# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/141 "2024-03-26T17:46:21Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I thought FJ was _incredibly_ easy and was shocked they all missed it. “Scarface” as a nickname by default equals Al Capone. Ditto. Notorious + “war wound” (scar) = “scarface” = Al Capone. Easy peasy. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/142 "2024-03-26T17:51:46Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Easy peasy. Not if you don’t know it. For example, I happen to know who won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1952. Easy peasy. mmm ---
**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:** [March 26, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/143 "2024-03-26T18:06:12Z")
I would have said Capone; just describing the logic. Since I didn’t recall hearing the story and there are a million people with nicknames, I thought my guess was going to be wrong. I just couldn’t think of anything better. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/144 "2024-03-26T18:46:13Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Not if you don’t know it. > > For example, I happen to know who won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1952. Easy peasy. Of course; that’s always the case, and I meant no disrespect to those with this particular gap in their knowledge. Just saying that if you’ve heard of Al Capone and know his nickname, then the rest was straightforward. [FYI, here’s a picture of Al and his scar.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2010%2F08%2F09%2F128872365%2Fwhat-you-didnt-know-about-gangster-al-capone&psig=AOvVaw1uGyxBKfLhG4b6RwpChaAf&ust=1711565019194000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCPj4lfTKkoUDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE) ---
**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:** [March 26, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/145 "2024-03-26T19:35:12Z")
She’s looking good, too, NOT THAT IT MATTERS. It was wonderful watching her take complete control of the game. Austin Rogers: During his first run on J! I couldn’t stand him, until his second week when he finally grew on me. I was surprised last night to find he once again rubbed me the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/146 "2024-03-27T16:42:58Z")
The worst part about tournament play is that when there’s a runaway (which happens often), FJ is completely meaningless. The winner isn’t thinking about maximizing their cash, the losers aren’t fighting for second place - nothing matters. This leads to far too many “joke” responses, like “How can I beat Amy?” and yesterday’s “What is going on?” It feels kind of like disrespecting the game. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/147 "2024-03-27T19:32:26Z")
I agree. Also, are the interview segments getting longer and longer (and less interesting)? 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:** [March 27, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/148 "2024-03-27T19:37:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > With the ongoing success of the show, this is the thing I think they should change. All contestants should gt the actual dollar amount on their screens. It would make runaways games have more interesting FJs. They can afford it. This issue was discussed earlier, altho possibly in a different _Jeopardy!_ thread. That was the original policy. The producers changed it to the current policy because they thought that Actual Amount lead to safer, less exciting bets late in the game, especially in FJ. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/149 "2024-03-27T21:44:29Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Also, are the interview segments getting longer and longer (and less interesting)? YES… ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/150 "2024-03-27T22:16:29Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Also, are the interview segments getting longer and longer (and less interesting)? Well, if they’re getting longer, then there are fewer commercials, right? Unless the actual playing-the-game time has been reduced. But definitely less interesting. Which happens when ALL the contestants are making multiple appearances, not just the returning champ. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/151 "2024-03-27T22:19:14Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, if they’re getting longer, then there are fewer commercials, right? Unless the actual playing-the-game time has been reduced. Maybe the better players make the game move faster (less wrong answers) and they have to fill the time. I tend to fast forward through the interviews, unless some contestant has intrigued me in some way. I cannot image watching jeopardy without the ability to fast forward. The commercial break before final jeopardy seems to be about 15 minutes long. (only a slight exaggeration) ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/152 "2024-03-27T22:22:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Maybe the better players make the game move faster (less wrong answers) and they have to fill the time. Well, possibly, but the interviews take place well before the entire game has been played. Hard to fill time when it’s unknown how much time you need to fill. Unless they have long interviews and then edit them as necessary. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/153 "2024-03-27T22:26:42Z")
Um, the entire show is edited. mmm ---
**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:** [March 27, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/154 "2024-03-27T22:29:40Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > the entire show is edited. Yes, but do you think that the interview segment is edited? I don’t. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/155 "2024-03-28T00:13:40Z")
I think the interviews are edited sometimes. I imagine some of the players may get carried away with their stories and portions may need to be snipped at times. Once in a while you can notice the cut. mmm ---
**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:** [March 28, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/156 "2024-03-28T02:43:08Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I imagine some of the players may get carried away with their stories and portions may need to be snipped at times. > > Once in a while you can notice the cut. Fair enough. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/157 "2024-03-28T03:09:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I tend to fast forward through the interviews, unless some contestant has intrigued me in some way. I used to fast forward through all the interviews. Then one day I thought, “These people worked really hard to get on _Jeopardy!,_ the most challenging game show on TV, and beat out thousands of other hopefuls. The least I can do is to treat them like well-rounded human beings, not just trivia-spouting androids.” Some are more interesting than others. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/158 "2024-03-28T06:42:50Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, possibly, but the interviews take place well before the entire game has been played. Hard to fill time when it’s unknown how much time you need to fill. When the game is among returning, multi-day champions, you can probably expect them to play better, and therefore faster, than a standard game with two newcomers. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/159 "2024-03-28T14:24:52Z")
For sure, I can’t remember the last time clues were left on the board at the end of a round. I used to enjoy the interviews, but with the tournaments most of the time the interviews are focused on meta-issues like how they prepare for and play the game. Boring, so now I skip them. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427/160 "2024-03-28T14:35:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I imagine some of the players may get carried away with their stories and portions may need to be snipped at times. I’ve seen some interviews where the contestant got so carried away with their story I had time to go out, buy a pack of cigs, learn to smoke, give up smoking, come back, and they’re still talking. Well, it seemed that way. Ususally I just make the “talky-talky” motion with my hand. I’d hate to hear the unedited versions! > [@K364](#): > > the interviews are focused on meta-issues like how they prepare for and play the game. BOOORing! The only thing worse is “who would you like to thank?” Uh, nobody, Ken, I did this all myself. And it was hard work. But no, they have to thank their kindergarten teacher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-40/990427.md?page=9)