# 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:** 144
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2864 "2021-10-01T01:59:48Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > When will Matt have time to finish his PhD??? Poor guy… 😉 I realize you may just be joking and already know this, but Jeopardy tapes five shows per day each on a Monday and Tuesday of alternate weeks. So Matt tapes ten shows over two days, then flies home to New Haven for 12 days, during which time he no doubt does at least a little bit of AI research between Wikipedia-surfing sessions. We should hire a private investigator to tail him for two weeks. If, during that time, he does not board a plane to LA, we will know he’s already lost. > [@aceplace57](#): > > I sometimes get lost trying to follow what the category requires. It’s frustrating when they jump straight to the hard questions. With the Forrest bounce having become so common, they really need to start displaying the category on the screen while the clue is being read. I DVR the show, and find myself rewinding 3-4 times per game because I didn’t catch the category, especially during the Daily Doubles. The guy on the right tonight seemed like he knew a lot, but wasn’t as fast as Matt. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2865 "2021-10-01T02:21:42Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I realize you may just be joking and already know this, but Jeopardy tapes five shows per day each on a Monday and Tuesday of alternate weeks. So Matt tapes ten shows over two days, then flies home to New Haven for 12 days, during which time he no doubt does at least a little bit of AI research between Wikipedia-surfing sessions. I read someplace that he’s been working remotely from Ohio on his PhD. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2866 "2021-10-01T02:37:38Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I read someplace that he’s been working remotely from Ohio on his PhD. Well, whaddaya know: [https://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player\_id=14127](https://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=14127) Why are they introducing him as “from New Haven, Connecticut” then? He’s not originally from there, and he doesn’t live there. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2867 "2021-10-01T02:41:59Z")
Where would _you_ rather say you’re from? New Haven, which has the greatest pizza on Earth or Ohio, which I’m sure has something decent? ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2868 "2021-10-01T03:03:37Z")
I lived in the Cleveland area for eight years and really liked it. Last I heard, New Haven didn’t have a great reputation. If I had to pick right now, admittedly without having experienced living in New Haven, I’d pick Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2869 "2021-10-01T03:19:02Z")
Might the Jeopardy! Archive secretly be on the side of us Matt-haters and be getting snarky about him? Check out the $800 clue in From Book to Retitled Film in the Double Jeopardy round of [today’s game](https://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=7155), to which Matt responded “what’s Parent Trap?”: > [@](#): > > NOTE: Matt did not include the leading article in his response. Unfortunately they didn’t make note of this for the clue to which a normal person would have responded “what are the Alps?” but Matt chose to say “what’s Alps?” instead. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2870 "2021-10-01T03:52:42Z")
We tape the episodes (gotta fast-forward through the MyPillow ads the local station shows). We’re at the point to just skip to the very end, right before the final jeopardy clue, just to see how far ahead Matt is. If it gets to a point where there’s a chance he might lose, we may watch the whole thing. It must really suck to be one of the other contestants; they’re like cannon fodder at this point. I would just laugh by how badly I’d be losing. By losing to Matt, at least they have a good story at the next high school or family reunion. Have any of the other contestants been interviewed as to what it’s like to play against Matt (or James for that matter). ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2871 "2021-10-01T08:43:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Where would _you_ rather say you’re from? New Haven, which has the greatest pizza on Earth or Ohio, which I’m sure has something decent? Matt’s from Medina, which is a nice enough town. Better than New Haven. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2872 "2021-10-01T10:15:18Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I realize you may just be joking and already know this, but Jeopardy tapes five shows per day each on a Monday and Tuesday of alternate weeks. So Matt tapes ten shows over two days, then flies home to New Haven for 12 days, during which time he no doubt does at least a little bit of AI research between Wikipedia-surfing sessions. I knew they taped multiple shows per day, but I didn’t know what the actual schedule was, so now I do - thanks! ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2873 "2021-10-01T12:09:56Z")
Yesterday in FJ they went to a wider shot before going to see Matt’s answer and I had never noticed before but his screen, where he had written “what’s Oz” was clearly visible before they did the tight shot where they then reveal his answer to viewers. I had thought the answer was also a surprise to the host when we are shown it, Also, Mike Richards was still listed as EP, I guess through Friday’s show? I forget the gap between losing the host and that other part of his job. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2874 "2021-10-01T13:29:13Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Might the Jeopardy! Archive secretly be on the side of us Matt-haters and be getting snarky about him? Check out the $800 clue in From Book to Retitled Film in the Double Jeopardy round of [today’s game](https://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=7155), to which Matt responded “what’s Parent Trap?”: > > > [@](#): > > > > NOTE: Matt did not include the leading article in his response. > > Unfortunately they didn’t make note of this for the clue to which a normal person would have responded “what are the Alps?” but Matt chose to say “what’s Alps?” instead. I actually caught a mistake from Matt in last night’s show. In the category “that animal had a name”: > [@](#): > > Hotfoot Teddy, a cub that survived a fire, was renamed this for a character who promoted fire safety & became his living symbol Matt said “what’s Smokey the Bear?” His correct name is just “Smokey Bear”, although that would be a pretty narrow technicality for the Jeopardy judges to rule Matt incorrect. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2875 "2021-10-01T13:49:17Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > I had thought the answer was also a surprise to the host when we are shown it, No, the host knows what the contestants wrote before it’s revealed to the audience. There were many times when Alex started to read it before it was shown. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2876 "2021-10-01T14:04:28Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Matt said “what’s Smokey the Bear?” His correct name is just “Smokey Bear”, although that would be a pretty narrow technicality for the Jeopardy judges to rule Matt incorrect. I’m gonna be even more “that guy” and object to the acceptance of “Wizard of Oz” for Final Jeopardy. The clue was very clearly referencing the novel, and the title of the novel is “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2877 "2021-10-01T14:40:37Z")
It’s been many, many decades since I read _The Wizard of Oz_? IIRC wasn’t the book very dark and grim? Even depressing? I recall they changed a lot for the children’s movie. I was quite surprised Jeopardy identified the book as a well loved children’s classic. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2878 "2021-10-01T14:45:22Z")
You don’t think it is a “well loved children’s classic”? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2879 "2021-10-01T14:59:00Z")
The book? I didn’t read it until college. The movie is what every kid sees over and over again. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2880 "2021-10-01T15:17:35Z")
By the way, I was thinking the other day about [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merv-griffin-announces-that-something-amazing-is-going-to-happen/245842) from May 2004. Merv Griffin (creator of the show) announced on a radio show that something “amazing” was starting on Jeopardy! on May 20, 2004. We now know that was the beginning of Ken Jennings’ long winning streak but it’s amusing to read the speculation as to what the “amazing” thing is. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2881 "2021-10-01T15:26:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s been many, many decades since I read _The Wizard of Oz_ ? IIRC wasn’t the book very dark and grim? Even depressing? I recall they changed a lot for the children’s movie. They also bowdlerized various editions by A LOT (including one I read to my own kids.) I’m sure many kids grew up loving the version they remembered, and would be surprised to read Baum’s original. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2882 "2021-10-01T15:38:24Z")
Thank you Kent Clark. I didn’t know the book had been changed and made more kid friendly. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2883 "2021-10-01T18:20:49Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > No, the host knows what the contestants wrote before it’s revealed to the audience. There were many times when Alex started to read it before it was shown. In fact, the host is watching the contestants’ screens in real time as they write their responses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=143) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=145)