# Jeopardy! Season 42. It is what it is **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [August 10, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905 "2025-08-10T14:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/341 "2026-04-17T20:08:07Z")
Jamie, if you’re reading this, I like you fine! I’m really impressed with everything you know, and I kind of like to see you squishin’ the competition. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/342 "2026-04-17T20:13:44Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Semi-OT but how do we not know when Jamie’s (or any previous runaway player’s) winning streak comes to an end weeks beforehand? I’m guessing everyone in the studio audience signs an NDA, but would those realistically be all that enforceable? Has anyone been to a taping? After her winning streak came to an end, Mattea Roach was interviewed on a Canadian news show. Yes, she knew how things worked out, but she, like all contestants, had to sign an NDA stating that she would not tell anybody about an outcome until all her episodes had aired. So, she had to shut up about everything for six weeks or so. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/343 "2026-04-17T21:00:12Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > He has said that he works for New Jersey state government–specifically in the Housing and Mortgage Division (or something like that). He also said that he wanted to describe himself as a “faceless bureaucrat,” but the producers wouldn’t let him. > > So, yeah, he’s not bragging. Just the opposite. It’s self-deprecating humor. I took it this way. And I prefer a ‘charisma-challenged’ winner to an annoying winner. But I am in the camp of those who find the ‘Jamie Clears the Board’ game to be somewhat tedious. I wish him no ill, but I hope he doesn’t approach Jennings’ record of 74 wins. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/344 "2026-04-17T21:02:52Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > And I prefer a ‘charisma-challenged’ winner to an annoying winner. Agree. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/345 "2026-04-17T21:12:47Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Jamie, if you’re reading this, I like you fine! I’m really impressed with everything you know, and I kind of like to see you squishin’ the competition. 😁 Hear hear! Jamie is like the Cincinnati Reds of the mid 70s, known as the _Big Red Machine_, or Ivan Drago before he fought Rocky Balboa. He’s coldly efficient. Give him some terminator sunglasses. He’s a record setting assassin. > [@](#): > > Ding responded correctly to 45 clues (including Final Jeopardy!) during game 3. In the show’s over-60-year history, only one other contestant has done so: [Ken] Jennings, who also got 45 clues right during a 2004 game, according to the game show. [https://people.com/jeopardy-champion-winning-streak-ken-jennings-record-11947279](https://people.com/jeopardy-champion-winning-streak-ken-jennings-record-11947279) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/346 "2026-04-17T23:58:43Z")
Jamie has amazing luck when it comes to his opponents hitting the DDs and never getting the answer right. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/347 "2026-04-18T00:18:15Z")
Well, that’s true. Not to mention unforced errors like guessing incorrectly after the other two contestants blow it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/348 "2026-04-18T00:27:14Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > BTW, he’s listed as a ‘bureaucrat & law student’. How does one become a bureaucrat? (If he’s explained it on the show, I missed that episode.) He works for a state agency in New Jersey that provides affordable housing to residents, he talked about it and was proud that his state is rated as one of the best in that area. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/349 "2026-04-18T00:31:39Z")
Missed the edit: During an exchange with host Ken Jennings, Ding, who works at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, described his job as an administrator with the state’s multifamily tax credit program. He helps oversee tax reductions to developers of affordable rental housing. “New Jersey’s doing really well, we’re ahead of New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. If you’re from one of those states, then shame on you, build more housing,” he joked. [Jamie Ding sets N.J. 'Jeopardy!' record with 22 wins - nj.com](https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2026/04/he-mocked-ny-on-jeopardy-now-he-just-smashed-njs-record-for-most-wins.html#:%5C~:text=During%20an%20exchange%20with%20host,developers%20of%20affordable%20rental%20housing) . ---
**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:** [April 18, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/350 "2026-04-18T16:25:39Z")
For all those annoyed by Jamie, imagine if we had a Taotao win! ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/351 "2026-04-18T23:54:38Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > [Jamie Ding sets N.J. ‘Jeopardy!’ record with 22 wins - nj.com](https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2026/04/he-mocked-ny-on-jeopardy-now-he-just-smashed-njs-record-for-most-wins.html#:%5C~:text=During%20an%20exchange%20with%20host,developers%20of%20affordable%20rental%20housing) This is kind of an odd way to classify him, since contestants can come from anywhere in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) and Canada. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/352 "2026-04-19T00:19:22Z")
It was a NJ publication, writing about a local who did well. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/353 "2026-04-19T00:26:28Z")
Yes, I know it’s a New Jersey publication, but I still find it odd. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/354 "2026-04-19T02:01:19Z")
Noted. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/355 "2026-04-21T14:40:00Z")
It seems Ken’s intro last night was designed to humanize Jamie, he talked about him and his hobbies quite a bit. And Jamie’s answer for FJ was hilarious. “this 13,642-foot peak with a name that describes what Heidi is” - his answer “Eiger” means “Ogre”. Don’t know if he knew that or if that was the only Alps mountain he could think of. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/356 "2026-04-21T16:52:24Z")
He tried to blow a cinch runaway with a greed bet on the last DD. He ended up having to get the very last clue to secure the runaway. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/357 "2026-04-21T17:10:44Z")
Oh my god, you mean he’s on Jeopardy to win money?!! ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/358 "2026-04-21T17:14:25Z")
I knew the answer to FJ yesterday, and it was a triple-stumper. I really don’t have any idea where I learned that name. Perhaps high school German class? ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/359 "2026-04-21T17:41:02Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Oh my god, you mean he’s on Jeopardy to win money?!! Well, I think now he’s there to set records. But I have thought some contestants were there to help build their “brand”. Being a contestant was secondary to being an influencer. Usually those folk don’t win. (Well, these days, no one else wins. 🙂 ) ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/360 "2026-04-21T18:09:24Z")
That answer was pretty funny too - “Shake well” for “instructions during pregnancy”. Even Ken felt he had to comment on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=19)