# Merv Griffin announces that something "amazing" is going to happen... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842 "2004-05-18T20:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/301 "2004-07-10T14:28:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I could have sworn he didn’t put the final “s” on “Ride of the Valkyries,” but I might have mis-heard. It does seem like they’re giving him the benefit of the doubt though." I didn’t hear the “s” either. Now that I think about it, I recall years ago that Alex once said the EXACT title of a work of art must be given for it to be correct. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/302 "2004-07-10T14:30:15Z")
I guess Valhalla’s been downsizing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/303 "2004-07-10T22:41:09Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I don’t think they normally let people get away with a mistake like this. Just tonight they didn’t allow “Zara **s** thustra” for “Zarathustra.” If someone knows what or who Zarathustra is and that person mispronounces it Zarasthrutra, they should slide. How many people know what or who Zarathustra is, really? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/304 "2004-07-10T22:46:09Z")
I think that an ending sibilant that follows a closed vowel might not be as audible over speakers as it is live, whereas a sibilant immediately preceeding another sibilant would stand out even if whispered. In any event, Ken has missed plenty of questions, including Final Jeopardy ones. I don’t think that depriving him of the couple of possibly questionable ones mentioned here would have made any real difference, and would only have led to criticism from the other direction. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/305 "2004-07-12T23:34:47Z")
Today (7/12): He wins again, of course. Going into FJ, he had $34,400. His opponents had $3300 & $3200. Both missed the question. Ken got it right and bet $17,600 giving him a record-tying (again) $52,000. Alex again admonished him for not going for $53,000. He’s going to be on Letterman tonight, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![carterba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@carterba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carterba)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/306 "2004-07-13T00:00:37Z")
[This New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/arts/television/13WATC.html?8dpc) is weirdly hostile towards Ken. “The most annoying man in game show history”? Alex “snapped” at him? Ken “preened”? It settles down after the first few graphs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/307 "2004-07-13T00:04:35Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Alex again admonished him for not going for $53,000. $52,001, actually. Alex seems fond of the phrase ‘you couldn’t bet another buck?!’. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/308 "2004-07-13T00:10:44Z")
> [@The Great Zamboni](#): > > If someone knows what or who Zarathustra is and that person mispronounces it Zarasthrutra, they should slide. How many people know what or who Zarathustra is, really? I’ll just say I didn’t see the show, or see how the clue came up, but in answer to your question I’d hazard a guess that: a) those interested in religions such as Zoroastrianism and its founder (okay not me); or b) fans of Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings (_Also Sprach Zarathustra_, English translation _Thus Spake Zarathustra_) of which I’m not a fan but tried to read once in university); or c) fans of Strauss or who enjoyed the the music of 2001: A Space Odyssey, aka _Also Sprach Zarathustra_ (honestly that obelisk made me crazy) 🙂 But me, hey, I just like the way it sounds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/309 "2004-07-13T00:12:14Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > $52,001, actually. Alex seems fond of the phrase ‘you couldn’t bet another buck?!’. True, but we all know Ken has a problem with odd numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/310 "2004-07-13T01:38:42Z")
Apparently KJ is posting over at the official Jeopardy MB. He’s said that he doesn’t want to beat the previous record holder just to beat him. To paraphrase, “There are plenty of other records out there.” ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/311 "2004-07-13T01:39:52Z")
That is, regarding the issue being discussed in the spoiler boxes. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/312 "2004-07-13T02:10:11Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Apparently KJ is posting over at the official Jeopardy MB. He’s said that he doesn’t want to beat the previous record holder just to beat him. To paraphrase, “There are plenty of other records out there.” This is nonsense. So, he bet the amount he always wanted to and it turned out to equal the record. Curious. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/313 "2004-07-13T04:08:10Z")
> [@litost](#): > > This is nonsense. So, he bet the amount he always wanted to and it turned out to equal the record. Curious. No, he wanted the record, but he didn’t want to take anything away from anybody, so he bet to tie it. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/314 "2004-07-13T04:14:29Z")
Came in too late and missed Ken on Letterman. What happened? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/315 "2004-07-13T04:27:44Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Came in too late and missed Ken on Letterman. What happened? Ken read the Top 10 List. I think it was something about “Ways to be annoying on Jeopardy!” or “Ways to annoy Alex Trebek.” The [Late Show website](http://www.cbs.com/lateshow) doesn’t have tonight’s Top 10 List up yet. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/316 "2004-07-13T04:33:39Z")
He wasn’t a regular guest, he read the Top Ten List: Top Ten Ways to Annoy Alex Trebek. Here are a few from memory: Buzz in without using your hands. Get Alex’s attention by throwing nickels at his head. Respond: “Who gives a rat’s ass?” It was less than an hour ago, and I can’t remember any others. (Senility is a terrible thing, children.) ---
**Author:** ![krojack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@krojack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krojack)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/317 "2004-07-13T04:37:51Z")
Another few that come to mind are Mutter ‘woman’ whenever Alex says ‘potpurri’ Tell Alex that he’s not as Trebek-y in real life. Tell Alex that even though he’s a naturalized citizen he’s still a product of the evil Canadian empire. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/318 "2004-07-13T23:34:41Z")
#1. Insist on buying a vowel. Toady’s show (7/13) Ken “The Destroyer of Worlds” Jennings wins again. He had $46,000 going into FJ. He bet $14,000, but lost. Current total is $1,004,960. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/319 "2004-07-14T00:04:12Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Toady’s show (7/13) > > Ken “The Destroyer of Worlds” Jennings wins again. He had $46,000 going into FJ. He bet $14,000, but lost. Current total is $1,004,960. I was very glad he won again today and broke the million dollar mark. I’m going on record and saying that I like Ken and I hope he manages to beat that Tic Tac Dough dude’s record. I was watching today, and more than once I couldn’t help thinking _OMG God, is there anything he doesn’t know?!_ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/320 "2004-07-14T00:22:04Z")
About today’s Final Jeopardy: [spoiler]Today’s FJ was about the years, 5 years apart, in which the NY Times had a headline in 96-pt. type. Ken Jennings’ answer was 1996 and 2001. I assume the 2001 headline was after 9/11. But what happened in 1996 that he thought was so monumental? (The correct response was 1969 and 1974, for the moon landing and Nixon’s resignation.)[/spoiler] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842.md?page=17)