# Jeopardy History being made tonight 3/16/07 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187 "2007-03-16T12:45:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/21 "2007-03-16T18:57:31Z")
The contestants will be a woman, her kid and the alleged ‘baby-daddy’. The questions will revolve around what percentage of certainty that each declares that the male is or is not the baby daddy. Values will range from 100 to 50000%. The final jeopardy question (Is he or isn’t he?) will be determined via DNA testing. Alex will give us a ‘final thought’ at the close of the show that is touching and reminds us of the freak show we just observed. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/22 "2007-03-16T19:10:20Z")
Maybe the scores at the end of the show will be 3, 16, and 2007. Yeah, I got nuthin’. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/23 "2007-03-16T19:26:06Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Nope, that’s happened before. [/QUOTE] The press releasse said it hasn’t happened in 23 years. The event you refer to happened on Trebek’s 2nd show, 23 years, 1 month and some-odd days ago. I stand by my last guess. Unless Sean Connery shows up. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/24 "2007-03-16T19:35:06Z")
I hope Sean Connery shows up. Alex has been getting uppity lately. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/25 "2007-03-16T19:35:30Z")
We won’t get to see it anyway. Basketball preempts. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/26 "2007-03-16T20:00:21Z")
My guess is Alex goes the entire show without being smug or condescending once. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/27 "2007-03-16T20:01:32Z")
Well, I caught the early show (it’s on in Newfoundland at 5… Which puts’ on it at 3:30 here) So, here’s the answer: It’s a 3 way tie, but not at $0, all end up at $16,000. I’m pretty sure the returning champion planned it… He pretty much had it locked up, and it was an easy final Jeopardy, and during the introductions, the one guy mentions betting everything… Which is what he did. And before his answer is revealed, he says something (it’s unintelligible) so I think he planned it. So, yeah. Pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/28 "2007-03-16T20:08:35Z")
**St. Ides** : How could he plan it? He’d have to know that both other contestants would know the answer to the question, and how much they wagered. I haven’t seen the show, so maybe there’s something I’m missing from your description? ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/29 "2007-03-16T20:17:17Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] **St. Ides** : I haven’t seen the show, so maybe there’s something I’m missing from your description? [/QUOTE] Sorry, I should’ve been more thorough… Going in to Final Jeopardy, the returning champ had $13,400, and the other two contestants both had $8000. During the introductions, one of the $8000 contestants had said that his son would be very disappointed if he didn’t bet all of his money at some point… He didn’t get a chance to do that until Final Jeopardy. So now one of the $8000 contestants is most likely betting it all. The other $8000 contestant doesn’t want to lose by $1 if he were to only bet $7999 when the other guy’s betting $8000… So he bets it all too. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this is going to happen… You’re not a dumb if you make it on the show. So I think the Returning Champ figured this was the most likely scenario, and wasn’t feeling greedy, so he took the chance and it paid off. So that’s my theory. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/30 "2007-03-16T20:21:28Z")
Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/31 "2007-03-16T20:22:22Z")
Does _Jeopardy!_ have rules against contestants colluding? I expect whispering answers to each other is verboten, but what about discussing strategies beforehand? And would a three-way tie be evidence of collusion? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/32 "2007-03-16T20:34:40Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] The contestants will be a woman, her kid and the alleged ‘baby-daddy’. The questions will revolve around what percentage of certainty that each declares that the male is or is not the baby daddy. Values will range from 100 to 50000%. The final jeopardy question (Is he or isn’t he?) will be determined via DNA testing. Alex will give us a ‘final thought’ at the close of the show that is touching and reminds us of the freak show we just observed. [/QUOTE] Ah, yes, the _Jeopardy_ / _Maury_ mix: “The answer is ‘the father of your baby’.” “Who is Robert?” “No, I’m sorry, that’s not correct.” “Who is Tony?” “No, that’s not correct either.” “Who is Jeremy?” “No . . . .” ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/33 "2007-03-17T00:03:50Z")
[QUOTE=St\_Ides] Well, I caught the early show (it’s on in Newfoundland at 5… Which puts’ on it at 3:30 here) So, here’s the answer: It’s a 3 way tie, but not at $0, all end up at $16,000. I’m pretty sure the returning champion planned it… He pretty much had it locked up, and it was an easy final Jeopardy, and during the introductions, the one guy mentions betting everything… Which is what he did. And before his answer is revealed, he says something (it’s unintelligible) so I think he planned it. So, yeah. Pretty cool. [/QUOTE] It’s not unintelligible, he says: You owe me ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/34 "2007-03-17T00:07:44Z")
This is why you’re supposed bet [other guy’s total] + PLUS A DOLLAR. If he bets everything and gets it right, you’re supposed to bet enough to beat him, not tie him. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/35 "2007-03-17T00:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] It’s not unintelligible, he says: You owe me [/QUOTE] Ah. It was unintelligible to me. Makes sense though. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/36 "2007-03-17T00:28:42Z")
[QUOTE=St\_Ides] Well, I caught the early show (it’s on in Newfoundland at 5… Which puts’ on it at 3:30 here) So, here’s the answer: It’s a 3 way tie, but not at $0, all end up at $16,000. I’m pretty sure the returning champion planned it… He pretty much had it locked up, and it was an easy final Jeopardy, and during the introductions, the one guy mentions betting everything… Which is what he did. And before his answer is revealed, he says something (it’s unintelligible) so I think he planned it. So, yeah. Pretty cool. [/QUOTE] Actually, the contestant, Jamey, mentioned during the introductions that his son would be disappointed if he didn’t bet it all in the **Daily Doubles**. Although that strategy did end up serving him well in Final Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/37 "2007-03-17T00:31:49Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] This is why you’re supposed bet [other guy’s total] + PLUS A DOLLAR. If he bets everything and gets it right, you’re supposed to bet enough to beat him, not tie him. [/QUOTE] But this guy on the left (returning champion) has evidence he can beat both these other two guys already. Why not bet so that one or both will be back the next time? Takes some of the uncertainty out of the next game. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised this isn’t more common. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/38 "2007-03-17T00:40:41Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] But this guy on the left (returning champion) has evidence he can beat both these other two guys already. Why not bet so that one or both will be back the next time? Takes some of the uncertainty out of the next game. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised this isn’t more common. [/QUOTE] It’s untenable as a strategy because you can never know how much the other contestants will bet. But I disagree about the “evidence.” There’s no real risk in playing the same guys again, but it’s no safer than playing two new contestants. The returning champ can’t know if he’s going to be better than his opponents at Monday’s categories. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/39 "2007-03-17T00:42:49Z")
[QUOTE=Pleonast] Does _Jeopardy!_ have rules against contestants colluding? I expect whispering answers to each other is verboten, but what about discussing strategies beforehand? [/QUOTE] There are absolutely rules about, and stringent measures to prevent, colluding on the content of the show, although IME, most of the effort seemed to be to prevent contestants from getting help from the crew, the audience, or someone outside the show. Not so much from other contestants, since they assumed we had an incentive not to help each other. However, while I was waiting to appear on my show, one of the other contestants pointedly said that if he had the chance to leave his fifth show with a tie, he would do it.\* (This was back in 1991 when you could only win five shows before being retired.) I don’t think a contestant coordinator was present when he said that, but I doubt it would have caused any problems. However, I disapprove of this move by tonight’s champ. He could have won outright and passed it up for a stunt. It may be historic, but it’s not good play or good sportsmanship. Although he’s gotten himself a lot of attention, he’s thrown away a returning champ’s biggest advantages, experience at the game and the psychological advantage a winner has over newbies. He’ll probably lose his next game, and he deserves to. I had heard from an inside source months ago that something interesting was going to happen tonight. I didn’t give it much thought until about ten minutes before the local airing, and then I realized it could only be one of two or three things, all of which have been discussed above. I was right. > [@](#): > > And would a three-way tie be evidence of collusion? No, only evidence of basic ability in arithmetic. - I’ve always thought this was a good idea: give another player a chance to come back without costing yourself anything. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187/40 "2007-03-17T02:26:55Z")
While there may be strategic advantages regarding beating your opponents and bringing in newbies, I think that the current champ was gracious when he said, via his wager, if you have the nads to go all in, I’ll give you a tie. Maybe he had enough respect for his opponents to play them again. Hell, the poor SOB does not even have real hands. But he is a smarty pants. Hell, maybe they bonded waiting in the green room. He gets his cash. They do too. I think he showed respect for his opponents. YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-history-being-made-tonight-3-16-07/396187.md?page=3)