Just finished watching the 6/19 episode. Three excellent players and one gutsy DD wager.
And I correctly guessed FJ.
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!
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.
After seven wins, was surprised when missed what I considered a very easy final question.
Perhaps I’ve been inattentive but when did the second and third place prizes change to $3,000 and $2,000?
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.
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.
Agreed. I was shocked when he missed it. Especially after the other two contestants got it correct.
I wonder if he just overthought it, deciding the “easy” answer couldn’t be the right one.
This is what I did. My guess was Anne Sullivan.
Drew was a good contestant.
mmm
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.
Your brain works faster than mine. I would have got there had I been given 24 hours to ponder.
mmm
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.”
Drew said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly 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.”
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.
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
Wow, that never occurred to me, but Ken had to play 5 games/day for 14+ days, didn’t he?
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.
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.
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.