Jeopardy! Masters

[ams1001]

One of Brad's goals for the tournament is to make fun of Ken. 😆

[Bastet]

Holy shit, these games always move so quickly.  I didn't even try to keep track of my performance by category - saving me immense embarrassment, I'm sure, as I had great trouble spitting out even the things I knew before one of them did, and I didn't know anywhere near as many things as I do in a typical regular game - only noting when I got a TS.

Of the eight TS in game one, I only got Cincinnati, lumbar vertebrae, and Maya Angelou.  But at this caliber of play, three seems fantastic.  Of the 11 TS in game two, I also got three -- The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros, and desecration.

Team Victoria in game one, but goddamn, that was a dominant performance by Yogesh. 
Team Juveria in game two, so I hope to be less annoyed as we proceed -- things aren't going my way so far.

"I only know her from Purple Rain" made me laugh.

[possibilities]

Yogesh seemed to be trying to be humble and to compliment Victoria, but him saying he felt bad about winning when she worked harder and he wasn't really studying in any disciplined way... comes across as a way for him to insult her and boost himself. I genuinely did not think he meant to be insulting or braggy, so I guess I'm going to have to either consider him a great manipulative actor, or truly so bad at understanding social behavior that he gets excused from being obnoxious.

 

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, possibilities said:

Yogesh seemed to be trying to be humble and to compliment Victoria, but him saying he felt bad about winning when she worked harder and he wasn't really studying in any disciplined way... comes across as a way for him to insult her and boost himself. I genuinely did not think he meant to be insulting or braggy, so I guess I'm going to have to either consider him a great manipulative actor, or truly so bad at understanding social behavior that he gets excused from being obnoxious.

 

Just watched and rewatched this bit.
And it was literally intended as a “bit,” but, oh, Yogesh, comedy is not your forte.
I wonder if he told his therapist about his difficulties in not letting his resentments for his fellow competitors show through, and his therapist suggested he learn to engage in good natured ribbing?
If so, maybe he needs a new therapist?
Or more role-playing with his current one?
It must be tough to be really good at something that also requires you to be reasonably good at something else (public conviviality) that is not your thing.
But isn’t that how life is in general?

Matt Amodio, OTOH, can pull off the jokey villain in a Dad-joke kind of manner (being an actual Dad not required).

I was not previously familiar with Roger Craig, but he seems to be both still holding his own in Jeopardy! and a sincerely nice, likeable human.

Poor Juveria was caught on screen making some funny faces. If they become memes, I'm not sure what her daughter will think.
I did like her outfit.

Edited May 1 by shapeshifter

[Shrek]

Have these people never watched any of the Godfather movies or listened to Queen???????????? Can't believe Appallonia was a TS, the other one that amazed me that was a TS was Bohemian Rhapsody, really? 

They could all probably name every president in order & the exact years of their presidency & their VPs & whole cabinets but not know the words to what is one of the best-known songs ever.

[opus]

16 minutes ago, Shrek said:

the other one that amazed me that was a TS was Bohemian Rhapsody, really? 

I fell into the same trap Roger did

🎶 It's like thunder, lightning
The way you love me is frightening
Oh you better knock, knock

On wood, baby🎶

[ams1001]

16 hours ago, Bastet said:

Holy shit, these games always move so quickly.  I didn't even try to keep track of my performance by category - saving me immense embarrassment, I'm sure, as I had great trouble spitting out even the things I knew before one of them did, and I didn't know anywhere near as many things as I do in a typical regular game - only noting when I got a TS.

Of the eight TS in game one, I only got Cincinnati, lumbar vertebrae, and Maya Angelou.  But at this caliber of play, three seems fantastic.  Of the 11 TS in game two, I also got three -- The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros, and desecration.

I don't even bother to try to keep track. I also was distracted while Ken was reading the first game's FJ clue and then it disappeared from the screen halfway through trying to read it after I looked up. Oh, well.

I did get all those TSes except Cincinnati. I also got Bohemian Rhapsody.

[Browncoat]

On 5/1/2025 at 12:53 PM, Shrek said:

the other one that amazed me that was a TS was Bohemian Rhapsody,

Bohemian Rhapsody wasn't a TS -- Matt got it.  And I thought someone got Appallonia?

I finally watched today.  In the first game, I got the TS of eczema, girdle, and lumbar.  Having a compression fracture in L3 helped me get that one.  And I got FJ as well, thanks to a passing knowledge of where Aquitaine is and French for water.

In the second game, I managed only two TS -- The Cat In The Hat and orient.  FJ was an instaget.

 

[Shrek]

15 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Bohemian Rhapsody wasn't a TS -- Matt got it.  And I thought someone got Appallonia?

I finally watched today.  In the first game, I got the TS of eczema, girdle, and lumbar.  Having a compression fracture in L3 helped me get that one.  And I got FJ as well, thanks to a passing knowledge of where Aquitaine is and French for water.

In the second game, I managed only two TS -- The Cat In The Hat and orient.  FJ was an instaget.

 

I didn't think anyone got BR but yes you're right Matt did get it. Apollonia was definitely a TS though.

[30 Helens]

On 5/1/2025 at 10:55 AM, possibilities said:

Yogesh seemed to be trying to be humble and to compliment Victoria, but him saying he felt bad about winning when she worked harder and he wasn't really studying in any disciplined way... comes across as a way for him to insult her and boost himself. I genuinely did not think he meant to be insulting or braggy

 

Then you’re a better person than I, because that sounded very much like a backhanded compliment. And a way to compliment himself at the same time— he’s so smart he doesn’t even need to study! Then again, my dislike of Yogesh knows no bounds, so I’m not inclined to cut him any slack.

Needless to say, I did not enjoy that first game. (It was also painful to see Brad struggle like that.)

The second game was much more enjoyable. My trivia knowledge does not meet the level of a Masters tournament, so the only pleasure I get from these games is watching people I like do well. I like everyone who played the second game, so I would have been happy with any of them winning.

[ams1001]

Wow, I can't believe Isaac and Roger had such low scores (and were in the red so much!). I tried to keep track of my TSes; not sure if there were any others but I managed to write down (over both games) off track betting, folk art, Hatch Act, and fresh as a daisy.

[SoMuchTV]

When the FJ! category of “Art History” was revealed, Mr. TV and I both independently pre-guessed “who is Art Fleming?”

[shapeshifter]

6 hours ago, ams1001 said:

Wow, I can't believe Isaac and Roger had such low scores (and were in the red so much!). I tried to keep track of my TSes; not sure if there were any others but I managed to write down (over both games) off track betting, folk art, Hatch Act, and fresh as a daisy.

I got FJ as well as Off Track Betting, Fresh as a Daisy, and the Hymns TSs and I think at least one DD. 
Maybe they were partying together too much the night before?

Edited May 8 by shapeshifter

[Bastet]

I got the off-track betting TS, but I otherwise sucked in the first game.

I got a kick out of Neilesh's "yadda yadda yadda" response for the "blah blah blah" clue, because that's what sprang to my mind first, too (but I knew it wasn't correct, and thought of the correct response in time).

Wow, that second game -- not just that Yogesh was so dominant, but that Isaac and especially Roger had so many incorrect responses.

In that game, I got three TS -- thoroughfare, fresh as a daisy, and Hatch Act -- but still played like utter shit compared to how I do with regular games.

"What is now Amazing Grace?" shouldn't have been accepted.  "Now [it's time for], 'what is Amazing Grace'?" is what Yogesh meant, and everyone knows that, but, still, he added a word to the title that is not correct.  It affected nothing, but it bugged me.

[ECM1231]

10 hours ago, Bastet said:

What is now Amazing Grace?" shouldn't have been accepted.  "Now [it's time for], 'what is Amazing Grace'?" is what Yogesh meant, and everyone knows that, but, still, he added a word to the title that is not correct

YES!!! That REALLY bugged me, but I will admit that I'm not a Yogesh fan.

[Browncoat]

Hoo boy, that second game was just brutal!  I can cut Isaac a little slack, since he played in the first game, too, but dude.  What happened to Roger?

FJ for me for the first game was an instaget.  I've been to the island of Iona, where there is an abbey that he founded.  It's a beautiful place.  The TS that surprised me was Betelgeuse, and I now have that stupid "Wildfire" song going through my head.  It wasn't even replaced by the hymns from the second game.

For the second game, I knew all of the hymns, along with turnkey and fresh as a daisy, but I did not have the first clue for FJ.  And yes, Yogesh's response of "now Amazing Grace" bugged me, too.

[Bliss]

Yogesh. Yuck.

I so seldom dislike anyone - and I'm asking myself why he irritates me. Is it his buzzer abuse? (geez, we know you're smart - but you look like a dumb dimwit banging on your buzzer while another contestant is answering)

Maybe it's his mumbling.

Add me to the protest that "... NOW Amazing Grace..." should have been a firm, "NO!" Please put me in the "anyone else but HIM to win!" category.

[ams1001]

I have yet to get a FJ in the regular games this week, but I got both the Masters FJs tonight! Tapir was basically an instaget, but Copeland was a total guess, as he was the only American composer I could think of (well, I thought of Sousa after the category was revealed but he was a tad too early for the clue). I also got International Space Station, Taco Bell, and at least one other TS but I don't remember what it was.

Aww, sorry to see Adriana go. I loved her green top.

I didn't notice it before tonight's second game, but it's kinda weird to hear them introduce the players without prefacing their names with what they do and where they're from. 

 

 

Edited May 15 by ams1001

[Driad]

Did anyone get a good look at Victoria's necklace in today's first game? I thought it might be a bird and a molecule.

[shapeshifter]

On 5/11/2025 at 3:03 PM, Bliss said:

Yogesh. Yuck.

I so seldom dislike anyone - and I'm asking myself why he irritates me. Is it his buzzer abuse? (geez, we know you're smart - but you look like a dumb dimwit banging on your buzzer while another contestant is answering)

Maybe it's his mumbling.

Add me to the protest that "... NOW Amazing Grace..." should have been a firm, "NO!" Please put me in the "anyone else but HIM to win!" category.

I am one to put in a good word for players who others dislike because of tics or idiosyncrasies or neurodivergent ways — including for Yogesh.
So I am sorry to now conclude that in addition to his naturally occurring unique traits, his struggles in life have caused him to harbor antisocial feelings that are on display when he speaks. 
Hopefully he will find a path to overcome his resentments enough of the time to be able to practice compassion and forgiveness, perhaps like Rodney Dangerfield, who seems to have been affected by his mother's own possible neurodivergence.

[ams1001]

14 hours ago, Driad said:

Did anyone get a good look at Victoria's necklace in today's first game? I thought it might be a bird and a molecule.

Looks like two necklaces. You can see it in this video:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpFRINxvDL/

Looks like it's a caffeine molecule; she wore it in a previous game as well.

https://oneeclecticmom.substack.com/p/friday-32924-jeopardy-fashion-recap

Edited May 15 by ams1001

[Bastet]

I'm bummed Matt squeaked past Adriana, but very happy for Victoria and Juveria.

I didn't know either FJ (I've never even heard of a tapir, so had no shot at that one, and often do not have a guess for composers, which was the case here), but other than that I did fairly well for Masters games -- I got eight TS (coonhound, Lesley Visser, civilian, daunt & aunt, the ISS, Taco Bell, Keiko, and fufu) and even managed to run five categories, organizations, sports talk, Aaron Sorkin, shop talk, and African food.

[secnarf]

During Final Jeopardy, all I could do was hum "Fanfare for the Common Man". I could recall neither the name of that piece or the name of the composer, but I was certain its composer was the answer. I just needed more time to pull the details out of my brain.

[possibilities]

On 5/5/2025 at 3:37 AM, 30 Helens said:

Then you’re a better person than I, because that sounded very much like a backhanded compliment. And a way to compliment himself at the same time— he’s so smart he doesn’t even need to study!

I agree, and maybe I'm wrong that he's too clueless to realize what he's doing. It was very, very toxic, either way.

I have met people who were that clueless, genuinely. So I leave the possibility that he sincerely didn't know what he was doing. But I agree with you about what it was, even if I'm trying to believe he didn't realize how obnoxious it was.

I did notice that the look on Victoria's face read angry as hell, to me. And she wouldn't be wrong.

[shapeshifter]

I'm glad Matt Amodio explained that Jeopardy! was no longer his top priority in life so I won't keep wondering what's going on. 

 

15 hours ago, Bastet said:

very happy for Victoria and Juveria.

Yes.

[Browncoat]

Finally got around to watching this week's episodes.

Redbone coonhound just made me think of "Where The Red Fern Grows," and not only was I sad that it was a TS, that book just plain makes me sad.  I also got Tortola and the FJ of tapir in that game.

In the second game, I knew Thropp because I'm currently reading another book about Elphaba, called "Elphie."  It's been slim pickings at my library lately.  I knew Keiko and Chattanooga, and crossword puzzles have ensured I know what an oast is.  Spellcheck doesn't like it, though!  And it took me nearly the entire think music to come up with Copland's name, but I managed in the nick of time.

And next week, I'll be able to watch in real time!

[30 Helens]

I am happy for Victoria and Juveria. But I am also in mourning for the loss of Brad. 😥 I hope this wasn’t the last time we see him on Jeopardy. (Or anywhere else… whatever happened to The Chase??)

[ams1001]

On 5/16/2025 at 3:21 PM, Browncoat said:

Redbone coonhound just made me think of "Where The Red Fern Grows," and not only was I sad that it was a TS, that book just plain makes me sad. 

Same here. We read it in 6th grade and it was the first book that truly made me cry. And I was finishing it during some free reading time at school, so I couldn't even give into it! I reread the ending when I got home but of course it didn't hit the same the second time. It's been almost 40 years...maybe I should read it again.

Edited Wednesday at 01:35 AM by ams1001

[Grizzly]

Would they have accepted Green Mountain Men?

[possibilities]

Did they change the font? I swear the board looked different to me today.

[mjc570]

I was so ambivalent for this first match - on the one hand, I very much dislike Yogesh and his style of play and refuse to watch any episode he is on.  On the other hand, I very much like Victoria and make a point of cheering her on.  So I am glad she beat him.  

And while, I'm ranting I might as well take the opportunity to say how much I dislike contestants who waste the $1000/$2000 clues by taking them immediately, without any idea what's involved. I know it's game strategy - by either answering them correctly or making sure the other contestants have no opportunity to do so - but I find it deprives me of the fun of answering/

[ams1001]

Were these games written after the current regular games were taped? There was a clue about Peter and the Wolf which referenced the Grandfather, who is played by the bassoon, and on the regular game today one of the players is a bassoonist and his interview story was about playing Peter and the Wolf. I've frequently noticed similar clues between the regular and prime time games on the same day but I don't think I've ever heard a clue that was about something a contestant talked about apart from the game.

[gonzosgirrl]

I never noticed Yogesh's incessant buzzer clicking/slapping until this tournament. Now it makes me crazy. He is so unlikeable, I would literally prefer anyone but him to win. Roger's mid-round interview was hilarious (Holzhauer is a dick, lol).

I didn't count but their seemed an inordinate amount of TS in last night's episode - maybe I noticed because I actually got several of them and was shocked they didn't.

(edited to spell James' name correctly)

Edited Thursday at 01:44 PM by gonzosgirrl

[shapeshifter]

20 minutes ago, gonzosgirrl said:

I never noticed Yogesh's incessant buzzer clicking/slapping until this tournament. Now it makes me crazy. He is so unlikeable, I would literally prefer anyone but him to win.

My take on it is that last night he was trying to channel his overt expressions of displeasure into his buzzer in an effort to appear more likeable on National Television. He sort of almost pulled it off.

[Quickbeam]

I’m completely in love with Victoria’s style of game play. She’s just so good. 

[gonzosgirrl]

I wish they'd bring back The Chase with her and the other Jeopardy Alums. And The Beast. Love The Beast!

[LoveIsJoy]

I am so tickled by my own confusion in the last game.  I saw the category, Ungulates, and thought, “hmm, that should be interesting.” Then as the clues started being revealed, I grew increasingly confused wondering what on earth bison and similar animals had to do with undulates!! 😂.   I lamely guessed that maybe the herds run in a smooth, sinewy pattern or something?  Then I wondered why Juveria’s brother would be an expert in undulates.

I wasn’t mishearing.  My brain just muddled the 2 words and I didn’t catch on until there was only one clue left. Then it all made perfect sense. Whew.  I crack myself up sometimes.😃

[gonzosgirrl]

Was anyone more shocked by Issac's win than Issac?

[Browncoat]

I was sad that Juveria couldn't hear me shouting, "Pygmy hippo!" over and over.