# 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:** 148
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2944 "2021-10-07T15:25:43Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > You’ve never heard of Lobster Thermidor? I’ve never eaten it, but I’ve heard of it. I almost said “except for Lobster Thermidor.” Decided not to. But I’ve never heard of a month by that name, in Revolutionary France, or elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2945 "2021-10-07T15:27:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Yes, it extends into the Atlantic Ocean, but it’s divided from the rest of New York by a river. I always wondered if that was part of the justification for calling it a peninsula. > [@Procrustus](#): > > The East River is not really a river. Neither are the Harlem River or Spuyten Duyvil Creek, so why is Manhattan an island? ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2946 "2021-10-07T15:30:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I almost said “except for Lobster Thermidor.” Decided not to. But I’ve never heard of a month by that name, in Revolutionary France, or elsewhere. No, neither have I. I didn’t know they had a special calendar. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2947 "2021-10-07T15:32:18Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Neither are the Harlem River or Spuyten Duyvil Creek, so why is Manhattan an island? I think the “not a river” argument _supports_ the idea that Long Island (and Manhattan) are islands. Or maybe it doesn’t matter. Long Island is factually an island, even if not legally. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2948 "2021-10-07T15:44:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’ve never heard of a month by that name, in Revolutionary France, or elsewhere. IIRC, Thermidor was the month of July, which is probably the hottest one everywhere I’ve ever lived. As Mayim indicated, the Revolutionaries wanted to do away with everything connected to the old regime, including the Julian/Gregorian calendar. ---
**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 7, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2949 "2021-10-07T15:50:07Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And yes, I was waiting for Mayim to say “Be more specific” on the “What is … Adams?” response. Maybe the “1801” was enough to differentiate John from John Q. (On the other hand, I laughed out loud the other day when Angie Givant said “Agincourt” instead of “Hastings.” Apparently the year 1066 didn’t ring any bells with her.) Is it up to the host whether Adams is specific enough? Does the card they’re holding list the acceptable answers? Or do they get judges telling them in their ear whether an answer is sufficient? ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2950 "2021-10-07T15:55:28Z")
I would expect the host knows this before he or she is even allowed to conduct a match. It’s been the show’s policy as far back as I can remember, and I’m sure Mayim was briefed about it (and all the other rules of the game as well). As regards “saturnine,” turns out it comes from astrology and not Roman mythology, as I’ve always thought: > **[saturnine | Etymology, origin and meaning of saturnine by etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saturnine)** > > SATURNINE Meaning: "gloomy, morose, sluggish, grave, not readily made excited or cheerful," mid-15c., literally "born under… See origin and meaning of saturnine. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2951 "2021-10-07T16:09:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Today’s DJ was really obscure. > > I vaguely remembered the French had a Revolutionary calendar. Expecting anyone to know the names of the months is pretty extreme. Yes. It would have been a much better if they added “from the Greek” to “had a name meaning 'Heat Gift”" Myself and the contestants were all trying to think of French words. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2952 "2021-10-07T16:20:42Z")
For some reason, Thermidor is the month everyone who knows seems to remember. I certainly couldn’t name any of the others even if my life depended on it. (Well, maybe Messidor—now.) Maybe it’s remembered so well because it’s the month in which the Bastille was stormed? ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2953 "2021-10-07T16:23:22Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Maybe it’s remembered so well because it’s the month in which the Bastille was stormed? not according to Wikipedia > Thermidor was the second month of the summer quarter ( _mois d’été_ ). It started July 19 or 20. It ended August 17 or 18. > **[Thermidor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermidor)** > > Thermidor (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}French pronunciation: \[tɛʁmidɔʁ\]) was the eleventh month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the French word thermal, derived from the Greek word "thermos" (heat). > Thermidor was the second month of the summer quarter (mois d'été). It started July 19 or 20. It ended ... ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2954 "2021-10-07T16:26:47Z")
Okay, but at least part of it was in what we call July. July is the association with it that I’ve always made. I guess it is hotter in the second half of July than in the first, so it did make sense to call the new month Thermidor. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2955 "2021-10-07T16:43:46Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Maybe it’s remembered so well because it’s the month in which the Bastille was stormed? I remember it because it sounds like a brand of refrigerator. I’m not sure where I heard of it - maybe The Scarlet Pimpernel, or The Three Musketeers? Not from studying, that’s for sure! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2956 "2021-10-07T16:57:17Z")
_Thermidor_ was a very easy one for me, but then I taught AP European History for 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2957 "2021-10-07T17:29:56Z")
A riddle for you: Q.: What did Matt Amodio say to the mysterious stranger in his house? A.: What’s . . . you? ---
**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 7, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2958 "2021-10-07T17:34:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > For some reason, Thermidor is the month everyone who knows seems to remember. I never learned about changing month names - not even in any of my French classes, and I took it for 4 years. So I got educated from this episode. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2959 "2021-10-07T17:39:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > For some reason, Thermidor is the month everyone who knows seems to remember. I certainly couldn’t name any of the others even if my life depended on it. Me, too. Thermidor is the only French Revolutionary month I could have named. Luckily, it was the correct one. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2960 "2021-10-07T22:27:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > A riddle for you: > > Q.: What did Matt Amodio say to the mysterious stranger in his house? > > A.: What’s . . . you? A _ **Jeopardy!** _ joke! Great! 👍 I wonder if there have ever been any others, or is this the first? ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2961 "2021-10-07T22:58:26Z")
I just finished watching the 7 October episode on YouTube, and it isn’t even 19:00 in Toronto. Earlier, weren’t the episodes usually not posted until after they were shown on the West Coast? I wonder who’s putting them up so early? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2962 "2021-10-07T23:52:47Z")
I’m officially sick of Matt’s voice. And the goofy faces he makes whenever they mention how much money he’s won. Somebody, please, get on there and beat him. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/2963 "2021-10-08T00:16:20Z")
With contestants who answer “Harry Potter” instead of “Winston Smith” (and finish in the red), I think that’s gonna take a while. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=147) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=149)