# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/361 "2004-07-17T20:44:28Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Which proves my theory: “Germans love David Hass…” Um, I mean my other theory, “There is no situation left on Earth that cannot trigger a reference to a Simpsons quote.” Worst. Theory. Ever. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/362 "2004-07-17T23:15:41Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I’m surprised that a past contestant has never challenged the fact they ended up in 2nd place with $18,400 losing by $1 and left the show with some crappy consolation prize. I bet there could be a legal challenge: [There is a dollar sign in front of the score](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cpcug.org/user/somerset/jeopardy/endfj.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cpcug.org/user/somerset/jeopardy/jeopardy.html&h=473&w=640&sz=52&tbnid=QGAioJQHx7MJ:&tbnh=99&tbnw=133&start=12&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djeopardy%2Bwinner%26svnum%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff). Yep, Merv Griffin’s lawyers surely missed that one. :smack: Any day now they’ll start requiring contestants to sign an agreement form. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/363 "2004-07-19T00:20:03Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I haven’t seen Jeopardy in years, but it’d be amazing if Merv changed the rules and let all 3 players keep the money from their final total. People would bet more in final Jeopardy - Outcomes would be different. I’m surprised that a past contestant has never challenged the fact they ended up in 2nd place with $18,400 losing by $1 and left the show with some crappy consolation prize. And…if you finish with $-10,000…You don’t leave the studio until you write a check. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/364 "2004-07-19T02:38:13Z")
> [@brian\_ax](#): > > And…if you finish with $-10,000…You don’t leave the studio until you write a check. Say…talk about your Simpsons reference…Didn’t that happen to Marge Simpson, and she had to sneak out of the theater to avoid paying? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/365 "2004-07-19T03:10:13Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I haven’t seen Jeopardy in years, but it’d be amazing if Merv changed the rules and let all 3 players keep the money from their final total. Not really- that’s how the Art Fleming version worked. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/366 "2004-07-19T03:13:29Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Say…talk about your Simpsons reference…Didn’t that happen to Marge Simpson, and she had to sneak out of the theater to avoid paying? Yup. And on the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy, Will Ferrell ended at least one show by saying “And, once again, money will be taken _away_ from charity…” ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/367 "2004-07-19T03:38:43Z")
I sorta hate to mention this, but under current rules, you can’t end Final Jeopardy with a negative total. You’re not allowed to play at all without a positive score, and you’re not allowed to bet more than you have. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/368 "2004-07-19T12:21:02Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > I thought he’s already here, under the name of **quod erat demonstrandum** or something. I thought Ken Jennings was already here under the name of **Cecil Adams**. That would explain _everything_! Has anyone ever seen the two of them at the same time? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/369 "2004-07-19T21:43:25Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I sorta hate to mention this, but under current rules, you can’t end Final Jeopardy with a negative total. You’re not allowed to play at all without a positive score, and you’re not allowed to bet more than you have. No, but you can certainly end the regular two rounds, and if _I_ were in charge, you wouldn’t leave until Moose and Rocko had helped you look for your checkbook. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/370 "2004-07-19T23:12:16Z")
Does anybody else remember Jason Fox playing “I want to be a millionaire” with his dad? For $100, what is the one billionth decimal digit of pi? I’m sorry, that’s incorrect. Now as soon as you write out the check, we’ll continue with the $200 question. ---
**Author:** ![Feit\_C\_Taj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@Feit\_C\_Taj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feit_C_Taj)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/371 "2004-07-20T01:06:11Z")
Ken had $27,800 going into FJ; Opponents had $8000 and $7800. Category: Opera (oog) “The libretto for the opera William Tell was in this language, which was the native language of neither the composer, Rossini, nor the subject.” Opponents got it wrong, wagered piddle. Ken got it right, bet (the expected) $7200, so finished with $35000. He can break the money record tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Feit\_C\_Taj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@Feit\_C\_Taj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feit_C_Taj)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/372 "2004-07-20T01:07:50Z")
FTR, the answer was French ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/373 "2004-07-20T11:45:03Z")
Alex mentioned last night that they were nearing the end of the season. What happens then? Do they go into reruns for a while, or is the new season televised immediately? ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/374 "2004-07-20T14:57:41Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Alex mentioned last night that they were nearing the end of the season. What happens then? Do they go into reruns for a while, or is the new season televised immediately? Reruns, though they usually re-air the tournaments (champions, college, etc.) and the special celebrity episodes rather than normal shows. The next season usually restarts around about Labor Day. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/375 "2004-07-20T16:30:53Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > Reruns, though they usually re-air the tournaments (champions, college, etc.) and the special celebrity episodes rather than normal shows. The next season usually restarts around about Labor Day. So, the reason why there haven’t been any leaks about when he loses (since everyone assumed he must’ve lost since he was back home in Utah) is that, quite simply, he may actually still be the champion, waiting for the new season to start? ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/376 "2004-07-20T17:41:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yesterday Alex said something about Ken not having the Jeopardy total winnings record. Is that right? How would that be possible? I figure maybe some guy cleaned up in the Tournament of Champions… either way, Ken will pass him with another win or two. I’ve heard him mention this over the past 3 or so episodes. Why is this the first we’re hearing of it? Why was there no fanfare for the current record-holder? How many shows did it take him to get there? Why are we so excited about Ken if there’s some other guy who did it first? I can see that it’s because he’ll probably break the record, but most people didn’t know about the previous record until just recently. I’m confused. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Feit\_C\_Taj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@Feit\_C\_Taj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feit_C_Taj)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/377 "2004-07-20T17:54:17Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > I’ve heard him mention this over the past 3 or so episodes. Why is this the first we’re hearing of it? Why was there no fanfare for the current record-holder? How many shows did it take him to get there? Why are we so excited about Ken if there’s some other guy who did it first? I can see that it’s because he’ll probably break the record, but most people didn’t know about the previous record until just recently. They had a “Master’s Tournament” a couple of years ago, with a top prize of $1 million. Add the guys regular season winnings, his ToC winnings, and the million from the Master’s, and that’s how they got that figure. The thing about Kenny is he got all of his winnings without the benefit of a special tournament. What’s gonna happen when _his_ Tournament of Champions rolls around? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/378 "2004-07-20T18:07:46Z")
> [@rexnervous](#): > > So, the reason why there haven’t been any leaks about when he loses (since everyone assumed he must’ve lost since he was back home in Utah) is that, quite simply, he may actually still be the champion, waiting for the new season to start? I think that is nearly certainly the case. IF he had lost, surely news would have leaked out by now. The audience is too big for someone not to blab. We’ll more than likely have a good idea of when he DOES lose next year, as he will probably again make the talk show circuit in the few days before his loss. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/379 "2004-07-20T18:51:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > We’ll more than likely have a good idea of when he DOES lose next year, … IF he loses, you mean… 😃 Of course, if he sweeps the next season, they can simply clone 14 more of him for the ToC… \ THIS is the Jeopardy! $100,000 Tournament of Champions!. And now for today’s contestants… A software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah, Ken Jennings, whose 126-day winnings total $3,753,255. A software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah, Ken Jennings, whose 126-day winnings total $3,753,255. A software engineer… oh, why am I bothering. You all know who it is… \ Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842/380 "2004-07-20T20:58:43Z")
> [@Doktor Fluff](#): > > They had a “Master’s Tournament” a couple of years ago, with a top prize of $1 million. Add the guys regular season winnings, his ToC winnings, and the million from the Master’s, and that’s how they got that figure. The thing about Kenny is he got all of his winnings without the benefit of a special tournament. > > What’s gonna happen when _his_ Tournament of Champions rolls around? Thanks for the clarification. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842.md?page=20)