# 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:** 40
**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:** [November 1, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/781 "2019-11-01T17:25:03Z")
Someone on the Jeopardy Contestants Facebook group just posted this. > [@](#): > > A friend of mine went to a Jeopardy! taping last Wednesday. She saw the Thurs. and Fri. games. They have changed the schedule, and Alex does three games one day and two on another. He can’t do five a day anymore. She said he didn’t look well, and he had to re-record quite a few answers. He also had a coughing fit and was doubled over in pain because he had fallen and injured, but not broken, a rib. They had to stop the tape. He then announced that he would be taking two weeks off for various tests. He was done with the latest round of chemo and was stopping immunotherapy because it wasn’t working. This doesn’t sound promising. (These shows will air in January.) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/782 "2019-11-01T19:58:51Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Where I live (Chicago), Jeopardy is on at 3:30 PM. Who can watch it at that time? My wife & I record it on our DVR and watch it during dinner. I don’t understand this either. On the other hand, Wheel of Fortune comes on at 6:30 when people are usually home from work. Wheel of Fortune seems to be aimed at a dumber, less-employable audience who are home all day to watch. Why not switch the time slots for the two shows? ---
**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:** [November 1, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/783 "2019-11-01T21:11:41Z")
I don’t even know when _Jeopardy!_ is on here. I just tape it and watch it whenever. > [@commasense](#): > > Someone on the Jeopardy Contestants Facebook group just posted this. This is so distressing. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/784 "2019-11-02T02:15:42Z")
Jeopardy! is on at 3:30 pm here, and WoF is at 6:30 pm. Both are on the local NBC affiliate. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/785 "2019-11-02T02:22:58Z")
Just an observation on DD placement. The right most column is often a “fun” or novel category like “Stupid Answers” or a twist on a Before/After category. IMO, DD’s don’t lend itself well into tricky categories and perhaps the TPTB agree. It is indeed distressing news about Trebek. But not distressing to leave him off my 2020 Death Pool game. Along with 95% of the other players. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/786 "2019-11-06T04:40:44Z")
I find it interesting to note that although most players in the (admittedly small number of) regular shows I’ve watched this season have played top to bottom, most TOC players in the first two shows started at the bottom. No one has dominated like Holzhauer, though. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/787 "2019-11-06T04:44:18Z")
FYI, yesterday was the first day in the two-week Tournament of Champions. James Holzhauer will be competing sometime this week, although I don’t know which day. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/788 "2019-11-06T13:18:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > FYI, yesterday was the first day in the two-week Tournament of Champions. James Holzhauer will be competing sometime this week, although I don’t know which day. It’s tonight (Wednesday, 11/6). You can always see the week’s lineup of contenders at [jeopardy.com](http://jeopardy.com), under the “Contestant Zone” drop-down. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/789 "2019-11-06T14:18:56Z")
Man, can you imagine being in the TOC and being selected to play Holzhauer? You might as well not even pick up the signalling device. Most of his competitors in regular games only saw him play a few times in the studio before they went up against him. They would have known that he was doing well, but had never seen him in a broadcast. His TOC competitors (a five-time champ with $120K, and a four-timer with $101K) have probably seen all his games and know his legend. Tough break for them. There are at least three seven-time champs in the TOC. They might have had a slightly better chance against him. The may have their chance in the semis and finals. Anyone want to give odds on where James finish? Any chance he _won’t_ win? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/790 "2019-11-06T14:34:39Z")
Of course it’s possible he doesn’t win. I don’t think Ken Jennings won the TOC in which he competed. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/791 "2019-11-06T14:41:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Of course it’s possible he doesn’t win. I don’t think Ken Jennings won the TOC in which he competed. Wanna put some money on it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/792 "2019-11-06T15:01:24Z")
Ken Jennings did not take part in the “regular” Tournament of Champions. It took place while his run was still in progress. The next year, rather than having a normal tournament, they did the “Ultimate Tournament of Champions.” This lasted 15 weeks and involved 145 past champions. Jennings was automatically advanced to the finals. He indeed did not win, losing to Brad Rutter. They’ve met several times since then, in various tournaments (most recently in the All-Star Tournament), and Rutter has won every time. Edited to add: except when the two of them competed against Watson, the computer. Jennings finished second and Rutter third. Watson won. It will be interesting to see how James does against other contestants who also have experience, and have proven themselves to have quick reaction times and good trivia knowledge. I suspect he will win the tournament, but he may not be quite as dominant. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/793 "2019-11-07T04:04:33Z")
Okay, for anyone who has not yet seen game 3 of the TOC quarter finals, Alex ribbed Holzhauer at the start of the game, saying, “Which $1,000 clue do you want to start with?” And then James went on to use his standard tactics to win in a runaway, despite not getting all the DDs, and missing one that he did get. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/794 "2019-11-07T12:09:36Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Okay, for anyone who has not yet seen game 3 of the TOC quarter finals, Alex ribbed Holzhauer at the start of the game, saying, “Which $1,000 clue do you want to start with?” > > [redacted] Correction to your spoiler: He did answer his DD correctly, adding $1,109 to his score. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/795 "2019-11-07T12:53:15Z")
Sorry, I thought he got one wrong. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/796 "2019-11-08T04:03:03Z")
I don’t understand the FJ wagering strategy of the girl (Lindsey Shultz)who finished 2nd to James. She had 10,800 and James had 30,309. and the third place player (Dhruv Gaur) had 6,000. A runaway game Obviously she wants to have one of the four high scores of the non winners because she has no chance of winning. Isn’t the correct strategy for her: A. to bet it all, to ensure her highest possible total. B. To bet 1201, to make sure she at least beat the third player, in case to beat third place player in case he bet it all and got FJ correct C. To bet 0 and hope an pray that 10,800 is going to qualify. She bets 3200 to get her to 14000 which at the time, may or may not be enough for one of the wildcards. I think Going all-in is the correct wager in her situation, If she doesn’t think 10800 or 12001 is enough to qualify then she should be shooting the moon. FWIW, she has the 2nd highest total going into the 5th Qtr final, so she is guaranteed one of the spots, but she should not have known that when she played her game. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/797 "2019-11-08T12:57:32Z")
^ I agree, coming second in the current game isn’t much of a prize compared to what earnings are possible if you advance in the tournament, so focus on what you need for the wild-card. As you said, 10, 800 is unlikely to qualify for a WC so you have to bet something. If you bet and lose you’re going to miss the WC for sure, so bet it all. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/798 "2019-11-08T16:30:19Z")
Any TOC players here? I ask because in normal play, all contestants on a given tape day watch the games played before they go on. I was wondering while watching this week’s games if they do the same thing during the TOC. If so, the later players would have a better idea of how much they would need to get one of the wild card spots. That would seem to give them an unfair advantage. So do TOC players get to see the games before theirs, or are they isolated? Anyone? Here’s a completely unrelated thing I’ve been wondering about for some time now. At the beginning of each round, the categories are displayed as Alex reads them out. If you watch, the camera motion is precise and perfect every single time. It never undershoots or overshoots, and each monitor is perfectly framed in the shot, no keystoning, no stray reflections. And the little bit of light texturing on the bottom edge of the monitor’s bezel is exactly the same on each one. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no camera shooting the actual game board (as there was for the first several decades), but that it’s a CGI shot. For a while I though that maybe there was an automated camera mounted somewhere in the studio, but as I’ve continued to watch the perfection has convinced me that it has to be virtual. I don’t imagine anyone here would happen to know, and short of finding someone who works on the show’s technical staff, there’s little likelihood we’ll be able to get a definitive answer. But it’s something I’ve noticed and been thinking about for years. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/799 "2019-11-08T20:58:23Z")
Probably, if for no other reason than that shooting a monitor usually produces artifacts. They’re not nearly as bad now as they used to be, thanks to screens that work two-dimensionally and smaller pixel sizes, but you’d still want to avoid it. In fact, in the earlier decades, an effects shot of some sort would be even more necessary, though it probably wasn’t CGI. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/800 "2019-11-08T21:43:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Probably, if for no other reason than that shooting a monitor usually produces artifacts. They’re not nearly as bad now as they used to be, thanks to screens that work two-dimensionally and smaller pixel sizes, but you’d still want to avoid it. In fact, in the earlier decades, an effects shot of some sort would be even more necessary, though it probably wasn’t CGI. No, back then it was definitely a studio camera shooting the actual board. I have no way of knowing when they might have started doing it with CG (if I’m right), but I know that’s what they did when I was on in 1991. Although I’m no expert on the tech they might be using, ISTM that it’s only been in the last decade or less that a CG version would have been feasible and economical for a game show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=41)