# Speaking of Jeopardy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [November 19, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632 "2021-11-19T16:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/1 "2021-11-19T16:37:27Z")
One time, after a particularly lame-ass Interesting Anecdotes segment, I tried to think up the worst IA possible, and came up with, “I like to examine my mail to see if any of the stamps are upside down”, and damned if one of the subsequent contestants didn’t come up with one amazingly similar! I wonder how many people would object if they just did away with that segment? ---
**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:** [November 19, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/2 "2021-11-19T16:41:36Z")
Having to come up with some lame anecdote is what I use as an excuse for never having tried out for the show. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/3 "2021-11-19T16:42:48Z")
I’m curious if anyone likes the “about the contestant” segment on ANY game show. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/4 "2021-11-19T16:45:33Z")
While it gets tedious for a returning champ after multiple wins, I like the segment. Without the individuality of the contestants you could just read the clues/responses on the Jeopardy archive. It gives a contestant who has bad luck in opponents to get some more screen time. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/5 "2021-11-19T16:51:45Z")
Yes, I always ponder, “Would they rather hear about my collection of Stephen King books, or the time I crapped in the cat box?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/6 "2021-11-19T16:55:45Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > “Would they rather hear about my collection of Stephen King books, or the time I crapped in the cat box?” A lot of people have the first, but I know no one that did the second. So you have my answer. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/7 "2021-11-19T17:25:02Z")
One I can’t seem to forget, from maybe ten years ago: **ALEX TREBEK:** You had _scurvy_ when you were in college? **YOUNG FEMALE CONTESTANT:** Yes. I had :bleeding gums. But I ate an orange and it went away. 🥺 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/8 "2021-11-19T17:48:25Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Without the individuality of the contestants you could just read the clues/responses on the Jeopardy archive. I can enjoy a baseball game without knowing anything about the players. Sometimes it’s better that way. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/9 "2021-11-19T17:53:04Z")
I can speak from experience: if you give them 3 “interesting” anecdotes or details about yourself, they’ll pick the one that you don’t want to talk about on TV. And you don’t know which one they picked until the cameras are rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/10 "2021-11-19T18:05:09Z")
I wonder if that isn’t built into the show as a safety measure in case, for some reason, the actual show runs longer than scheduled. They can always curtail or even dispense with it if they need to do so in order to finish on time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/11 "2021-11-19T18:09:05Z")
Do returning champions have to fill out a new card for every show, or only after the initial trivia have been disposed of? ---
**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:** [November 19, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/12 "2021-11-19T18:09:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Having to come up with some lame anecdote is what I use as an excuse for never having tried out for the show. When I had my audition, I had trouble limiting myself to just 5. I’ve led a very interesting life. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/13 "2021-11-19T18:28:07Z")
When I was on, they asked you for three anecdotes, and asked you which one you most wanted to talk about. That one was marked on the card that Alex had. And then Alex would ask you about whichever one he wanted, regardless of which one you had specified. In the case of returning champions, they kept the two that hadn’t been used, and added a new third one, so that Alex always had three to choose from. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/14 "2021-11-19T20:05:04Z")
Just play the damn game. I hate the interviews although they’re far, far better now that we don’t have St. Alex making them about himself and/or one-upping a contestant’s experience. I also find it kind of sad when a contestant’s interesting experience essentially boils down to “I had parents.” ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/15 "2021-11-19T20:42:30Z")
Why do you guys watch **Jeopardy!**? A lot of you seem to dislike it. Seems weird you would afflict this personal torture on yourselves. I like the segment. It’s part of a winning formula, and it’s way, way better than the padding and pathos on the other game shows. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/16 "2021-11-19T20:44:02Z")
> [@gregorio](#): > > A lot of you seem to dislike it. Only parts of it. Did someone say they dislike the show its self? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/17 "2021-11-19T22:39:07Z")
I just sampled enough contemporary music product to last me until the next time they have those awards. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/18 "2021-11-20T12:59:36Z")
Ah, but have you been to the top of Ben Nevis or inside Lenin’s Tomb? 🤨 ---
**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:** [November 20, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/19 "2021-11-20T17:27:17Z")
No, but I’ve been to the bottom of Grand Canyon and found Harold Russell’s grave. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632/20 "2021-11-20T21:05:07Z")
Who is Harold Russell? 🤨 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-jeopardy/954632.md?page=2)