Given my genius-level intelligence, it should come as no surprise that I like the mental workout provided by the game show Jeopardy. The questions are always fairly tough at the higher dollar amounts, and I only manage to answer Final Jeopardy correctly half the time. This kind of challenge is what makes the show so much fun.
It is my understanding that every contestant on the show has been tested for a good knowledge of trivia and overall smarts. This is wise, because the competition wouldn't be much fun if the contestants were all idiots.
Unfortunately, the "smarts" they test for must not include basic math skills.
I am beginning to lose track of the number of times I've watched an otherwise smart person fuck up and lose everything during their Final Jeopardy wager because they couldn't add properly. They'll write down the wrong number for some dumb reason, answer the question correctly, LOSE, and then poor Alex Trebek has to explain to them that they're a moron.
Even worse are the "Daily Double" questions, where a contestant can double their wager if they answer correctly. You regularly see people who bet some pathetic amount when they are in last place, even though they should have risked it all so they could stay in the game.
It's sad, really.
If it were ME running Jeopardy, and some dumbass decided to wager $100 when they're so far behind that their only chance is to wager everything they have... well, my reaction would be a lot different from Alex Trebek's kindly smile and condescending banter...
Because, seriously, nobody that frackin' stupid deserves to be on Jeopardy... they spoil it for everybody.
And by "everybody" I mean "me."
Oh well. New episodes of Burn Notice start tomorrow! So very soon now I won't have to rely on game shows to see something new on TV.
I can't wait.
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Mmmmm… Burn Notice… Good times.
Daaaang. Good thing there’s no math involved in Apples to Apples… 😉
Go big or go home.
Uhhh… you don’t like to hang out in clock towers by any chance? 😉
I love Jeopardy. Love it.
But sometimes the final questions are so hard as to be almost impossible (British Monarchs: The last British king not named George, William or Henry was named this. What is James (II)…sheesh!) and sometimes they are ridiculously easy like last night’s Final Jeopardy.
Cartoon Science: According to Chuck Jones, whenever possible, this force of nature was to be Wile E. Coyote’s greatest enemy. What is gravity, dur!
I guess I need to stop watching cartoons and bone up on my British monarchs trivia. But what fun is that?
Is it wrong that this made me laugh? I’m with you – those people totally piss me off.
Have you read Prisoner of Trebekistan: A Decade in Jeopardy! by Bob Harris?
He was on several times and writes about studying for it and also the wagering aspects of it, among other things. I still remember the five E.M. Forster books he described a mnemonic for, and it’s been 2.5 years since I read it. Good stuff, and funny.
It’s been a long time since I watched Jeopardy, but I seem to recall having similar impressions about the lack of overall game strategy skills demonstrated by such otherwise smart folks.
Then it would FINALLY be deserving of its name!
I love Jeopardy- especially when I get a seemingly hard question right!
Fantastic commentary. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I saw a live taping of Jeopardy in high school. Let’s just say the TV version makes them look A LOT less stupid.
Note to self: Do not apply for a spot on Jeopardy if Alex Trebek suddenly takes on the characteristics of a northwestern blogger who loves Jager.
Check.
This reminds me of the Celebrity Jeopardy skit back when Saturday Night Live was funny.
I think people making bad bets on Double Jeopardy comes from fear more than actual intelligence. Emotions tend to screw up smart people from time to time.
Hahahahahaha. : )