# 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:** 61
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1201 "2020-06-06T00:51:59Z")
That had to be the easiest FJ question ever ever ever. And the guy on the right didn’t have a guess! My (ex-teacher) GF assures me that teachers are quite often not the brightest bulbs. They may know the specific area they teach but in general are not particularly well-rounded, and, what is worse, not particularly curious (she says). ---
**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:** [June 6, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1202 "2020-06-06T02:50:45Z")
I had no clue on the Lawrence of Arabia FJ and I’ve seen tons of movies. More than 100 in 2019 alone. Yet I’ve somehow always passed that one by. I was going to see it last year when it was shown in theaters one night only but couldn’t make the time work. I was trying to think of some car makers name who would fit the clue thinking that was the motorcycle connection and came up blank. The only scene I think of with that movie is the match cutting to the shot of the desert. Tonight’s FJ however, **super** easy! Knew that one instantly. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1203 "2020-06-11T03:52:07Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Anyone who thinks today’s FJ was difficult can’t go to the movies much. > > I didn't even have to read the entire clue. As soon as I saw "1935" and "motorcycle accident," I knew who Alex was talking about. Just because I’ve seen LoA and remember that it opened with him dying in a motorcycle crash (although I was under the impression that it was _not_ an accident, but I don’t know where I got such an impression and it’s probably not correct) doesn’t mean that I would be able to (1) recall this random fact and (2) think that it was what they were looking for. I’m not sure how the people at Jeopardy thought this was much of a fair clue at all, although I admit that I’ve seen plenty of FJs that I thought were similarly unfair compared to normal game clues. If the quote had anything to do with the events that he was actually famous for, it might be a little better. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2020, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1204 "2020-06-11T05:32:46Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > Just because I’ve seen LoA and remember that it opened with him dying in a motorcycle crash (although I was under the impression that it was _not_ an accident, but I don’t know where I got such an impression and it’s probably not correct) doesn’t mean that I would be able to (1) recall this random fact and (2) think that it was what they were looking for. I’m not sure how the people at Jeopardy thought this was much of a fair clue at all, although I admit that I’ve seen plenty of FJs that I thought were similarly unfair compared to normal game clues. If the quote had anything to do with the events that he was actually famous for, it might be a little better. A stirring defense of ignorance. Well done! ---
**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:** [June 11, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1205 "2020-06-11T12:27:25Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > Just because I’ve seen LoA and remember that it opened with him dying in a motorcycle crash (although I was under the impression that it was _not_ an accident, but I don’t know where I got such an impression and it’s probably not correct) doesn’t mean that I would be able to (1) recall this random fact and (2) think that it was what they were looking for. I’m not sure how the people at Jeopardy thought this was much of a fair clue at all, although I admit that I’ve seen plenty of FJs that I thought were similarly unfair compared to normal game clues. If the quote had anything to do with the events that he was actually famous for, it might be a little better. Yeah, it’s really unfair for a game show based on trivia to expect players to remember random facts. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1206 "2020-06-11T14:16:22Z")
Tidbit on Final Jeopardy: > **[How the Jeopardy! Writers Room Comes Up With All of Those Questions](https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/jeopardy-writers-room-questions.html)** > > Yes, Alex Trebek reads them all ahead of time. > [@](#): > > 1. Final Jeopardy and Daily Double questions are formed by a (slightly) different process. > “We have a separate meeting to go over Final Jeopardy questions. Every few weeks, everyone will bring in their ‘finals’ and we’ll read and critique them. **The first thing is to make sure at least one of the other writers can answer it. If that doesn’t happen, then it’s too hard.** Like our regular clues, we talk about how it could be worded better or whether we’ve done that fact before. Those go to our executive producer in a separate process before it goes into a game, to make sure he’s okay with them. When we roundtable, that’s when we choose the Daily Doubles and put the Finals on the game. For a Double Double, there’s always an ideal clue on the board we’d like to see. The idea of a Double Double, as with the final question, is something that requires a two-step process. Not just like, “Do I know that piece of information or not?” But rather, “Do I maybe know a piece of information that will connect me to the response for that clue?” If you looked at it as a discrete piece of information, you might never know it, but there’s a hint in there that connects it to another better-known fact. Daily Doubles are supposed to involve a two-step process, since you have a little more time.” I feel like LoA is a recurring topic for Jeopardy writers. I imagine they all got the question right. Final Jeopardy really is about putting all the clues together. For example, from a couple days ago: "Pre-Civil War Presidents - Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: “After an extended tour of Europe he retired to Concord…& he died in obscurity” If you can think of obscure Pre-Civil War Presidents, you can probably narrow it down to four or five. But if you didn’t know which one was from NH (and didn’t think they meant Concord, MA), it’s pretty much just a guess. For the record, I guessed Buchanan. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1207 "2020-06-11T14:41:01Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > If you can think of obscure Pre-Civil War Presidents, you can probably narrow it down to four or five. But if you didn’t know which one was from NH (and didn’t think they meant Concord, MA), it’s pretty much just a guess. > > For the record, I guessed Buchanan. My guess was Millard Fillmore, probably the most famous of obscure presidents. 🙂 Apparently one of the contestants posted on Reddit or Twitter or someplace that the Lawrence of Arabia clue was Alex’s suggestion, and he was surprised that no one got it. He thought it would be easy. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1208 "2020-06-11T15:00:06Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Tidbit on Final Jeopardy: > [How the ‘Jeopardy!’ Writers Room Comes Up With Questions](https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/jeopardy-writers-room-questions.html) > > > [@](#): > > > > 1. Final Jeopardy and Daily Double questions are formed by a (slightly) different process. > > “We have a separate meeting to go over Final Jeopardy questions. Every few weeks, everyone will bring in their ‘finals’ and we’ll read and critique them. The first thing is to make sure at least one of the other writers can answer it. If that doesn’t happen, then it’s too hard. Like our regular clues, we talk about how it could be worded better or whether we’ve done that fact before. Those go to our executive producer in a separate process before it goes into a game, to make sure he’s okay with them. When we roundtable, that’s when we choose the Daily Doubles and put the Finals on the game. For a Double Double, there’s always an ideal clue on the board we’d like to see. The idea of a Double Double, as with the final question, is something that requires a two-step process. Not just like, “Do I know that piece of information or not?” But rather, “Do I maybe know a piece of information that will connect me to the response for that clue?” If you looked at it as a discrete piece of information, you might never know it, but there’s a hint in there that connects it to another better-known fact. Daily Doubles are supposed to involve a two-step process, since you have a little more time.” > > I feel like LoA is a recurring topic for Jeopardy writers. I imagine they all got the question right. > > Final Jeopardy really is about putting all the clues together. For example, from a couple days ago: "Pre-Civil War Presidents - Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: “After an extended tour of Europe he retired to Concord…& he died in obscurity” > > If you can think of obscure Pre-Civil War Presidents, you can probably narrow it down to four or five. But if you didn’t know which one was from NH (and didn’t think they meant Concord, MA), it’s pretty much just a guess. > > For the record, I guessed Buchanan. I’m kind of surprised that they choose which clues are the Daily Doubles. I assumed it was random. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1209 "2020-06-11T15:19:48Z")
In contrast to Lawrence of Arabia (which I knew from reading history and \*not \*just seeing the movie), Franklin Pierce stumped me. I know my US presidents pretty well, but I drew a complete blank on this one. I associated “Concord” with Massachusetts, and immediately thought of the Adamses, but I knew that wasn’t right. (They were from Braintree (now Quincy), and JQ died in Washington.) I had no idea where Pierce was from, and he never would have occurred to me. Thirty seconds just isn’t enough to run through the list of 19th century presidents. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1210 "2020-06-11T21:29:06Z")
Last new episode is tomorrow. Starting Monday: > **[Summer Kicks Off With Big Champions and Big Wins | J!Buzz | Jeopardy.com](https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/summer-kicks-big-champions-and-big-wins)** > > To view videos on this site, you need to enable certain cookies.Privacy Settings Big champions, big wins. That’s how Jeopardy! is kicking off the summer. In a special series, we’re looking back at 15 players and the pivotal wins that led them to the... > [@](#): > > Big champions, big wins. That’s how Jeopardy! is kicking off the summer. In a special series, we’re looking back at 15 players and the pivotal wins that led them to the 2019 Tournament of Champions. Each day will feature a contestant in their must-see game, as selected by the producers. Among highlights: a revisit to James Holzhauer’s record-breaking 32-game winning streak, his defeat to Emma Boettcher and more! ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1211 "2020-06-12T01:42:04Z")
Am I the only one who thinks tonight’s FJ was ridiculously easy? On the par of Lawrence of Arabia, I’d say. I was amazed no one answered the DJ clue on Ireland yesterday either. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1212 "2020-06-12T01:48:37Z")
The Lawrence of Arabia clue seemed obvious to me, but then I have read history and also seen the movie several times(but I frequently fast-forward to get to the “good stuff”). Ditto for the Franklin Pierce question. If you don’t know presidential facts you have no business being on Jeopardy! Now, when they have a popular culture category I’m ready to throw bricks at the TV. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1213 "2020-06-12T03:17:50Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > Now, when they have a popular culture category I’m ready to throw bricks at the TV. You mean, like matching catch phrases to TV shows? 😉 (How could anybody miss “Bazinga,” “Nanu-nanu,” and “Book 'em, Danno”? :dubious: :smack: 😕 ) ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1214 "2020-06-12T04:07:41Z")
Today’s FJ was ridiculously easy. Unlike the LOA clue, which was just obscure knowledge you either know or you don’t. I can’t believe they all missed it. It was basically name the historical figure who was famously killed by being stabbed a ton of times. Come on! ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1215 "2020-06-12T04:18:50Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Today’s FJ was ridiculously easy. Unlike the LOA clue, which was just obscure knowledge you either know or you don’t. I can’t believe they all missed it. It was basically name the historical figure who was famously killed by being stabbed a ton of times. Come on! Interesting. This is much better known than a notable Brit who was lauded by Churchill and died in a motorcycle accident in 1935? :dubious: 😕 It’d be interesting to start keeping track of which clues Dopers find ridiculously easy and exceptionally difficult. I’m sure there’s a wide range of divergence, and I’d like to hear the reasoning behind it. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1216 "2020-06-12T04:27:42Z")
_In re_ the assassination of Julius Caesar, Vision TV and Hollywood Suite are showing _ **Cleopatra** _ next week. If you missed _ **Lawrence of Arabia** _ on Turner last weekend, you can brush up on your ancient history with Liz and Dick. 😉 ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1217 "2020-06-12T04:37:42Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Interesting. This is much better known than a notable Brit who was lauded by Churchill and died in a motorcycle accident in 1935? :dubious: 😕 Well yes. It’s surprising you think that’s actually in question. Julius Caesar being stabbed by multiple people is something that is part of, I don’t know how you’d describe it, shared cultural knowledge? Et tu Brute, and all that. Shakespeare’s famous play that is read by many people in school. The Ides of March, etc. Lawrence of Arabia has nowhere near that same cultural impact. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1218 "2020-06-12T07:59:48Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Today’s FJ was ridiculously easy. Unlike the LOA clue, which was just obscure knowledge you either know or you don’t. I can’t believe they all missed it. It was basically name the historical figure who was famously killed by being stabbed a ton of times. Come on! I missed the show today and so I didn’t see the actual wording. But the way you wrote it, I immediately thought of Rasputin. Although I suppose he was also poisoned, shot, etc. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m kind of surprised that they choose which clues are the Daily Doubles. I assumed it was random. I wasn’t really sure whether it was or not, but the way they describe it is pretty cool, especially how the ones in DJ are a special category of their own. I approve. ---
**Author:** ![Garak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Garak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garak)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1219 "2020-06-12T09:29:24Z")
in the Julius Caesar clue it also mentioned that it was one of the first recorded autopsies in history, so it would have to be much earlier than Rasputin ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696/1220 "2020-06-12T12:26:00Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I don’t know how you’d describe it, shared cultural knowledge? Et tu Brute, and all that. Shakespeare’s famous play that is read by many people in school. The Ides of March, etc. I wonder how many people actually know these things, or their significance. I can absolutely guarantee that no one with whom I went to school ever read Shakespeare. Most of them couldn’t tell you the difference between “to” and “too” or “your” and “you’re.” Yes, they were that semi-literate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=60) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeopardy-thread-was-james-holzhauer-contains-spoilers/832696.md?page=62)