# Jeopardy! Season 40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [September 20, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427 "2023-09-20T16:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/361 "2024-06-19T21:02:39Z")
Just finished watching the 6/19 episode. Three excellent players and one gutsy DD wager. And I correctly guessed FJ. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/362 "2024-06-20T03:40:05Z")
The whole first part I kept thinking why is Drew so familiar!? Then in the interview Ken said he was on _Survivor_! That’s why I know his face and voice. It’s interesting having one contestant who could actually be in a clue himself! ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/363 "2024-06-20T20:42:29Z")
Ha, I had the exact same reaction! I need to go bump the most recent _Survivor_ thread in case anyone who wouldn’t otherwise tune into _Jeopardy!_ is interested. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/364 "2024-06-29T01:22:38Z")
After seven wins, was surprised when missed what I considered a very easy final question. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/365 "2024-06-29T01:27:08Z")
Perhaps I’ve been inattentive but when did the second and third place prizes change to $3,000 and $2,000? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/366 "2024-06-29T22:03:13Z")
This season, I think (could be wrong). No doubt they were losing out on potential contestants because the cost of getting to L.A. and paying for a hotel was way over $1,000, and so some folks would decide against accepting an invitation to be on the show. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/367 "2024-06-29T22:32:55Z")
Thanks. Just noticed the other day. And yes, it was a shame that Drew was eliminated after seven games, though that’s nothing to sneeze at. It is better than most. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/368 "2024-06-29T22:43:22Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > was surprised when missed what I considered a very easy final question. Agreed. I was shocked when he missed it. Especially after the other two contestants got it correct. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/369 "2024-06-30T00:50:08Z")
I wonder if he just overthought it, deciding the “easy” answer couldn’t be the right one. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/370 "2024-06-30T10:54:08Z")
This is what I did. My guess was Anne Sullivan. Drew was a good contestant. mmm ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/371 "2024-06-30T11:05:14Z")
I was able to decide between the two of them because I happened to know that Helen Keller wrote an autobiography, and so far as I know, Anne Sullivan did not. Also because the Germanic name “Keller” sounds more likely to have Swiss ancestry than does “Sullivan.” I enjoyed Drew as well, although I know that a lot of people didn’t. Whether that was because of bad memories from _Survivor_, or something specific to him, I don’t know. I rarely notice the quirks and mannerisms in contestants that a lot of people complain about, so I can’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/372 "2024-06-30T11:08:11Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I was able to decide between the two of them because I happened to know that Helen Keller wrote an autobiography, and so far as I know, Anne Sullivan did not. Also because the Germanic name “Keller” sounds more likely to have Swiss ancestry than does “Sullivan.” Your brain works faster than mine. I would have got there had I been given 24 hours to ponder. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/373 "2024-06-30T14:20:46Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My guess was Anne Sullivan. I also guessed Sullivan. When Mrs Maven said, “Helen Keller,” I said, “Oh, that’s better.” Interesting (I hope) digression. I recently read an article about the philosophical dispute of whether thought is possible without language. Even Chomsky said that it is not. When I saw this question I thought, “I guess Helen Keller proves that it is.” ---
**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:** [June 30, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/374 "2024-06-30T21:39:38Z")
Drew said in an [interview with Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/survivor-45-drew-basile-unpacks-jeopardy-winning-streak-why-he-lost-8671444) that he was exhausted. “And the amazing thing about Final Jeopardy was I knew the answer. I knew it was Helen Keller, and I was so exhausted I couldn’t remember the name. I knew I got it wrong. I was just so tired, for the life of me I couldn’t remember Helen Keller’s name.” ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/375 "2024-06-30T21:56:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I was just so tired, for the life of me I couldn’t remember Helen Keller’s name.” Unless they’ve changed the way they film since Trebek’s time, some players do have the bad luck of winning on the first of FIVE shows they film in one day. By that fifth one, a person would be understandably wiped out. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/376 "2024-07-01T10:27:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I was just so tired, for the life of me I couldn’t remember Helen Keller’s name.” I think this aspect of Jeopardy is often overlooked. In the moment it’s quite surprising that he didn’t answer that FJ question correctly. But I regularly miss answers that I “know”, well-rested with no distractions, from my living room. mmm ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/377 "2024-07-02T18:07:10Z")
Wow, that never occurred to me, but Ken had to play 5 games/day for 14+ days, didn’t he? ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/378 "2024-07-02T18:18:00Z")
I think I’ve heard Ken Jennings say that he couldn’t have done as well lately. The game favors younger people, who are perhaps faster on the buzzer. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/379 "2024-07-02T18:26:40Z")
ISTR he once said that if it was a category he was comfortable with he wouldn’t even listen to the question, he’d concentrate on the buzzer timing, then work out the answer afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/380 "2024-07-02T18:38:22Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Wow, that never occurred to me, but Ken had to play 5 games/day for 14+ days, didn’t he? Yeah, he did. A remarkable record. To make it, he had to have not only knowledge and fast-twitch muscle fiber—but lots of stamina, as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427.md?page=20)