# The Jeopardy thread \[was James Holzhauer\]\[contains spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [April 17, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696 "2019-04-17T21:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 128
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2544 "2021-08-12T22:45:44Z")
It hurts to realize a Spielberg movie has been forgotten. I saw Jaws in high school several times. Its always been in my home movie library for family viewings. I’m pleased that Matt knows early Spielberg. I think Matt is beginning to show fatigue. The break between seasons should help. That’s assuming he wins Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2545 "2021-08-12T23:46:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I think Matt is beginning to show fatigue. He’s definitely gotten gunshy on big bets. He had a chance to take a huge lead on the first DD in the second round, but only bet $1000. That enabled Ruth to make a game of it when she found the second DD. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2546 "2021-08-12T23:59:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It hurts to realize a Spielberg movie has been forgotten. I saw Jaws in high school several times. Its always been in my home movie library for family viewings. Could you be a little more careful with spoilers, please. Some of us don’t see _Jeopardy!_ until the evening, especially folks on the west coast. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2547 "2021-08-13T00:08:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It hurts to realize a Spielberg movie has been forgotten. I saw Jaws in high school several times. Its always been in my home movie library for family viewings. I can understand how _ **Enemy of the People** _ might have misled a contestant. I don’t think I’d ever heard of it before. But the correct response was clear from the rest of the clue, at least for me. I read the book on my first visit to the USSR in the summer of 1975. I finished it the day before my group went to the beach outside Riga. No way was I going into the water! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2548 "2021-08-13T04:17:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I can understand how _ **Enemy of the People** _ might have misled a contestant. I guessed the answer, but I didn’t like my guess. It misled me. An Enemy of the People only fits if the townspeople never accept the “shark theory” throughout the entire movie and eventually run the shark proponents out of town branding them as dangerous madmen and leaving the shark to go on killing. That’s not how I remember Jaws. OTOH, big swimmy ocean thing that dies. Moby Dick kind of fits. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2549 "2021-08-13T04:56:34Z")
I had to research _Enemy of the People_. It’s an adapted work by Arthur Miller. The townspeople were upset the beaches got closed because it hurt tourism. I didn’t know that theme was based on another work. People putting their own interests first and placing others in danger is in a lot of books and movies. Moby Dick gave me the answer. Quint’s obsession with sharks is a major element of the movie. I’ll use spoiler tags if it’s still the same day the episode aired. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2550 "2021-08-13T04:57:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Could you be a little more careful with spoilers, please. Some of us don’t see _Jeopardy!_ until the evening, especially folks on the west coast. I can get behind this. I get Jeopardy at 8:00 PM Mountain Time, which is close enough to the west coast to count. I have learned, the hard way, that even though there are replies posted to the thread, to not open it until after I’ve seen tonight’s show. But sometimes I forget, open the thread, and that night’s episode is not much fun. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2551 "2021-08-13T12:16:14Z")
Maybe the title could be changed to replace [was James Holzhauer] with [contains spoilers]. @What_Exit ? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2552 "2021-08-13T12:18:00Z")
I added it onto the Title. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2553 "2021-08-13T15:23:22Z")
During Holzhauer’s run, the Dope collectively decided when we could start posting about the current day’s show. I don’t remember exactly what time was determined, but I think it was either 8:00 or 9:00 pm Eastern? I do realize that this is still well ahead of 8:00 Mountain. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2554 "2021-08-13T23:05:20Z")
Congratulations to Matt Amodio for 18 wins. I hope Matt gets plenty of rest and study. Comes back even stronger next season. Breakdown of donations by host. No recent game spoilers. Mike Richards isn’t listed? No charity donation because he’s the producer? > **[Jeopardy! Guest Host Appearances Raise Nearly $3 Million for Charity | J!Buzz...](https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/jeopardy-guest-host-appearances-raise-nearly-3-million-charity)** > > 8/13/21 – The total amount in charitable contributions on behalf of the Season 37 guest hosts’ appearances comes to $2,974,227. Each guest host brings their unique talents to our game when they arrive at our studio. But aside from the opportunity to... ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2555 "2021-08-14T03:31:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It hurts to realize a Spielberg movie has been forgotten. I would guarantee that those 2 contestants have seen **Jaws** and know the film, but probably just got tripped up by trying to figure out what “Enemy of the People” referred to. I had never heard of that title, but I got it because what other big famous blockbuster about chasing after a big fish could it be? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2556 "2021-08-14T13:22:25Z")
I don’t know where Jeopardys writers dragged up that reference to EOP. I’ve read various reviews and don’t remember anyone bringing that up. It was always Moby Dick. Which became even more ironic because the broken mechanical shark became Spielberg’s own miserable obsession. The behind the scenes documentary is very interesting. Everything went wrong and Spielberg still made a great movie. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2557 "2021-08-14T13:51:24Z")
I think I remember an interview with Spielberg where he mentioned Enemy of the People. I’ve definitely read articles that mentioned the Ibsen title in relation to Jaws. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2558 "2021-08-14T13:54:46Z")
I’ve seen _An Enemy of the People_ more times than I’ve seen _Jaws._ I made the connection immediately. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2559 "2021-08-14T14:42:36Z")
I know nothing about Enemy of the People. But 1975 blockbuster + Moby Dick made it obvious (to me, at least). ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2560 "2021-08-14T16:15:01Z")
Apparently [Matt has spoken](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/08/jeopardy-matt-amodio-what-is-answer-reason) about his unusual response phrasing. His statement confirms what many were speculating: he’s thinking like a computer scientist, hard-coding “what’s” as a constant so he doesn’t have to devote any brainpower to proper phrasing and can use it all on coming up with the right response. As far as I’m concerned, though, that doesn’t mean we can’t find it extremely annoying and hope to see him lose. Referring to people as “what” isn’t the only thing I find grating about his responses (and unlike some, I don’t mind the contraction; James Holzhauer used to do that all the time.) It’s also that he makes his responses as brief as possible by, among other things, omitting articles. If the correct response is the Pittsburgh Pirates, I understand omitting “Pittsburgh.” But we’re used to contestants at least saying something like “who’re the Pirates?” “What’s Pirates,” which is how Matt responds, sounds really weird. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2561 "2021-08-14T22:51:06Z")
Nobody read _A Enemy of the People_ in high school? Infusoria in the baths! I quite enjoyed it, though, I wished we’d read _Hedda Gabler_ instead. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2562 "2021-08-15T01:10:23Z")
I even read the book _Jaws_ and still could not think of the answer. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2563 "2021-08-15T01:16:04Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Apparently [Matt has spoken](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/08/jeopardy-matt-amodio-what-is-answer-reason) about his unusual response phrasing. His statement confirms what many were speculating: he’s thinking like a computer scientist, hard-coding “what’s” as a constant so he doesn’t have to devote any brainpower to proper phrasing and can use it all on coming up with the right response. Perhaps I’m a bit like Matt Amodio, because I never noticed him using “What’s” for every answer. (But then again, I’m so used to phrasing responses in the form of a question that I do it when playing other trivia games, which drives friends crazy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=127) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=129)