Jeopardy! Season 37 (2020-2021)

[DrSpaceman73]

50 minutes ago, illdoc said:

Re FJ: So...two contestants (I'm including the champ, since it's what he wrote originally) think that (Kit) Rushmore was unpopular in 1935 (the sculpture wasn't even completed until 1939)???  And "Washington" is a head scratcher!!!!

Fun wikipedia fact: Beginning with a prospecting expedition in 1885 with David Swanzey (husband of Carrie Ingalls), and Bill Challis, wealthy investor Charles E. Rushmore began visiting the area regularly on prospecting and hunting trips. He repeatedly joked with colleagues about naming the mountain after himself. The United States Board of Geographic Names officially recognized the name "Mount Rushmore" in June 1930.

As to J!...I said "Edward Longshanks", instead of "Edward I", since I believe that's what he's called in the movie. Acceptable? I also said "Parrot", rather than "parakeet" (I know, they're not the same, but at least it was closer to correct than "wren").

I think they just couldn't think of anything else and wrote down Rushmore.  It's all I could think of. 

 

It's official. Mike Richards new host, to the chagrin of some here. 

 

https://www.tmz.com/2021/08/05/jeopardy-ep-mike-richards-new-permanent-host/

[shapeshifter]

Yay for me? I am very tired and yet FJ was an instaget.
I guess this means Matt was even more tired since he didn't write Hoover first. I wonder if he will have trouble making it through tomorrow since (I assume) it was taped right after this one without a break for a nap.

Amanda Gorman was a TS? 

Hurray for a Chicago librarian! Sorry you had to go up against Matt.

 

47 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

I did get North Face, Amanda Gorman, and parakeet.  Clearly Matt knows nothing about birds.  Wrens are tiny little brown jobs.

Yeah. I was yelling "Parrot!" I think the "hat" decoration part of clue made me think bigger than parakeet, even with the picture:

• EXTINCT ANIMALS for $1200:
  "With feathers once favored in women's hats, the Carolina variety of this bird was widespread in the eastern U.S. until around 1920"

Would "Parrot" instead of "Parakeet" have been a BMS or correct or wrong? 
From Wikipedia:

• ...The Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), or Carolina conure, is an extinct species of small green neotropical parrot..."
  (wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_parakeet)

I guess it depends on who's hosting?

Edited August 6, 2021 by shapeshifter

[ABay]

54 minutes ago, M. Darcy said:

Yeah, that’s just bullshit he didn’t have to say all three names.  

And on top of that, the woman in the middle had to be more specific about King Richard??! There's only been ONE.

[possibilities]

I was horrified that no one knew Haaland. Even with her photo! She's a CURRENT Cabinet member and it was a historic appointment, widely publicized and celebrated for that reason.

I was also disappointed no one knew Amanda Gorman, but at least they didn't also have her photo to help them.

 

I loved Ashley, but I'm heavily biased in favor of all librarians.

[ams1001]

2 minutes ago, possibilities said:

I was horrified that no one knew Haaland. Even with her photo! She's a CURRENT Cabinet member and it was a historic appointment, widely publicized and celebrated for that reason.

I got as far as 'holl-' but I ran out of time to get my brain in gear. I think I was thrown off by the 'sounds like a European country' part of the clue but I know it's not spelled that way and well, I'm slow tonight (see previous post).

[secnarf]

30 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

 

 

It's official. Mike Richards new host, to the chagrin of some here. 

 

https://www.tmz.com/2021/08/05/jeopardy-ep-mike-richards-new-permanent-host/

I feel like they jumped the gun a bit with the headline, as it doesn't actually say different than what we already knew:

Executive producer Mike Richards is expected to take the reins of the famous game show that was hosted by Trebek for 36 years ... according to Variety. Richards is reportedly in advanced negotiations with Sony Pictures Television to become the host of "Jeopardy!" and launch a new era.

We knew he was in "advanced negotiations" but not that any final agreement has been reached.

I'm holding out hope as long as I can.

 

For FJ tonight, I was surprised two didn't get it - it was an instaget for me, and I certainly don't know a heck of a lot about the 1930s, US landmarks, or US history in general. Then again, maybe that worked in my favour. Rushmore did occur to me, but Hoover was so famously unpopular, similar to the Canadian prime minister of the time (can't forget learning about "Bennett buggies" in history class!)

[DrSpaceman73]

5 minutes ago, secnarf said:

I feel like they jumped the gun a bit with the headline, as it doesn't actually say different than what we already knew:

 

 

We knew he was in "advanced negotiations" but not that any final agreement has been reached.

I'm holding out hope as long as I can.

 

For FJ tonight, I was surprised two didn't get it - it was an instaget for me, and I certainly don't know a heck of a lot about the 1930s, US landmarks, or US history in general. Then again, maybe that worked in my favour. Rushmore did occur to me, but Hoover was so famously unpopular, similar to the Canadian prime minister of the time (can't forget learning about "Bennett buggies" in history class!)

https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/mike-richards-in-talks-to-become-new-host-of-jeopardy.html

 

Different link .....maybe official is not the right word but barring some last minute allegations or old Twitter firestorm. Coming out, he will be the host.

[Ailianna]

22 minutes ago, ABay said:

And on top of that, the woman in the middle had to be more specific about King Richard??! There's only been ONE.

Actually, there have been three English kings named Richard. Richard III is a famous Shakespearean villain in the history named for him, is widely believed by common lore to have murdered his nephews (the "Princes in the Tower"), and his body was found a few years ago buried beneath what is now a parking lot. 

[kathyk24]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I'm tired of people complaining about Levar Burton not being named host. I don't think he did a good job and I thought Robin Roberts would have made an excellent host. She would have been the first Black woman to host a game show.

[shapeshifter]

49 minutes ago, possibilities said:

I was horrified that no one knew Haaland. Even with her photo! She's a CURRENT Cabinet member and it was a historic appointment, widely publicized and celebrated for that reason.

I felt bad that I couldn't recall her name, but then I'm "not good with names," and to be fair, mostly what was mentioned in the news was how appropriate and long overdue it was to have a Native American appointed as Secretary of Interior. I'm going to assume the TS was owing to this too. I'd seen her name in print, but I don't think I'd heard it pronounced, so, as mentioned above, the clue was not so helpful.

 

**********************

 

24 minutes ago, kathyk24 said:

I thought Robin Roberts would have made an excellent host. She would have been the first Black woman to host a game show.

Yes to RR.
And I guess Aisha Tyler's Whose Line Is It Anyway? isn't even close to the same genre.

IDK. Maybe it was a budget thing? Maybe Mike Richards’ "negotiations" is about him doing it gratis as a tax write off? 

 

Edited August 6, 2021 by shapeshifter

[DrSpaceman73]

21 minutes ago, kathyk24 said:

This might be an unpopular opinion but I'm tired of people complaining about Levar Burton not being named host. I don't think he did a good job and I thought Robin Roberts would have made an excellent host. She would have been the first Black woman to host a game show.

I wasn't big on robin roberts but yes levar Burton was bad. Didnt want him at all after I saw him host.  

[SoMuchTV]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

Amanda Gorman was a TS? 

Not sure if anyone else noticed Matt's very animated brain struggles with this one but I was right there with him.

 

[Leeds]

2 hours ago, Browncoat said:

 Wrens are tiny little brown jobs.

Wren made me giggle it was so far off the mark.  Not only is it an LBJ but it's very much extant.

[Bastet]

No one knowing Deb Halaand's name saddened me.  Same with Amanda Gorman (I'm assuming - hoping! - most of them could picture her, knew it was that fantastic young woman from the inauguration, but couldn't remember her name in time).

I love the word reconnoiter (yet I don't know why), so I was tickled to see that clue in the etymology category.  I also found the stalag clue in that category fun to figure out (I was unfamiliar with "stammlager", but looking at its letters with a word referring to a type of camp in mind, I got it).

I ran cooking, etymology, Interior, and outside.  I'm happy to have only missed three in the first round, as recent pop culture and war history are two of my weak subjects, but I only missed one in the former and two in the latter.

In DJ, I blew movie kings; I've never seen any of the films, and only came up with Boleyn = Henry VIII, but I cannot believe "knight" didn't clue me - or any of the contestants - in to Arthur!  I only missed four others in the round, though.

And FJ was pretty much an instaget, so I had a great game.

[ProudMary]

2 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/mike-richards-in-talks-to-become-new-host-of-jeopardy.html

 

Different link .....maybe official is not the right word but barring some last minute allegations or old Twitter firestorm. Coming out, he will be the host.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The Daily Beast has picked up the story about the sexual harassment lawsuits. Until now, all the stories I'd seen had been from entertainment sites. TDB coverage takes it political. Not a good look for the class act of American game shows.

Jeopardy!’ Host Frontrunner Mike Richards’ Alleged History of Harassment, Discrimination

[possibilities]

It doesn't have to be LeVar Burton. But I really hope it's not Mike Richards. Anyone but a bland white dude. 

[Prevailing Wind]

Well, Buzzy's anything but bland, even if he is a white guy.  Go, Buzzy!!

[BrownBear2012]

10 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

He was alright, but I don't want him as the permanent host.

 

Agree...he began and ended every show with some suck up type of banter about Alex Trebek..it sounded very fake and didn't need to be said after the first night. He has some baggage...two harassment suits from two different shows he produced.

[Cherpumple]

From the Daily Beast article:

Quote

As an executive producer [of the Price is Right], the suit adds, “Richards decided that the models’ skirts should be shorter and said that he liked the models to look as if they were going out on a date. At his suggestion, models wore bikinis on the show more frequently.”

So what's the problem? I don't know about you guys, but my "go to" date outfit is always a bikini. 🙄

[Katy M]

6 hours ago, possibilities said:

It doesn't have to be LeVar Burton. But I really hope it's not Mike Richards. Anyone but a bland white dude. 

I couldn't care less what color the host is, but I would like someone a little bland who blends into the background. LeVar was a bit too "in your face" with his wildly enthusiastic YESes.

[ABay]

10 hours ago, Ailianna said:

Actually, there have been three English kings named Richard. Richard III is a famous Shakespearean villain in the history named for him, is widely believed by common lore to have murdered his nephews (the "Princes in the Tower"), and his body was found a few years ago buried beneath what is now a parking lot. 

Do you know, I woke up in the middle of the night with "oh for fuck's sake, what did I say? How many books on Richard III are on your bookshelves, woman?" pounding in what I like to call my brain.

Edited August 6, 2021 by ABay

[Trey]

My only ts was North Face.

I thought that was a pretty easy FJ.

Washington?  Even if he had been invited, I doubt he would have shown up.

[ams1001]

2 hours ago, Katy M said:

I couldn't care less what color the host is, but I would like someone a little bland who blends into the background. LeVar was a bit too "in your face" with his wildly enthusiastic YESes.

YES! (Sorry, had to.)

I had similar problems with Mayim. Too much giggling at practically every response.

I think I'd vote for Buzzy, personally. Style-wise, he's not that bland, but he kept the game moving without too much extra noise (though I suppose he was helped by the fact that he was doing the TOC with players who are familiar with the gameplay; less likely to have "new player" mistakes/awkwardness to deal with).

As for "blending into the background" I thought George S did a good job in that regard, as did David Faber (even if they are generic white guys). I didn't think either of them were serious contenders for the job, though.

Strictly considering how they did hosting the actual game, I liked Mike. I haven't read much past the headlines of what's been posted here, so I don't know how to feel about the rest of his background. I would assume (hope) he won't be doing a soliloquy on Alex on every show in the future. I feel like the new host should make one last comment at the start of the season to say goodbye to the Era of Alex, and then move on (but keep the "in memoriam" card at the end).

[Katy M]

4 minutes ago, ams1001 said:

I had similar problems with Mayim. Too much giggling at practically every response.

Yeah. I assume that was nervousness, which she may or may not have gotten over at some point, but it was very distracting.

[Clanstarling]

23 hours ago, Katy M said:

I understand that, and I'm obviously not saying that he should be counted wrong, I 'm just saying it bugs me.  I also don't care for board hopping, but yeah, it's a good strategy.

That's fair. For the most part, for me, if it's okay by the rules, it's okay by me. Though I will admit that I'm not terribly fond of board hopping, but mostly because I get confused about which category is up and then I miss questions because of that. I think they should have a little chryon saying the category each time (and a chryon keeping the word on the screen for the clues you're supposed to figure out from the letters of a particular word).

13 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Amanda Gorman was a TS?

I knew who she was, I could see her face, but her name was a complete blank.

12 hours ago, kathyk24 said:

This might be an unpopular opinion but I'm tired of people complaining about Levar Burton not being named host. I don't think he did a good job and I thought Robin Roberts would have made an excellent host. She would have been the first Black woman to host a game show.

I don't think I've seen much of that on this forum, though I do tend to forget things quickly. I like Levar, but he really messed up and sadly isn't on my list. Ironically, I think he messed up because it meant so much to him. It got him all tangled up in nerves.

13 hours ago, possibilities said:

I was horrified that no one knew Haaland. Even with her photo! She's a CURRENT Cabinet member and it was a historic appointment, widely publicized and celebrated for that reason.

I knew who how important she was, I knew her face, but like Amanda Gorman, I drew a complete blank when it came to her name. Unlike Amanda, this is generally true for me when it comes to cabinet picks, no matter how important.

10 hours ago, ProudMary said:

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The Daily Beast has picked up the story about the sexual harassment lawsuits. Until now, all the stories I'd seen had been from entertainment sites. TDB coverage takes it political. Not a good look for the class act of American game shows.

Jeopardy!’ Host Frontrunner Mike Richards’ Alleged History of Harassment, Discrimination

I read the Daily Beast article. I agree, this gives it a lot more...seriousness when it comes to news. I've often thought the name "The Daily Beast" was a weird one to choose for a serious news venue, but they are pretty good.

Edited August 6, 2021 by Clanstarling

[ams1001]

10 minutes ago, Katy M said:

Yeah. I assume that was nervousness, which she may or may not have gotten over at some point, but it was very distracting.

I was listening to her podcast around that time, too, and she can get to the point of obnoxiousness on there (and has a tendency to interrupt her guests). Granted, hosting J! is a much more constrained role, but it didn't help endear me to her as game host. I stopped listening not long after because I realized it was causing me more stress than any podcast should. If she did get the job, maybe she would tone it down over time, but I feel like we've seen better options who can step into the role more smoothly.

[Leeds]

9 hours ago, BrownBear2012 said:

Agree...he began and ended every show with some suck up type of banter about Alex Trebek..it sounded very fake and didn't need to be said after the first night. He has some baggage...two harassment suits from two different shows he produced.

No matter whom they choose, the powers that be (and the J! attorneys) had better be damn sure to do some deep, deep digging into backgrounds.

[nokat]

14 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Yay for me? I am very tired and yet FJ was an instaget.
I guess this means Matt was even more tired since he didn't write Hoover first.

My first thought was Mt. Rushmore, but that isn't named for a President. Then it came to me, Hoover.

[chessiegal]

1 minute ago, nokat said:

My first thought was Mt. Rushmore, but that isn't named for a President. Then it came to me, Hoover.

The clue didn't say it was for a President.

Quote

Unpopular at the time, the man for whom it is named wasn’t invited to the September 30, 1935 dedication of this landmark

 

[nokat]

1 minute ago, chessiegal said:

The clue didn't say it was for a President.

 

My bad, I thought President after I answered Hoover Dam.

[Mystery Author]

It is my understanding that it was always going to be Mike Richards for permanent host, no matter who guest-hosted. It reminds me of when I tried out for a Community Theatre show and, after auditions, learned it had been pre-cast.

[illdoc]

19 minutes ago, Mystery Author said:

It is my understanding that it was always going to be Mike Richards for permanent host, no matter who guest-hosted. It reminds me of when I tried out for a Community Theatre show and, after auditions, learned it had been pre-cast.

Much the same as Ebert's "season-long search" for a new co-host for "At the Movies", only to pick a guy who wasn't even a movie critic (but he did work for the same paper as Ebert).

[853fisher]

I was a little disappointed Haaland and Gorman were missed too, but I admit it took me a second to remember the latter's name with confidence.  Perhaps one who hadn't heard the former's name aloud was thrown off by the "it sounds like a country" clue.

I had no idea The North Face was founded here in San Francisco.  It seems their original shop was just around the corner from the strip (forgive me) of "topless a-go-go" clubs.  Great placement: many of their patrons and workers seem in need of a good parka.

I wonder how many times James said "please."  There are worse habits to be in but it seemed a bit much.  A British show I watch tells contestants exactly when to say it and when to leave it out, since they allegedly get mail for too much or too little.  So it's not just me. ;)

 

RE Richards, this article by Claire McNear (who has written about the show before and seems to have credible sources) alleges that his aw-shucks "I never planned to host but was forced to step in at the last minute" routine, which I do think helped earn him goodwill, is a crock.  Instead, he capitalized on a minor scheduling conflict with another host, which the rest of the team was already preparing to work around, and insisted that he take over.  Very interesting.

I certainly thought all along that he seemed much more interested in the role than he was willing to admit.  Perhaps I'd've reacted differently to the news of his allegedly impending appointment if he'd been more up-front about his angle.  I understand why he wouldn't've wanted to show his whole hand, and I don't feel "deceived" by the process exactly, as I know some do.  I did think there was a whiff of inauthenticity about him, and now my nostrils are full of it.

Edited August 6, 2021 by 853fisher

[ProudMary]

14 minutes ago, 853fisher said:

RE Richards, this article by Claire McNear (who has written about the show before and seems to have credible sources) alleges that his aw-shucks "I never planned to host but was forced to step in at the last minute" routine, which I do think helped earn him goodwill, is a crock.  Instead, he capitalized on a minor scheduling conflict with another host, which the rest of the team was already working around, and insisted that he take over.  Very interesting

Yes. Although I didn't think much about it at the time of Richards' "Guest" hosting stint, yesterday in retrospect, I was thinking that the story surrounding it sounded fishy. 

This is a terrific article. I'm very glad you linked it here. Everyone interested should read it as it covers very different aspects of the story than others we've seen so far.

The Ken Jennings podcast comments had me 😅.

[proserpina65]

18 hours ago, illdoc said:

As to J!...I said "Edward Longshanks", instead of "Edward I", since I believe that's what he's called in the movie. Acceptable?

I have a degree in Medieval & Renaissance Studies, with 13th & 14th century England being my specialist area.  I rule "Edward Longshanks" correct, as that is the nickname he was known by during his lifetime.  He was 6 foot 2, quite tall for the time period, hence the nickname.

[proserpina65]

 

4 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

Though I will admit that I'm not terribly fond of board hopping, but mostly because I get confused about which category is up and then I miss questions because of that.

That's always been my objection to board hopping.

Stupid Fox 45 was running stupid football pre-game crap last night, so I missed the show, but after looking at j-archive, I've determined I would've done pretty well.  (And no one can prove me wrong, lol.)

Edited August 6, 2021 by proserpina65

[bad things are bad]

Quote

 

Same with Amanda Gorman (I'm assuming - hoping! - most of them could picture her, knew it was that fantastic young woman from the inauguration, but couldn't remember her name in time).

 

That was me. I could see her and hear her but the name was not available from the brain file 

FJ was odd...it wasn't even called Hoover Dam until 1947; it was Boulder Dam initially. So when it was dedicated, it's not like Hoover would have been invited due to the name. 

[SyracuseMug]

18 hours ago, ams1001 said:

I got as far as 'holl-' but I ran out of time to get my brain in gear. I think I was thrown off by the 'sounds like a European country' part of the clue but I know it's not spelled that way and well, I'm slow tonight (see previous post).

Was the clue referring to Holland? Because as far as I know (though I could be wrong), it isn't and has never been a country. It's simply a part of The Netherlands.

[ams1001]

4 minutes ago, SyracuseMug said:

Was the clue referring to Holland? Because as far as I know (though I could be wrong), it isn't and has never been a country. It's simply a part of The Netherlands.

Yes, and technically you are correct. According to wikipedia: "The name Holland is also frequently used informally to refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands. This usage is commonly accepted in other countries and is also commonly employed by the Dutch themselves. However, some in the Netherlands, particularly those from regions outside Holland, find it undesirable, misrepresentative, or even offensive to use the term for the whole country."

J! writers should probably know better.

[Gimmick Genius]

3 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

 I rule "Edward Longshanks" correct, as that is the nickname he was known by during his lifetime.  

I said "Longshanks" too. If they needed a BMS -- "He looks like Patrick McGoohan!!"

 

I got Hoover Dam but it took a little too long. I started thinking about DC buildings named after people: "There's the FBI headquarters in the J. Edgar Hoover building; he wasn't popular with some people ... WAIT! Not THAT Hoover - the president! ...HOOVER DAM!"

Turns out J. Edgar's building was built in the 1960s and dedicated in 1975.

[ams1001]

I kept score for the first time in a while and I did so bad I don't even want to share. 

Ran Oceanographic Terms and my TS were Sword in the Stone, Niño, drum, and Giant's Causeway. I said lizard for FJ; at least I was in the ballpark? 

Edited August 6, 2021 by ams1001

[Katy M]

I said fish because I didn't know.

I got the missed clues of Giant's Causeway and cubism.

[HissyFit]

Thanks to the "Songs that Give Advice" category, I have an abundance of earworms for the coming week. 

Edited August 7, 2021 by HissyFit
Accckkk! Autocorrect changed it to earthworms.

[Browncoat]

Woo hoo!  Thank you Harry Potter for keeping me from being skunked this week in FJ.  It was an instaget for me.

I also got the TS of The Sword and the Stone, nino, drum, Giant's Causeway (I've been there -- it's super cool), and Don't Cry Out Loud.

[M. Darcy]

As painful as the show is now to watch, it’s going to be even worse with Joe Buck as host. 

[DonnaMae]

Why painful?  I think David Faber has done a fine job.

[shapeshifter]

Do I get extra credit for singing "Love the one you're with!" for SONGS THAT GIVE ADVICE for $400?
I do wish David Faber had sung the $2000 song -- he obviously wanted to.

Like Madeline, I read FJ wrong and said "Harry Potter," but at least it didn't cost me $1K. 🙁

ETA: Harry Potter was by osmosis.

Edited August 7, 2021 by shapeshifter

[ams1001]

13 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Do I get extra credit for singing "Love the one you're with!" for SONGS THAT GIVE ADVICE for $400?

If you do, so do I.

[Prevailing Wind]

I never seen ANY of the TV shows, yet via osmosis, I knew Lovey Howell.

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, M. Darcy said:

As painful as the show is now to watch, it’s going to be even worse with Joe Buck as host. 

As much as I want to see Matt lose, i cannot watch Joe Buck host.  I can barely stand him on Fox.  I only watch him when my teams are playing.   No way I'm watching him butcher Jeopardy.