# 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:** 137
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2724 "2021-09-21T13:54:32Z")
Yeah that FJ was an instaget for me. I thought it was so easy. > [@panache45](#): > > So Mozart didn’t write “Send in the Clowns”? 🤣 At least I could follow his thought process on that one. Mozart _did_ write “A Little Night Music” (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) which is where Sondheim got the title for his musical, so he could have just seen that name and not really processed the rest of the clue. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2725 "2021-09-21T15:00:25Z")
If memory serves, this is the closest Matt has come to getting the boot. If the other contestant had gotten the answer right it would’ve been over. (I drew a blank as to whether the title was “framed” or “killed”) ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2726 "2021-09-21T15:00:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Even if Tracy has not experienced that admittedly voluminous work of literature, how could she not have known during which war it’s set I didn’t know what invasion they were referring to. I still don’t. Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2727 "2021-09-21T15:17:40Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Tracy’s response to the DD was “1784.” What the hell happened in 1791 that prompted her to say this??? Would have been a stab in the dark for me, too. I’ve never read _War and Peace_. Just looked it up on Wikipedia, and I’d never heard of the French invasion of Russia. I certainly didn’t know that anything significant involving Russia happened in 1805. (In general though, dates of, say, non-top-ten world historical events are one of my weaknesses, like ordinal numbers of monarchs. How the heck can people remember the difference between Richard II and Richard III? It’s just a meaningless number!) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2728 "2021-09-21T15:35:13Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > How the heck can people remember the difference between Richard II and Richard III? “For God’s Sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings” v. “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.” Or, helpfully named Shakespeare plays. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2729 "2021-09-21T15:54:04Z")
It seemed obvious after the fact, but I haven’t seen _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_ in many, many years. I kept trying to think of a movie where somebody poisoned a chip dip or something like that, and came up empty. When your mind starts down the wrong path in FJ, it can be very hard to find your way back. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2730 "2021-09-21T16:08:22Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > “For God’s Sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings” v. “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.” Or, helpfully named Shakespeare plays. When it comes to Shakespeare plays, sure, I know people remember famous quotes or characters or plot points. But for me, the difficulty comes down to the fact that the difference is just a number. _Hamlet_ vs. _The Tempest_, sure, piece of cake. _Richard II_ vs. _Richard III_? Much harder to remember the difference. There are also monarchs who are not the subjects of Shakespeare plays, which I’m mystified as to how people know. There are exchanges on Jeopardy that go like this: Contestant 1: Who is Louis the Fourteenth? Host: No. Contestant 2: Who is Louis the _Thirteenth_? Host: Also incorrect. Contestant 3: Who is Louis the _Fifteenth_? Host: Yes, _he’s_ the one! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2731 "2021-09-21T16:09:02Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Yeah that FJ was an instaget for me. I thought it was so easy. For those of us who had never seen the movie, it wasn’t so easy. Some questions are like that, you either know it or you don’t. There’s nothing “hard” or “easy” about it. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2732 "2021-09-21T16:16:15Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Just finished watching Monday’s episode. I thought the FJ answer was tough. Never in a million years would I have remembered what movie it was from. Yeah, I watched it once, more than 30 years ago. I had no idea what the answer was. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2733 "2021-09-21T16:21:34Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Would have been a stab in the dark for me, too. I’ve never read _War and Peace_ . Just looked it up on Wikipedia, and I’d never heard of the French invasion of Russia. I certainly didn’t know that anything significant involving Russia happened in 1805. (In general though, dates of, say, non-top-ten world historical events are one of my weaknesses, like ordinal numbers of monarchs. How the heck can people remember the difference between Richard II and Richard III? It’s just a meaningless number!) You’ve never heard of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow? That was some nasty business. If I knew I were to be a contestant, I’d be boning up on monarchs and stuff like that. I know there are ways to study for the show. Certain subjects and even books tend to pop up more than others. My own weakness would be anything biblical, sports and very hard science. But I feel certain I could snag second place. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2734 "2021-09-21T16:23:29Z")
It’s true, if I were preparing to actually be on the show, I’d be doing some serious drill sessions on monarchs, wars, and their associated dates. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2735 "2021-09-21T16:35:21Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So Mozart didn’t write “Send in the Clowns”? I have nightmares of me answering a question in a similar fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2736 "2021-09-21T16:37:07Z")
By the way, could you have just written “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and been ruled correct? Since the title is already a question? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2737 "2021-09-21T16:41:27Z")
I was hoping someone would do that. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2738 "2021-09-21T17:08:57Z")
To expound a little on that question about _War and Peace_, the novel opens on a big ballroom party, and the main topic of discussion is Napoleon’s recent victory at Austerlitz, considered his biggest ever. That would peg it as 1805 for anyone familiar with the Napoleonic wars. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2739 "2021-09-21T17:39:28Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > There are also monarchs who are not the subjects of Shakespeare plays, which I’m mystified as to how people know. There are exchanges on Jeopardy that go like this: Well, Louis XIII was the Three Musketeers Louis. But other than that - if they’re not the subject (or main supporting character) in a piece of historical fiction I have no idea. The 16 pope Gregorys? interchangeable. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2740 "2021-09-21T19:03:51Z")
Quite right. Napoleon’s invasion of (and retreat from) Russia was also the inspiration for this piece of music. The title should have been of some help to Tracy: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VbxgYlcNxE8/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHqAoAC7AKKAgwIABABGHIgXCgyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAfnbDR9PBPUZAGPCPCsllaUyNEvA "Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Full with Cannons)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbxgYlcNxE8) ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2741 "2021-09-21T19:12:19Z")
The only association “dip” had for me was George Costanza. 😖 ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2742 "2021-09-21T20:28:40Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > By the way, could you have just written “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and been ruled correct? Since the title is already a question? I thought Matt was going to write: “What Framed Roger Rabbit?” ---
**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:** [September 21, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2743 "2021-09-21T20:33:43Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > By the way, could you have just written “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and been ruled correct? Since the title is already a question? This issue arose many years ago, and Alex said he’d accept a response that was, itself, a question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=136) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=138)