# 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:** 143
**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 29, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2844 "2021-09-29T19:55:24Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I guess people like Holzhauer and Amodio have changed the way the game will be played Arthur Chu did it earlier, and he wasn’t the first, either. And Chu took a lot of grief for it. “The game is ruined!” the wailing masses would wail. > [@Arcite](#): > > The correct response is _The Lorax_ , not just _Lorax_ . Drives me crazy. With you a hundred percent on this one! My goodwill towards Amodio is all but gone. Just lose already! ---
**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 29, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2845 "2021-09-29T21:38:29Z")
Sorry, but I’m sick of all the Matt-haters. I liked him from the start, and his quirks have grown on me. Will he pass Holzhauer? Can he even approach Jennings? How much money will he ultimately win? It’s exciting. I’m rooting for him all the way. While I do have some sympathy for the opponents he is crushing, it’s outweighed by how impressed I continue to be of him going into FJ with something like $37,000 vs. $8,000 and $700. This is the most fun Jeopardy has been in quite a while, and I hope his streak goes on for a long time. ---
**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 29, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2846 "2021-09-29T23:12:44Z")
Matt seems to be getting better at strategy. His wagers are well thought out. There are certainly advantages to playing 30 games of Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2847 "2021-09-30T03:13:35Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > 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. The thing is, Matt isn’t actually that fast overall. He omits as many words as he possibly can, but he doesn’t just blurt out his responses. There’s a definite cadence to them, a pause of fixed length between “what’s” and the actual response. “What’s… Rushmore? What’s… inertia? What’s… Pavlov?” And then he usually pauses for a second before selecting the next clue, too. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Arthur Chu did it earlier, and he wasn’t the first, either. > > And Chu took a lot of grief for it. “The game is ruined!” the wailing masses would wail. It seems like it’s continued to become more and more common, though. It seems like almost every match these days features at least one player who either 1) is a dominant champion who does it and it actually works for, like Matt or James Holzhauer, 2) does it to try to compete with a dominant champion who is doing it, or 3) does it, even though there is currently no dominant champion doing it, just because they know it works well if you can get it to work and to out-compete any other player who potentially might do it. I keep wondering if the writers are just going to permanently give up on writing the clues to flow down each category. > [@Wheelz](#): > > This is the most fun Jeopardy has been in quite a while, and I hope his streak goes on for a long time. We’re all entitled to our opinion, I guess. I can’t wait for him to lose, and I hope he doesn’t surpass Holzhauer’s run. Tonight I found myself shouting at the TV several times, “WHO IS! NOT ‘WHAT’S,’ WHO!” ---
**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 30, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2848 "2021-09-30T03:40:22Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@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. Ha, good example, because that exact thing happened today! Matt answered a question asking for a First Lady and he said, “What’s Roosevelt,” promoting Bialik to ask him for more information (“Eleanor Roosevelt.”) ---
**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 30, 2021, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2849 "2021-09-30T05:29:25Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Sorry, but I’m sick of all the Matt-haters. I liked him from the start, and his quirks have grown on me. > Will he pass Holzhauer? Can he even approach Jennings? How much money will he ultimately win? It’s exciting. I’m rooting for him all the way. > While I do have some sympathy for the opponents he is crushing, it’s outweighed by how impressed I continue to be of him going into FJ with something like $37,000 vs. $8,000 and $700. > > This is the most fun Jeopardy has been in quite a while, and I hope his streak goes on for a long time. This. I love that guy, and as long as he’s winning it’s not long enough. ---
**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 30, 2021, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2850 "2021-09-30T05:44:31Z")
Classy. I’ll be rooting for him to tie with 32 tomorrow. I have no idea why that other unrelated Twitter account is coming up. > ---
**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 30, 2021, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2851 "2021-09-30T10:13:55Z")
I woke this morning certain that Matt had lost his last game and the guy who won had less than $6000! Very weird and very real dream - I was disappointed that he hadn’t beat James’ longevity. In fact, I came to this thread just to be sure. Yeah, weird brain here - maybe I’m more obsesses with him than I thought? ---
**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:** [September 30, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2852 "2021-09-30T14:48:02Z")
I shout FUCK! every time he gets a Daily Double. ---
**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 30, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2853 "2021-09-30T16:18:04Z")
Go Matt! ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2854 "2021-09-30T16:26:37Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I shout FUCK! every time he gets a Daily Double. I know the feeling. For me, it really hits when he finds both Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy round back to back or in quick succession without another player ever getting control of the board. At that point I almost want to turn off the TV in frustration. It would be so satisfying to see someone beat Matt just by being really, really good at playing the game the old-fashioned way, starting at the top and running down an entire category at a time. That is, rather than out-competing Matt at the start with the highest value clues/Forrest bounce/hunt for the Daily Doubles strategy, they’re just so quick on the buzzer, and so good at getting every question right, that Matt simply never gets a chance to do his thing. Of course, when he finally does lose, it probably won’t be another star player who beats him. It’ll probably be a situation like the one last week, except where the other contestant _has_ seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2855 "2021-09-30T16:57:34Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I keep wondering if the writers are just going to permanently give up on writing the clues to flow down each category. I hope they don’t so I can laugh when the contestants don’t make the connection and look foolish. Jeopardy! is fun. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2856 "2021-09-30T17:06:27Z")
I’ve definitely seen it happen where a contestant goes straight for the bottom clue in one of those “gimmick” categories, and then it’s a triple stumper and they’re all standing there dumbfounded, because they failed to use the easy top clue like the writers intended, as a sort of tutorial for how the gimmick works. The thing is, rather than laughing at the contestants, I was just frustrated because that made it less fun to play along. Who knows, maybe I’d have gotten that bottom clue right if I’d had the benefit of seeing the easy clue first too. ---
**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 30, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2857 "2021-09-30T19:50:07Z")
Aside from the general theme of a category, I remember one time where you HAD to take the category in order. Each answer led to the next clue. I think they were nigh impossible if you took them at random Wish I could remember when that was. ---
**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 30, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2858 "2021-09-30T20:13:56Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > they’re all standing there dumbfounded, because they failed to use the easy top clue like the writers intended, as a sort of tutorial for how the gimmick works. > > The thing is, rather than laughing at the contestants, I was just frustrated because that made it less fun to play along. I sometimes get lost trying to follow what the category requires. It’s frustrating when they jump straight to the hard questions. ---
**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 30, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2859 "2021-09-30T20:56:49Z")
Another good game of Jeopardy except the contestants need to learn the basics of football. Congratulations to Matt for tying the 32 game win streak with James Holzhauer. I was a bit worried after reading Matt’s tweet. It could be seen as a hint that he came up short. Matt needs one more win to grab 2nd place in total games won. ---
**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 30, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2860 "2021-09-30T21:02:10Z")
I’m in Moscow. I have to wait another 6–7 hours before I can watch it. ☹ ---
**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 30, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2861 "2021-09-30T21:09:34Z")
My local station ran Jeopardy at 11AM for many years. They moved it to 4:30 PM. I still find waiting 5 1/2 hours irritating. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2862 "2021-09-30T21:58:22Z")
What kind of a softball DD was that? WTF other river has ever been associated with papyrus? Shouldn’t DDs be a little more challenging? ---
**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 30, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2863 "2021-09-30T23:54:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Aside from the general theme of a category, I remember one time where you HAD to take the category in order. Each answer led to the next clue. I think they were nigh impossible if you took them at random > > Wish I could remember when that was. That used to be relatively common; not so much, lately. They should bring it back, it was fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=142) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=144)