# 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:** 142
**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:** [September 28, 2021, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2824 "2021-09-28T05:08:33Z")
For FJ, my guess was Elton John. I felt sorry for the woman tonight, whose score was positive and negative throughout. That’s the game, though. It was apparent that she wanted to play, but kept being beaten to the buzzer by Matt. (Good observation about timing and the buzzer, **RickJay**.) And when she could buzz in, she was sometimes right, sometimes wrong. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2825 "2021-09-28T05:54:43Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > For FJ, my guess was Elton John. I guessed Dylan, although in the category “rock legends” perhaps that was ill-advised. My second guess would have been Billy Joel. Springsteen didn’t occur to me. The clue was phrased in the singular “he”, and I tend to think of Bruce and the E Street Band as a “they”. ---
**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 28, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2826 "2021-09-28T06:18:59Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > For FJ, my guess was Elton John. Mine too. I didn’t even think of Springsteen. ---
**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 28, 2021, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2827 "2021-09-28T10:48:44Z")
I’d hardly call it an “exciting game” the way Mayim did. For most of the first round, the two challengers didn’t even (or maybe couldn’t) ring in. My guess for FJ was Paul Simon. I don’t think I knew Springsteen by name until the early–mid '80s, though I’m sure I had heard his music at one time or another. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2021, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2828 "2021-09-28T12:12:59Z")
My guess was Elton John, too. There wasn’t enough time to run through all the rock legends in my mind! I’ve roped my husband into watching a recording of the show, and we watch it at dinnertime. Tonight I said, “Let’s see if Matt loses today.” That’s the exciting part! I love to try to answer the clues, though. I like it when I know the answer and Matt doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2829 "2021-09-28T12:23:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > > [@Spoons](#): > > > > For FJ, my guess was Elton John. > > Mine too. I didn’t even think of Springsteen. Same here. But then I never much cared about Springsteen - he was never really on my musical radar. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2830 "2021-09-28T12:27:14Z")
I actually blurted out Springsteen right away because I quickly associated ‘1975’ with ‘Born to Run’. Elton is a good guess too. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2831 "2021-09-28T12:28:02Z")
So Matt will be playing game thirty today? This is the week he can beat James Holzhauer streak of 32. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matt fill in for Ken on The Chase. That’s assuming Ken’s gig cohosting Jeopardy with Mayim works out. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2832 "2021-09-28T12:31:01Z")
When will Matt have time to finish his PhD??? Poor guy… 😉 ---
**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 28, 2021, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2833 "2021-09-28T13:07:32Z")
I should be so poor… ☹ ---
**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:** [September 28, 2021, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2834 "2021-09-28T13:26:41Z")
I can understand James Holzhauer’s frustration. He made the game harder by risking large amounts on the DD. That’s the only way anyone can win $2,464,216 in only 33 appearances. Matt has taken risks on the DD too. They’re just not a consistent part of his game strategy. ---
**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 28, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2835 "2021-09-28T13:28:08Z")
I don’t think Holzhauer is at all frustrated. He’s just teasing the new guy. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2836 "2021-09-28T14:32:28Z")
Yeah - I see some chain-jerking there! 🤣 ---
**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 28, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2837 "2021-09-28T15:13:02Z")
I got the FJ question right away. The key for me was that his latest top 10 was in 2020, and I was aware that Sprigsteen released new material last year that was well-received. I don’t think Dylan, John, McCartney, Simon, or Joel have put out any new stuff for quite a while. (I did think that the 1975 album mentioned was “Greetings From Asbury Park\* and not _Born to Run_, but that didn’t affect my answer!) ---
**Author:** ![Allecher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@Allecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allecher)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2838 "2021-09-28T15:39:35Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I don’t think Dylan, John, McCartney, Simon, or Joel have put out any new stuff for quite a while. I got off-track a bit because McCartney did put out new songs last year on his McCartney III album. But I quickly realized that his early work was pre-1975. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2839 "2021-09-28T18:20:09Z")
I knew McCartney had recently had a hit album and I was thinking that maybe as a solo artist his first real hit was Band on the Run (even though that came out in 1973, not 1975) ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2840 "2021-09-29T01:25:13Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I’ve roped my husband into watching a recording of the show, and we watch it at dinnertime. Tonight I said, “Let’s see if Matt loses today.” That’s the exciting part! I love to try to answer the clues, though. I like it when I know the answer and Matt doesn’t. It’s funny, I’ve always liked Jeopardy, and have been watching all 5 weekly shows consistently for over a year now, so I would watch it regardless, but lately it does seem like the main reason I’m watching is to see Matt lose. Tonight’s game was rough. I feel really bad for the other contestants when Matt lands on two Daily Doubles in quick succession and gets them both right. At that point the game’s over. Like a poster upthread said, I’d be tempted to just throw down the buzzer and walk out. Another thing that bothers me about Matt is his extreme terseness, omitting articles where they would typically be used, or even are part of a title, or naming people by only their last name even when it’s a very common last name. Tonight they let him get away with “what’s Jackson” when the person in question was Samuel L. Jackson. Uh, there have been a _lot_ of famous Jacksons. Why don’t they ever tell Matt to “be more specific?” And the articles thing–recently he responded to a Final Jeopardy with “what is Lusitania,” a clue about the instrument invented by Robert Moog with “what’s synthetizer” (instead of “what is the synthesizer” or “what is a synthesizer” as most contestants would say,) and they even let him get away with, regarding the Dr. Suess book, “what’s Lorax?” Come one, the “The” is part of the very title of the book! The correct response is _The Lorax_, not just _Lorax_. Drives me crazy. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2841 "2021-09-29T02:06:50Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Tonight they let him get away with “what’s Jackson” when the person in question was Samuel L. Jackson. That’s pretty common. If the clue is about presidents, and you say “who is Roosevelt?”, the host will ask you to be more specific. And it’s in the player’s interest to use last names only. If you give a first name and it’s wrong, you’ll be ruled incorrect; you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2842 "2021-09-29T17:01:48Z")
Yep, someone other than Amodio 😉 answered the same way – alright, he said “Who is Williams?” rather than “What is Williams?” – where Robin Williams was the correct response. Also (to **Arcite** , not **Robot\_Arm** ), isn’t nearly _everyone_ playing quickly nowadays to finish the board so no money is left on the table? Matt’s just got it pared down even more. I know I notice and sometimes get a little exasperated (“keep it moving, dude!”) when someone _isn’t_ being snappy, and I wouldn’t have noticed or cared a few years ago. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2843 "2021-09-29T19:45:15Z")
I guess people like Holzhauer and Amodio have changed the way the game will be played forever. It seems so quaint now to remember how people used to start at the top and go in order down a whole category. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=141) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=143)