-closing-credits-what-is-discussed/583435/19 "2011-05-29T14:42:55Z")
> [@KittenKat](#): > > And to whoever said that the winner always stands closest to Alex, not true. That was me, and this is kind of interesting. They made a point of having the winner next to Alex, at least for the all the shows I witnessed live, and it’s been a general trend for at least the last couple years. Not to say there haven’t been exceptions.