# Life imitates an SNL skit; or, the utter idiocy of Celebrity Jeopardy! contestants **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077 "2007-08-09T23:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/41 "2007-08-11T04:58:46Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Not exactly Celebrity Jeopardy, but VH1’s short-lived **Rock & Roll Jeopardy** had some memorably stupid contestants. [/QUOTE] True, but I’m surprised you didn’t mention how **Mark McGrath** , tore the shit out of all the competition. I wasn’t surprised by the stupidity of some of the contestants, but I was surprised by how sharp he was. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/42 "2007-08-11T05:37:35Z")
[QUOTE=Count Blucher] Yes, but doesn’t it scare the living Heck out of you that a sitting Secretary of Any cabinet level position (let alone education) would be so amazingly dense?! Someone definitely forgot to refill the kerosene in that ‘Point of Light’… [/QUOTE] I doubt it. Michael McKean was getting pretty much every question, which suggests to me that the Secretary’s problem was buzzer technique rather than ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/43 "2007-08-11T05:49:36Z")
My favorite CJ was with Kelsey Grammer, Somebody Else, and Paula Poundstone. Poundstone, long on my nominee list for “10 Least Funny People Not to Be Featured in a Holocaust Documentary or Sally Struthers Commercial”, was not only bombing but was intentionally blowing questions and ringing in with dumbass answers, almost as a performance art peace. Grammer was getting really pissed and at one point when he tried to buzz in to answer a question and she beat him to it with an unfunny ad lib he actually threw down his buzzer and mouthed an expletive. Tony Randall was one I remember being surprised at how unskilled he was. He had such a know-it-all heir on talkshows but it didn’t transcend to gameshows. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/44 "2007-08-11T05:56:13Z")
Pardon the total hijack, but I watched [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPY7b35vF4) when it was listed after the Nancy Grace on CJ clip- it’s the funniest damned thing I’ve seen on YouTube in a long time (no idea how valid it is but would love to). ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/45 "2007-08-11T06:00:16Z")
On one of the CJ shows this week, one of the answers was (paraphrased), “The **hexagonal** compartments in honeycombs have this many sides.” The first contestant said eight, the second said twelve, and after a very long pause, the third said in a very tentative voice, “Six?” I hope they’re back to real Jeopardy next week. ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/46 "2007-08-11T06:16:33Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] [http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6937686889676964987&q=dave+mustaine](http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6937686889676964987&q=dave+mustaine) [/QUOTE] … George Clinton bet $1500 charity dollars on “what”. You just can’t make this up. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/47 "2007-08-11T06:21:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Pardon the total hijack, but I watched [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPY7b35vF4) when it was listed after the Nancy Grace on CJ clip- it’s the funniest damned thing I’ve seen on YouTube in a long time (no idea how valid it is but would love to). [/QUOTE] I died when I saw that awhile ago, very funny shit indeed. It was suggested by another member that the video was fake though. I haven’t really investigated whether that was true or not. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/48 "2007-08-11T06:22:29Z")
> [@](#): > > I want a Michael McKean-Harry Shearer-Christopher Guest faceoff! (It’s such a fine line between clever and stupid…) Even better, I want a David St. Hubbins-Derek Smalls-Nigel Tufnel faceoff. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/49 "2007-08-11T17:15:02Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] One of NPR’s correspodants was on Jeapordy at one point. When asked later on what Trebeck was like, he basically said Trebeck was a dick. [/QUOTE] I was on in 2000 and that would be correct **T** , for however much money you think it’s worth. For the person who said Turow pinged their gaydar, I did notice that the known gays were always in the same position on the TV screen – to the extreme right. Turow was too. My take on the whole celebrity thing was, aside from the celebrity contestants who were just not all that bright, I’m sure they, for good or bad, lead just as insular lives as the rest of us in our way. It was interesting though that Hill Harper, who is an accomplished actor, author, traveller and philanthropist did not win. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/50 "2007-08-13T14:06:35Z")
Christopher Meloni did a good job too. I also remember an episode from a few years ago where Bob Costas cleaned up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/51 "2007-08-13T17:29:00Z")
Turow was married. He’s divorced his wife, though, earlier this year. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/52 "2007-08-13T21:48:02Z")
[QUOTE=Zoggie] Turow was married. He’s divorced his wife, though, earlier this year. [/QUOTE] If this was in response to my post, I just wanted to say by posting that I thought it was interesting that the known gay men were in this spot, not that I knew or thought anything specifically about Turow either way. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/53 "2007-08-13T21:56:03Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] If this was in response to my post, I just wanted to say by posting that I thought it was interesting that the known gay men were in this spot, not that I knew or thought anything specifically about Turow either way. [/QUOTE] **Brownie55** asked about him being gay due to his mannerisms–it was in response to that. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/54 "2007-08-13T22:27:32Z")
[QUOTE=ITR champion] This thread wouldn’t be complete unless someone mentioned [Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings losing to some sort of actor.](http://wonkette.com/politics/margaret-spellings/education-sec-loses-to-dude-from-earth-girls-are-easy-216691.php) [/QUOTE] I saw this. It lloked like something was wrong with her buzzer. I mean, the questions were so easy and he buzzed i9n first like 90% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/55 "2007-08-13T23:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Poundstone … was not only bombing but was intentionally blowing questions and ringing in with dumbass answers, almost as a performance art peace. [/QUOTE] Just out of curiosity, was this before or after she got sober? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/56 "2007-08-14T02:54:26Z")
When I saw Luke Perry on CJ, I thought “Poor little heartthrob’s going to get clobbered. He probably thinks history started in 1970!” I’m sorry Typo, that’s incorrect, and it was not in the form is a question. I don’t remember whether Luke Perry won or not, but he did well. Well enough for me to gain some respect for him. If you want to see **real** Jeopardy action, watch the College Tournament. Those kids are playing for scholarship money, and they do not mess around. They go right for the throat - and for the highest values clues. No watered-down questions here! ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/57 "2007-08-14T03:12:25Z")
[QUOTE=Typo Knig] If you want to see **real** Jeopardy action, watch the College Tournament. Those kids are playing for scholarship money, and they do not mess around. They go right for the throat - and for the highest values clues. No watered-down questions here! [/QUOTE] Yeah, those kids are impressive. CJ is annoying and I rarely watch it. The questions are so dumbed down that it’s more like the first two rounds of _Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?_ ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/58 "2007-08-14T06:58:24Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] On the other hand, is Scott Turow gayer than Liberace? I ask because he tripped my gaydar like an ice review and my wife, who is usually astute in these matters said no. What say the Dopers? [/QUOTE] If Turow is gay, he has some serious internalized homophobia. I re-read _Burden of Proof_ (I think. Maybe it was _Presumed Innocent_) after I came out and was appalled at his handling of gay characters. My vote’s no. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/59 "2007-08-14T12:56:03Z")
Two other good celeb players: Martha Stewart and Ashton Kutcher. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077/60 "2007-08-14T19:25:25Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] True, but I’m surprised you didn’t mention how **Mark McGrath** , tore the shit out of all the competition. I wasn’t surprised by the stupidity of some of the contestants, but I was surprised by how sharp he was. [/QUOTE] That was hilarious. I don’t remember who he was playing against, but as I recall they were a couple of old school Rock veterans who kept looking at each other in exasperation as McGrath proceeded to kick their asses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-an-snl-skit-or-the-utter-idiocy-of-celebrity-jeopardy-contestants/415077.md?page=4)