# 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:** 22
**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, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/421 "2026-04-28T13:25:01Z")
Not that I’ve seen, but then I didn’t look all that closely. I’m not really a member of any Jeopardy fan groups, but they show up in my Facebook feed anyway. For the most part I breeze past them when I’m scrolling, but occasionally something will catch my eye. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/422 "2026-04-28T19:53:00Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > 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!” Well, with all due respect (which is none), fuck those people. ---
**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 28, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/423 "2026-04-28T20:48:03Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > 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. I don’t think that is correct. The challenger had $32,600. Jamie had $16,200 before he buzzed in. He got it wrong, and that’s why he went into the final with an even $16,000. So he would have been $200 short if he doubled on the final jeopardy and the challenger didn’t gain any money. Jamie needed to get the last question right to avoid the runaway. ---
**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, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/424 "2026-04-28T20:57:47Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Jamie had $16,200 before he buzzed in. He got it wrong, and that’s why he went into the final with an even $16,000. No, he had $16,400 before he buzzed in and missed. $400 is the smallest amount on the board in Double Jeopardy. ---
**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 28, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/425 "2026-04-28T21:05:26Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > No, he had $16,400 before he buzzed in and missed. Well that sucks. He shouldn’t have buzzed in for that last clue. ---
**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, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/426 "2026-04-28T21:09:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I think fatigue played a big part. Jamie seemed to struggle the last couple games. I agree. He did look tired. Reminded me a little of Ryan the Rideshare Driver (I cannot remember his last name), who also looked tired towards the end of his run, and didn’t put a lot of effort into his last game. Jamie did put in the effort, but he still looked tired. ---
**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, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/427 "2026-04-28T21:10:21Z")
Well the thing is, if Jamie had buzzed in first and gotten it right, he would have been at $16,800 and broken the runaway, so he should have tried to buzz in as fast as he could. Once Greg got it wrong though, the runaway was already broken and the strategy immediately changed, but that’s a lot of strategizing to do in less than a second when the game is moving that fast. Regarding Jamie being tired - if j-archive is correct, that game was taped on March 9, but the previous game was taped Feb 26, so he had 10 days off before he lost. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/428 "2026-04-29T05:35:12Z")
The current two-time winner sure twitches and grimaces a lot. Last night I thought he was funny but tonight he started giving me the creeps. He’s good, though. ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/429 "2026-04-29T11:21:07Z")
So for the clue about “Taylor Swift’s future sister-in-law”, do you think they would have just accepted “Kelce” or asked to be more specific? She’s clearly not Jason or Travis. Because I knew she was Jason’s wife, but if Ken had asked “can you be more specific” I’m guessing “Mrs. Jason Kelce” wouldn’t have passed muster. > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > The current two-time winner sure twitches and grimaces a lot. Last night I thought he was funny but tonight he started giving me the creeps. I know what you mean, and he seems to do it on nearly every clue, even the ones that he obviously knew immediately. But during the IBM DD I thought he was having a seizure. ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/430 "2026-04-29T11:25:25Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > The current two-time winner sure twitches and grimaces a lot. Last night I thought he was funny but tonight he started giving me the creeps. He’s good, though. Yeah he’s exactly the kind of player, I don’t like. That’s why I like Jamie so much, he’s humble. ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/431 "2026-04-29T11:59:45Z")
I’m surprised a advanced Chess Master hasn’t learned to surpress his reactions and nervous twitches. Etiquette is important. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/432 "2026-04-29T12:14:48Z")
The current champ, Greg, is so far entertaining / interesting to watch, at least for me. But it’s only been two games. I can see his tics getting annoying if he goes much deeper. mmm ---
**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 29, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/433 "2026-04-29T13:24:48Z")
I wonder if Greg plays speed chess? Quick thinking is a advantage in _Jeopardy_. I enjoyed Jamie’s run. I had reached a saturation point. I can’t help but feel sorry for the good (not great) players that were speed bumps. A few of them were good.enough for a few days champion run. It often takes years of trying to get selected to play. Then you have to face Jaimie Ding who is just getting warmed up in a 31 game run. ---
**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 29, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/434 "2026-04-29T14:09:00Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > The current two-time winner sure twitches and grimaces a lot. On several occasions he appeared to be surprised that his response was correct. ---
**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 29, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/435 "2026-04-29T14:11:40Z")
He seemed surprised that his last-second guess of IBM in that daily double was correct. (I thought that was obvious as was the previous daily double about Captain Von Trapp.) ---
**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 29, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/436 "2026-04-29T16:33:32Z")
[Gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/style/jeopardy-streak-jamie-ding.html?unlocked_article_code=1.elA.th4h.ym6qAQiK9oeA&smid=url-share) to an article in the New York Times today about Jamie Ding. ---
**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 29, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/437 "2026-04-29T16:46:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > an article in the New York Times today about Jamie Ding. Thanks for that. He seems like an interesting guy. Looking forward to the TOC for this season. He’ll surely be one of the favorites. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/438 "2026-04-29T17:48:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > He seemed surprised that his last-second guess of IBM in that daily double was correct. (I thought that was obvious as was the previous daily double about Captain Von Trapp.) Same here. ---
**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 29, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/439 "2026-04-29T18:01:52Z")
I was “oh, it is the Sound of Music Guy”, but didn’t come up with the name in time. (At least I didn’t think Christopher Plummer…) Brian ---
**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:** [April 30, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905/440 "2026-04-30T12:27:50Z")
Here is a [link](https://jeopardy.substack.com/p/postgame-chat-jamie-ding-katrina) to Ken’s post-game chat with the players after Jamie’s loss. Viewing this makes Doug more tolerable, I think. One of thing he mentions is that his pause before answering is his method of calming himself down. Jamie comes across as likeable, relatable, and humble as ever. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-season-42-it-is-what-it-is/1021905.md?page=23)