Jeopardy! Season 31 (2014-2015)

[pandora spocks]

I remember reading Thoreau in high school and that particular quote stuck with me. Sad to say it's the only FJ that I got right this week. The new champ seems like a nice guy.

[alias1]

Nooooooo!

[ottoDbusdriver]

Seriously, yet another clue about Thoreau ?  Did one of the clue writers do his master's thesis on him because Thoreau's name pops up WAY too often on this show.

 

There are other 18th Century writers that are worthy of Jeopardy clues, aren't there ?

[Browncoat]

Boooo!  Between his jumping up and down to press the buzzer* and his starting at the bottom of the board, the new champ drove me nuts.  Tell me when he's gone, please!

 

*Did he do that the whole game?  I couldn't watch much beyond the interviews.

[Trey]

I'm sorry Andrew lost - I really liked him despite the swaying.  But we'll see him in the ToC.  I find the new champ a little annoying but I guess he's okay.

 

Thoreau was an instaget for me although I wasn't 100% sure about it.

 

I loved last night's category of New Twists on Jeopardy! Favorites - Thoreau could well be a question in that category.

[rubaco]

It's not cool to clap for yourself after you correctly answer a DD. I don't know if I've ever seen anyone do that before. 

[CarpeDiem54]

I'll miss Andrew! Can't wait to see him in TOC.

The new guy bugged me with the starting on the high dollar clues, the lunging up and down and clapping for himself. And BBQ sauce on a pizza? Blech!

An entire category of photos plus another one of deGaulle? WTF?! I thought Celebrity Jeopardy was last week.

No one knew What's New Pussycat?

I was able to figure out FJ. Thoreau does seem to come up a lot.

[CarpeDiem54]

Boooo!  Between his jumping up and down to press the buzzer* and his starting at the bottom of the board, the new champ drove me nuts.  Tell me when he's gone, please!

 

*Did he do that the whole game?  I couldn't watch much beyond the interviews.

He got worse.

[ottoDbusdriver]

An entire category of photos plus another one of deGaulle? WTF?! I thought Celebrity Jeopardy was last week.

 

I was curious why they asked for the world leader's name in 3 of the 5 clues, but only asked for the country for Trudeau of Canada and Berlusconi of Italy.

[mojoween]

And BBQ sauce on a pizza? Blech!

My husband loooooves BBQ pizza. It's regular BBQ sauce, chicken, celery and cheese. I think it's wretched, cannot stand the smell.

[YoureSoUrban]

I wasn't a huge fan of Andrew's but I'll take swaying over dipping/bouncing any day of the week. It's too bad the woman at the end couldn't buzz in fast enough; she seemed to have really solid knowledge.

[Bastet]

There were a lot of clues I found over valued in this game.  The Rosa Parks clue was appropriate for Kids Week, the Catwoman clue belonged in the first round, white (mountains) was also over valued, eye roll was ridiculous as a DD, and the entire business abbreviations clue was better suited to the first round.

 

Alex - as is so typical - sounded surprised when a woman correctly answered a science clue (chain reaction).

 

In the clothing category, what was the wording of the blazer clue.  Something about patriarchy?

 

Despite my hatred of so many clues with photos, I don't automatically object to a category of world leader portraits.  But the clues should be more difficult!

 

I was a bit surprised What's New, Pussycat? and troglodyte were TS.  And I'm surprised neither of the remaining two contestants came up with corset when they knew from Alex's reaction that girdle was very close.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Bastet

[DaveA]

To us here it looked like he was squatting down hoping to fart out the answer to the clue.  Clapping for yourself is truly crass.

[peeayebee]

No one knew What's New Pussycat?

I screwed up. I was thinking the movie was Casino Royale, which of course had the song The Look of Love, not What's New Pussycat. I also got confused thinking that the clue had mentioned the song -- What's New Pussycat -- and so was asking for the movie, which is where I got to Casino Royale. Yeah, I was all mixed up.

 

For FJ, I wasn't positive it was Thoreau, but that was my educated guess.

 

 

In the clothing category, what was the wording of the blazer clue.  Something about patriarchy?

 

Yeah, this was a weird clue. Here it is:

 

The patriarchy has authorized this "fiery" type of jacket as acceptable wear for female politicians

Edited May 22, 2015 by peeayebee

[cinsays]

I'm guessing the new champ clapped for himself when he got the clue right just by reflex.  Didn't he do the same when the others got theirs right too? e probably didn't even realize he was doing it.

Either that or nerves.  

I think he was just really excited to be on the show and do well, reacting almost with childlike glee and I enjoyed it.

Better that than the smug demeanor of some of the participants.

[proserpina65]

I'll confess to never having read anything by Thoreau or knowing any more about the author than him having writing Walden.  So FJ was a dead loss for me.  And yeah, there are other 19th writers, Jeopardy - try using them as clues once in a while.

I was a bit surprised What's New, Pussycat? and troglodyte were TS.

 

I had the Tom Jones song in my head from the moment I saw the category title, so I laughed out loud when that clue came up.  Needless to say, I got it right.

[Jesse]

I'm guessing the new champ clapped for himself when he got the clue right just by reflex.  Didn't he do the same when the others got theirs right too? e probably didn't even realize he was doing it.

Either that or nerves.  

I think he was just really excited to be on the show and do well, reacting almost with childlike glee and I enjoyed it.

Better that than the smug demeanor of some of the participants.

 

Yeah, I liked him! I appreciate enthusiasm. 

[saber5055]

I'll miss Andrew! Can't wait to see him in TOC.

The new guy bugged me with the starting on the high dollar clues, the lunging up and down and clapping for himself. And BBQ sauce on a pizza? Blech!

 

 

 

 

While I was ambivalent on Andrew, I was rooting for him and was sorry to see him go. I liked he got dressed up (or at least put a piece of cloth around his neck) to be on the show, this in the age of casual-is-cool slobs.

 

I didn't mind the new guy clapping for himself. I actually thought it was kinda funny. And different. As for the BBQ sauce on pizza, he posted a photo online of him and his dearly beloved with that pizza ... the sauce spelled out: "Will you marry me." I cut him slack for that, even though I loves me the BBQ sauce on just about everything.

 

The Rosa Parks question ... I don't know why they didn't just include her name in that clue, they said everything else: year, city, state, wouldn't give up her seat to a white guy. They should have just made the answer "What is: This is correct" instead of giving so much information it couldn't be anyone else. And it's not like Rosa Parks is some obscure being. Plus, she's been a clue/answer on this show before. She's moved into Thoreau territory.

Edited May 22, 2015 by saber5055

[opus]

 

 

I had the Tom Jones song in my head from the moment I saw the category title, so I laughed out loud when that clue came up.  Needless to say, I got it right.

That, I believe, is one of the tips for Jeopardy contestants. Think of possible answers as the categories are revealed. (Granted you don't have that much time).

[Trey]

 

If Andrew had taken (or remembered) Latin he probably would have won if he had gotten the lapidate stoning answer.

 

I knew lapidate has to do with rocks/stones but I said "being hit over the head with a rock" rather than stoning - do you think that would have been accepted?

[Writing Wrongs]

Clapping for yourself is truly crass.

This and the bouncing is bugging me.

[YoureSoUrban]

So psyched to get FJ right! I didn't know that Pooh was that old but that was my guess anyway.

The bobbing is still driving me nuts but I'm warming up to Choyon because he seems like a nice guy.

[Browncoat]

Pooh was my first thought, then I couldn't remember when Alice in Wonderland was written, but ended up settling on Pooh.

 

I couldn't with the bouncing, so I just listened to the game while I did other things.

[Trey]

Choyon does seem like a nice guy but I still dislike runaway games.  The other two contestants were not slouches by any means but they just couldn't seem to hold on to their money.

 

FJ was an instaget for me. 

 

That one category about signs in music made no sense whatsoever to me. 

[CarpeDiem54]

Goofy, the champ, is driving me nuts. He lunges so hard he may throw his back out. And he clapped for himself again. His story of interest is that he makes pickles? Wow, I thought my life was dull.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm in labor, I'm not driving to pick my husband up. He can haul his own ass to the hospital.

I thought Melissa was going to punch Goofy a couple of times with her buzzer flailing. She seemed pretty sharp but just couldn't seem to buzz in.

I got FJ, thank goodness.

[ottoDbusdriver]

That one category about signs in music made no sense whatsoever to me.

 

It really was more of a punctuation series of clues.

[saber5055]

His story of interest is that he makes pickles? Wow, I thought my life was dull.

 

 

I love pickles and I also make them myself. They are delicious. I wonder what nuggets the show would glean from me if I ever got on. Not that I have to think very hard about that 'cause it ain't ever happening.

 

Yes, that music category should have been Punctuation in Music instead of Signs. Confusing. The whole category stumped me.

 

I knew FJ immediately, although Peter Pan was not a bad guess.

 

I think Choyon is okay and I like his clapping for himself. I mean, SOMEONE's got to. I didn't notice any lunging around by anyone, but I guess I wasn't watching 100-percent eyes-on-screen. 

 

If my husband were on my way to the hospital, yeah, I'd pick him up. Most labors last MANY more hours anyway so what's the hurry. Besides, that way I know he'd at least BE THERE. Heh.

Edited May 23, 2015 by saber5055

[secnarf]

So psyched to get FJ right! I didn't know that Pooh was that old but that was my guess anyway.

The bobbing is still driving me nuts but I'm warming up to Choyon because he seems like a nice guy.

I actually thought Pooh was too old because I know the real one was alive circa WWI. I guess the story wasn't written until several years later, though. In retrospect it seems obvious, but I always think of Winnie the Pooh as being around WWI.

[CarpeDiem54]

I love pickles and I also make them myself. They are delicious. I wonder what nuggets the show would glean from me if I ever got on. Not that I have to think very hard about that 'cause it ain't ever happening.

 

Yes, that music category should have been Punctuation in Music instead of Signs. Confusing. The whole category stumped me.

 

I knew FJ immediately, although Peter Pan was not a bad guess.

 

I think Choyon is okay and I like his clapping for himself. I mean, SOMEONE's got to. I didn't notice any lunging around by anyone, but I guess I wasn't watching 100-percent eyes-on-screen. 

 

If my husband were on my way to the hospital, yeah, I'd pick him up. Most labors last MANY more hours anyway so what's the hurry. Besides, that way I know he'd at least BE THERE. Heh.

I love pickles, too, and know lots of people who make them but it's not the most interesting thing in their lives. LOL!

I didn't understand that musical signs category either.

The guy whose wife picked him up hemmed and hawed and uuuhhhhed a lot when selecting a clue. Maybe he did the same to her so she yelled, "Get in!" and drove off. I guess it would depend if you lived in a city or a small town or if it was rush hour or not.

[halfpint ingals]

I thought of The Velveteen Rabbit for FJ, and looked it up and it was written in 1922, so it it was the same decade.

[biakbiak]

I ran the musical punctuation, I thought they were all too easy.

[Bastet]

I ran the musical punctuation, I thought they were all too easy.

 

I knew all of them but the one about I Am Sasha Fierce, and that's the one where Alex didn't name the artist after the contestant gave the right sign -- I had to look it up (Beyoncé).

[teebax]

Goofy, the champ, is driving me nuts. He lunges so hard he may throw his back out. And he clapped for himself again. His story of interest is that he makes pickles? Wow, I thought my life was dull.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm in labor, I'm not driving to pick my husband up. He can haul his own ass to the hospital.

I thought Melissa was going to punch Goofy a couple of times with her buzzer flailing. She seemed pretty sharp but just couldn't seem to buzz in.

I got FJ, thank goodness.

He didn't bother me as much today. That may be because I chose to listen to Jeopardy from my deck. with a nice glass of whiskey instead of watching him genuflect. Melissa is from my hometown and shares my love of national parks, so I was rooting for her.

Since I wasn't watching the screen during gameplay, I didn't see her buzzer technique. My mom called afterward to see if I saw that someone from home was on Jeopardy. She said she was worried Melissa was going to accidentally knock out the champ every time she tried to ring in.

[peeayebee]

I thought Melissa was going to punch Goofy a couple of times with her buzzer flailing. 

His buzzer technique is annoying, but hers seemed dangerous and yet funny. I've never seen anyone do it like that. Her frustration was also very apparent. I wish she had done better; I can't help but root for special ed teachers.

 

 

I came up with Winnie the Pooh but wasn't absolutely sure that was right. I thought about Paddington Bear, too, and wondered when he was created.

 

With Choyon's pickle "story", I couldn't help but think of cleaning out my parents' garage recently. They were pickle makers. I found huge jars of pickles in the garage fridge as well as several jars in boxes on shelves. Plus there were lots of empty jars for pickling. My dad passed away about 7 years ago, and my mom about 10, so you know the pickles were old. 

[saber5055]

The guy whose wife picked him up hemmed and hawed and uuuhhhhed a lot when selecting a clue. Maybe he did the same to her so she yelled, "Get in!" and drove off. I guess it would depend if you lived in a city or a small town or if it was rush hour or not.

 

 

In my mind, I picture the wife pulling up to the curb with screeching tires and brakes. "GET IN!" The guy stands there, door open, and says, "Hey, hun, what if I drive?" And she yells, "GET THE FREAK IN THE CAR, OR STAY HERE. I'M IN A HURRY." And he jumps in at the last minute as she floors it.

 

Do Jeopardy! and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? use any of the same writers?

 

 

I doubt if they use the same writers, but it's like they steal categories from each other. I see the same questions/answers a lot. Now 500 Questions is doing it, they stole Millionaire's square-wombat-poop question.

 

Pickles last a long time because ... well, they are pickled, peeayebee. Still, it could be scary to open one of those jars. It's a nice story though. Long live pickles!

[peeayebee]

I just threw them all away. The color was bad, more brown than green.

[Trey]

I just threw them all away. The color was bad, more brown than green.

 

When in doubt, throw them out.

 

Yeah, I really am glad that Celebrity Tournament is over.

[secnarf]

I was surprised Choyon missed the Dean Rusk DD - that was the only question in the category that I knew!
When I was running through musicals in my head, Kinky Boots was one of the first that came to mind - though I will blame that on seeing posters everywhere on the street every day. I definitely would have written a question mark rather than guessing Kinky Boots. I didn't know Rock of Ages was a hymn.
Choyon annoys me, but I think that's because he reminds me quite strongly of someone I know in real life who is extraordinarily annoying.

[CarpeDiem54]

Michael and Amy had no chance to win since neither one of them annoyed the piss out of me.

Who knew that Goofy the Genuflecting Champ was actually an 80 year old crazy cat lady. Apologies to crazy cat ladies (I'm one myself and would never collect costumes for and force my cats to wear them). He's a very odd character.

I was clueless on FJ and slapped my forehead at the reveal. I wouldn't have answered Kinky Boots either. Wasn't cute or funny.

[Misslindsey]

 

Who knew that Goofy the Genuflecting Champ was actually an 80 year old crazy cat lady. Apologies to crazy cat ladies (I'm one myself and would never collect costumes for and force my cats to wear them).

One of my irrational fears is animals dressed as humans (along with garden gnomes, Irish dancing, and Thomas Kinkade paintings). I would have never pegged Choyon as someone buying outfits for cats.

 

I did not get FJ. Hymns are not in my realm of knowledge. I was trying to go through musicals that might fit the bill, but still did not come up with it.

 

During the "S" Words category I kept thinking to SNL Celebrity Jeopardy where Sean Connery referred to it as "Swords".

[Browncoat]

Oh his poor cats.  And I don't even really like cats, but I feel sorry for his.

 

I couldn't come up with anything for FJ, though I figured it would probably be a head-slapper when the correct response was revealed.  And it was.

[pandora spocks]

Who knew that Goofy the Genuflecting Champ was actually an 80 year old crazy cat lady. Apologies to crazy cat ladies (I'm one myself and would never collect costumes for and force my cats to wear them). He's a very odd character

 

 

I thought nothing could be as boring as pickle-making.  Was I wrong!  He reminds me of the Steve Carrell character--though smarter--in Dinner for Schmucks who dressed dead mice in cute little costumes.  For the sake of his cats, I hope he doesn't spend outrageous sums of his winnings on cat togs.

Edited May 26, 2015 by pandora spocks

[alias1]

Oh my gosh, he is annoying.  I've disliked him from the start, but this thing with dressing his cats gives me nightmares.  Please, just go away.  Poor cats. 

[Pallida]

I had no idea that "muppet" was a portmanteau until tonight. I'm not sure if I should be ashamed.

Alex's "who's your favorite philosopher" question bothered me.

I did enjoy Choyon calling out Alex for the "those people" comment. From his Twitter page, it looks like it might be more of "accessories" than full on outfits.

[Mondrianyone]

Choyon annoys me, but I think that's because he reminds me quite strongly of someone I know in real life who is extraordinarily annoying.

He doesn't remotely remind me of anyone I know in real life (thank God), but he still annoys the hell out of me.  So I think we can draw a conclusion from that.

[Bastet]

I laughed at the Kinky Boots answer for FJ.

 

I had no clue; I knew I wouldn't get it from the hymns part of the clue, so was trying to come up with musicals from that time period that sounded like something that could be a hymn, but came up blank.  Major V8 head-slapping moment when it was revealed.

[just prin]

Loved Kinky Boots! My kind of hymn. Can just imagine the words....

Edited May 26, 2015 by just prin

[ottoDbusdriver]

Anybody watching the poor Jeopardy/Seconds imitation, 500 Questions (or is it not to be mentioned here)? Some former J. players on the show/to be on the show, but, IMO, it's awful!

 

Some of the questions are pretty tough, but the show is truly awful.

[GreekGeek]

I laughed at the Kinky Boots answer for FJ.

 

I had no clue; I knew I wouldn't get it from the hymns part of the clue, so was trying to come up with musicals from that time period that sounded like something that could be a hymn, but came up blank.  Major V8 head-slapping moment when it was revealed.

Me, too. All I could think of was The Book of Mormon. I had no idea Rock of Ages was a Jewish holiday hymn. 

[cinsays]

    Well, I still really enjoy Choyon and think he just has an unusual sense of humor.  Loved the Kinky Boots response and it seemed Alex did too.

    He's really smart, having a ball and sure isn't as boring as some other contestants. 

    It looked to me like he tried to stop himself from clapping after one correct response, so I still think it is just a reflexive response and not a sign of vanity.

    Maybe he can bring in a pic of one of his cats dressed to the nines for us!  As much as I find most of the stuff on America's Funniest Videos to be unfunny, my favorites are those where they have their pets dressed and acting like people.  Maybe I'm just as odd as this guy. Oh, well....

    I hope he makes it to 5 wins and beyond.