# Spicoli's winning Jeopardy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938 "2009-07-23T00:04:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/21 "2009-07-24T04:42:20Z")
That was a gutsy Final Jeopardy wager, but it was a once in a lifetime thing to have 22k more than both of your opponents. Speaking of FJ, that was the hardest one I’ve seen in a long time. I’ve never even heard of the answer. I thought it was a pretty terrible question. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/22 "2009-07-24T05:09:36Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > That was a gutsy Final Jeopardy wager, but it was a once in a lifetime thing to have 22k more than both of your opponents. Speaking of FJ, that was the hardest one I’ve seen in a long time. I’ve never even heard of the answer. I thought it was a pretty terrible question. I think they should have at least narrowed it down from the very general category of “Food” to the much more specific “Cheese”. I agree it was one of the toughest FJ questions I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/23 "2009-07-24T05:19:07Z")
As I recall, they mentioned that the answer was a type of cheese in the clue, so I don’t think that would have helped much, except maybe to warn the contestants not to wager too much money. I admit I’m not a cheese expert, but I am curious how well-known that cheese is. It’s certainly not common knowledge in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/24 "2009-07-24T05:43:41Z")
Sorry for the double post, but I just checked [wikipedia’s article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liederkranz_cheese), and found out that this cheese is “extinct” and hasn’t been made since the 1980s. How ridiculous. Did Sony really need that extra $40,000? ---
**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 24, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/25 "2009-07-24T06:16:34Z")
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to have never heard of this so-called cheese. Poor Spicoli. /Cheesehead ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/26 "2009-07-24T12:43:19Z")
I actually got the FJ answer, mainly because I speak (or used to speak) German. But for a second there, I actually thought he’d bet enough to lose. \*Did he throw the fucking game? \*But no, he just threw away $20K. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/27 "2009-07-24T12:48:19Z")
It honestly makes me wonder if game shows can ‘cheat’ in the bonus round that they had the hardest question ever on a day where they may have had to pay $40k to Spicoli. I imagine he went for that wager so he could have topped the $100,000 mark. What’s to stop them from purposely loading am impossible question once they know who the winner is going to be? That is, they are not effecting the results of WHO wins, simply how MUCH they will win. The minute that it happened, I immediately thought back to Wheel of Fortune’s miraculous million dollar winner that happened fairly early in the first season that it was offered. Of note, to win the million dollars, you have to hit the million dollar spot during the main game and find a letter to pick up the space. You cannot hit bankrupt anywhere during the rest of the game (not just that puzzle!) or else you lose it, and of course you have to win the match overall and go to the bonus round. In the bonus round, you have to not only solve the final puzzle, but you have to have gotten the ONE million dollar card on the bonus wheel (out of it looks like 40 or so cards?). Yet despite all of that, a woman happened to win it, which immediately had me thinking that the game with competitors HAS to be kept honest, but what’s to stop them from loading up an easy puzzle and putting the million dollar card in every spot for their inaugural opportunity? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Booker\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@Happy\_Booker\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Booker_1)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/28 "2009-07-24T13:23:40Z")
The Standards and Practices folks (Independent third party) keep that kind of folderol from happening (as well as keeping Charles van Doren from happening). As I understand it, the contestants’ (the challengers’) names are drawn randomly from the pool of those who are there for the taping. At the beginning of the (5 day) week, there are six sets of questions. There’s also a random draw that takes place for them. No changes are possible. That’s why the “Jeez, there was a law category and one of the contestants was a lawyer…that’s not fair.” complaint has no legs. It’s random and overseen by a third party. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/29 "2009-07-24T13:37:36Z")
thank goodness I am not the only one who has never heard of that cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/30 "2009-07-24T13:59:37Z")
When he was introduced on his first show, I said to my wife, “Dude, I’m on Jeopardy!” And my step-daughter calls him Spiccoli too. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/31 "2009-07-24T18:13:03Z")
That wager was awesome. It seemed like I heard some groaning audience members but I don’t understand why. He was 22,600 in front of the other contestants. Why not wager 20k? I am looking forward to watching him again tonight. Its like my high school art teacher took a break from tending his garden to be on Jeopardy for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/32 "2009-07-24T18:21:28Z")
Do you have a picture of this guy? Google image and YouTube both turn up nothing. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/33 "2009-07-24T18:32:48Z")
**Rigamarole** , [here ya go!](http://www.jeopardy.com/showguide_thisweek.php) ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/34 "2009-07-25T00:07:57Z")
If people want to see the world’s douchiest Jeopardy! contestant go up against our Spicoli, they should tune in tonight. Just watch the intros and you’ll see what I mean. Please note, I am not responsible for damages if you kick in your television set. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/35 "2009-07-25T00:30:07Z")
He finished up the 25th season of _Jeopardy!_ with his fifth win tonight and will be back when the show comes back in September. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/36 "2009-07-25T00:59:51Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > If people want to see the world’s douchiest Jeopardy! contestant go up against our Spicoli, they should tune in tonight. Just watch the intros and you’ll see what I mean. You mean the “self-described gadabout” with that thing around his neck? He either lost a bet or accepted a dare. That looked pretty silly. I didn’t think he was particularly douchey, except for his buzzer jabbing. And another tricky Final Jeopardy. The question was easy, but “25 years and counting” gives no clue about how much to wager. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/37 "2009-07-25T01:06:41Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > You mean the “self-described gadabout” with that thing around his neck? He either lost a bet or accepted a dare. That looked pretty silly. I didn’t think he was particularly douchey, except for his buzzer jabbing. I dunno, describing your occupation as “gadabout,” wearing an ascot, wildly flailing your buzzer arm for every ring-in, and folding your arms glowering when you lose all add up to WORLD’S BIGGEST DOUCHE in my book. Someone on the Jeopardy! forums insists that he drew his name “John” to look like a penis. And it does, kind of. Any other contestant, and I’d think it was a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/38 "2009-07-25T01:16:13Z")
I miss Liederkranz. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/39 "2009-07-25T02:26:28Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Someone on the Jeopardy! forums insists that he drew his name “John” to look like a penis. And it does, kind of. Any other contestant, and I’d think it was a coincidence. Jeopardy has a forum? Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938/40 "2009-07-25T03:27:38Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Jeopardy has a forum? Awesome! Oh, yeah. They dissect every show. What’s even more surprising is that Sony funds it. If you head over there, you’ll see that Stefan has been posting about his wins under the name “seaborgian.” They get a surprising number of the actual contestants posting about their shows. [Jeopardy! Forums](http://boards.sonypictures.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=11) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spicolis-winning-jeopardy/503938.md?page=3)