# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/401 "2026-04-24T13:47:27Z")
I liked the “Hip Hobbits” as well. A lot of bureaucrats are actually people. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/402 "2026-04-24T13:50:46Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > It’s actually interesting as they’re digging deeper in the “meet the contestants” segment. The “MC Gandalf the Fresh& his Hip Hobbits” team name really belies his bureaucrat description. Somewhere in his long run, Ken Jennings describes making up stories for the contestant interviews as he ran out of factual things to say. ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/403 "2026-04-24T14:05:02Z")
I’m by no means anti-Jamie either, but for any champion it’s always more fun to get an exciting end where the other player outplays the champ, not a FJ misstep (like Ken). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/404 "2026-04-24T14:21:15Z")
I’m kinda hoping he eventually loses on an FJ clue where the correct answer is “What is FedEx?”. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/405 "2026-04-24T15:23:41Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’m by no means anti-Jamie either, but for any champion it’s always more fun to get an exciting end where the other player outplays the champ, not a FJ misstep (like Ken). I am not the only one who believes that it is **possible** that Ken was weary and deliberately missed that question… or maybe not. Obviously, if he did, he would never admit it publicly. He does make self-deprecating jokes about his loss, which is consistent with either case. 🤷🏻‍♂️ ---
**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:** [April 25, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/406 "2026-04-25T02:24:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > For those who think Jamie is boring, you should be glad that I’ve never tried out for the show. If I did, you’d be nostalgic for how exciting Jamie Ding was. I’m waiting for Jamie to lose before I take the at-home test again. I know how far in advance they tape, but I don’t want the risk of going up against a long-term juggernaut champion. I would be quite fascinating as a contestant. ---
**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 26, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/407 "2026-04-26T13:50:55Z")
Jamie’s only one game behind Holzhauer in consecutive wins. So I’m definitely rooting for Jamie for at least 2 more games. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/408 "2026-04-27T22:25:53Z")
I’ve started watching Jeopardy on Peacock. Only one week of shows is available. But that’s enough for me to keep up with the games. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/409 "2026-04-27T22:35:45Z")
April 27 spoilers: Challenger hit daily doubles, and had $32,600 going into Final Jeopardy. Jamie had $16,000. Jamie didn’t even bother to bet big. He ends up 5th in winning streak (one behind Holtzhauer), 5th in regular season winnings, and 5th for all time winnings (includes tournaments) Brian ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/410 "2026-04-27T23:30:32Z")
Jamie shouldn’t have tried to answer the last clue. After Greg missed the last clue about the man-made archipelago in the UAE, Jamie should have just stood pat. That way, the game wouldn’t have been a complete runaway going into final. It wound up being moot, since both guys got the final right, but still a bit of a blunder. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/411 "2026-04-27T23:38:16Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Jamie didn’t even bother to bet big. He ends up 5th in winning streak (one behind Holtzhauer), 5th in regular season winnings, and 5th for all time winnings (includes tournaments) Correction: _Seventh_ in all-time winnings, though that might change once he’s had a chance to compete in the many, many tournaments. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/412 "2026-04-27T23:58:49Z")
Now _that_ was an exciting game! ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/413 "2026-04-28T00:02:04Z")
Wow, what a game! Exciting indeed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/414 "2026-04-28T01:20:30Z")
I think fatigue played a big part. Jamie seemed to struggle the last couple games. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the tournaments. ---
**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 28, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/415 "2026-04-28T02:59:06Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > It wound up being moot, since both guys got the final right, but still a bit of a blunder. I’m glad they all got it correct and it didn’t end up being a stupid mistake of “palm leaf” instead of “palm _tree_” that took him down! ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/416 "2026-04-28T12:28:18Z")
What a great game. Greg was an excellent player (and to be fair had some luck that he found all 3 daily doubles), hopefully he can avoid the giant killer curse. ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/417 "2026-04-28T12:48:36Z")
So while looking for articles on Jamie, I found this - shortly before his episodes started airing, Jamie filed a brief in support of New Jersey’s defense against the lawsuit filed by the federal government to obtain access to NJ voter rolls. Looking at filming & airing dates, he likely knew he was shortly going to be semi-famous when he filed it. > **[Jeopardy champ Jamie Ding looks to block Trump from NJ voter rolls](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/04/24/jeopardy-jamie-ding-nj-trump-voter-fraud-how-old-is-jamie-ding-jamie-ding-streak/89773412007/)** > > Jeopardy! superchampion Jamie Ding, a New Jersey resident, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump Administration from accessing N.J. voter rolls. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/418 "2026-04-28T12:51:54Z")
Yes, and you would not believe the anger that’s causing in some of the Jeopardy fan groups. “Well, now I can’t root for him anymore, since he’s in favor of covering up voter fraud!” ---
**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 28, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/419 "2026-04-28T13:12:25Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Jamie filed a brief in support of New Jersey’s defense against the lawsuit filed by the federal government to obtain access to NJ voter rolls My opinion of Jamie just went up. A lot. ---
**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 28, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/420 "2026-04-28T13:19:50Z")
Well that’s horrible. Are they clamoring for his citizenship to be stripped from his as well, since he gained it under the false pretenses of “being smart and a Democrat” ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=22)