All Episodes Discussion: The Daily Double

[ottoDbusdriver]

I figured Julia was going to lose for sure once the Huffington Post put up an article today entitled 'This Jeopardy Champ May Never Lose'.

 

Then again, I'm pretty sure the Huffington Post doesn't know what words like 'ever' or 'never' actually mean.

[Lillybee]

Julia rocks, that is all.

[harrie]

I figured Julia was going to lose for sure once the Huffington Post put up an article today entitled 'This Jeopardy Champ May Never Lose'.

 

Then again, I'm pretty sure the Huffington Post doesn't know what words like 'ever' or 'never' actually mean.

 

i thought the same thing because CBS This Morning showed a short interview Julia had done with the Chicago affiliate.  Any time i've seen any other Jeopardy! champ on the news, they lose that night.  So last night was a pleasant surprise. 

[BitterApple]

Hi folks, new here from the TWoP site! I'm not sure this has been addressed or not, but does anyone else wonder if Jeopardy! is purposely pairing ringers like Julia and Arthur with lightweight players? I know they're smart but it seems ridiculous to have these kinds of winning streaks and with such large margins.

[chessiegal]

My understanding is they pick the contestants by random drawings. Otherwise picking weaker contestants would violate federal game show rules. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[ottoDbusdriver]

[i'm not sure this has been addressed or not, but does anyone else wonder if Jeopardy! is purposely pairing ringers like Julia and Arthur with lightweight players? I know they're smart but it seems ridiculous to have these kinds of winning streaks and with such large margins.

 

I've mentioned upthread that the latest crop of contestants (excluding the last 2 most recent games) have been particularly underwhelming, I doubt it is intentional, but with everything contestants have to go through some of them seem completely unprepared for the show.  For example, a few games back the game was over by the first commercial break -- Julia had over $10K, and both challengers were in negative figures.

 

Kind of a double-edged sword -- I really do want Julia to do well (she really is a good champion), but I like it when the new contestants are challenging and make the game interesting to watch.  But those two things don't always go hand in hand.

 

The 2 most recent games have been genuinely exciting to watch.

 

ETA: That was an awesome game for Julia to win her 20th.  It initially looked like Sami would be the main challenge for Julia, but then Wendy picked up things in the DJ round.  This is the first non-runaway game for Julia since Game 12 or 13.

Edited May 31, 2014 by ottoDbusdriver

[chessiegal]

Wow, I had to google for spoilers for tonight's game during the commercial before FJ, I couldn't stand the suspense.

Julia tweeted - what was up with all my incorrect answers tonight?

[crashdown]

I thought I'd relax when Julia beat David Madden's record, but I won't *really* relax until she wins another game and nudges ahead of him in money total as well.  It's crazy--I've been so nervous about her games that I've taken to fast-forwarding my DVR to the end just to see how it comes out, before I watch the actual game. (Yes, I read the ends of books in the middle, too.  I'm hopeless!)

[GreekGeek]

does anyone else wonder if Jeopardy! is purposely pairing ringers like Julia and Arthur with lightweight players?

 

I wonder how many of the players really are "lightweight" and how many just seem that way because the champs are so good with the buzzer. A lot of Julia's opponents seemed formidable at first but then faded as she pulled away in DJ.

 

For the next special tournament, instead of bringing back the same people who've already made their Jeopardy money, I'd love to see a season of People Who Lost to Ken, Dave, and Julia.

[ajsnaves]

For the next special tournament, instead of bringing back the same people who've already made their Jeopardy money, I'd love to see a season of People Who Lost to Ken, Dave, and Julia.

 

I would love to see this kind of tournament. Call it a second chance tournament or something like that.  I remember when Ken was on he commented that all of his opponents were very smart, like almost all contestants, but you can't underestimate the importance of buzzer proficiency.  Now, did some of the contestants freeze on stage? Maybe.  But I would bet most of them knew many of the answers Julia knew, and she just is better at buzzer timing.

 

Does anybody know if they are done filming for the season?

[Trey]

 

For the next special tournament, instead of bringing back the same people who've already made their Jeopardy money, I'd love to see a season of People Who Lost to Ken, Dave, and Julia.

That is certainly an interesting idea!  They give second chances on Chopped, so why not on Jeopardy!?

[Chicken Wing]

A lot of Julia's opponents seemed formidable at first but then faded as she pulled away in DJ.

 

 

Yeah, I noticed that, too. I've likened it to sprinters vs. long-distance runners. Some of the opponents just burst out full force at the beginning but then they seem to fade; Julia, meanwhile, starts off somewhat slow and gradually builds until she takes over the race as the others run out of juice.

 

Yay, this is my first Previously.tv post!

[BradyB66]

 

Does anybody know if they are done filming for the season?

 

They start filming Season 31 in July, so I would dare say yes, they're done filming for this season.  It'll be interesting to see if Julia, like Ken, will still be there when the new season starts.

[M. Darcy]

Julia was on GMA this morning and will be on the Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell tonight. 

 

For the next special tournament, instead of bringing back the same people who've already made their Jeopardy money, I'd love to see a season of People Who Lost to Ken, Dave, and Julia.

 

I've been waiting for ten years for a Tournament of the Kenvictims. 

Edited June 2, 2014 by M. Darcy

[chessiegal]

Julia tweeted yesterday that she'll also be on Inside Edition today.

[Tigershark]

 

Does anybody know if they are done filming for the season?

Yes, they are done filming for the season.  When my show filmed, the contestant coordinators said there was only a week or two left for filming the season.  That was in March.

[3 is enough]

Hi everyone.  Another TWOP refugee here.  I am really enjoying Julia's run.  Noticed she is doing the different signature thing a la Ken.  Hope she can keep on going for a while.

[opus]

BTW, it was 10 years ago today that Ken started his streak (airing date).

[ChicagoCita]

Julia's streak is over.  I'm disappointed.

[Abstract]

Julia's streak is over. I'm disappointed.

I'm glad I checked here. I can't watch it happen

[GreekGeek]

Yes, it's goodbye to Julia, at least until the ToC. But she had a great run and nudged ahead of Dave Madden for the longest streak apart from Ken Jennings'. But I was really rooting for Brian. I'm a sucker for Irish brogues, and I loved the fact that Jeopardy! was the first American TV show he saw.

[HelenBaby]

I hate to see her go as well but the guy who won was pleasant enough. Anyone catch that Trebek said what a pleasant person she was. I took that as a dig toward Arthur.

[M. Darcy]

Damn. But what a great run and now Jeopardy will be a lot less stressful to watch.

[mojoween]

Normally I love an Irish accent but eff him. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Julia, especially coming so soon after the TWoP closure. Guess Julia couldn't go on without Tubey either.

What a bummer. I was distraught she didn't know abacus. And there was a TS that I was really surprised about but of course I can't think of it now.

[possibilities]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Trey]

As soon as I saw Chicagocita post as a spoiler I knew Julia had lost:)

 

Farewell Julia,  You had a great run and walked away with lots of money and we all enjoyed watching you and rooting for you.

[BitterApple]

Holy crap! The Irish guy and I live in the same town! I almost had a heart attack when they announced he was from Scituate, MA, which is also affectionately known as the Irish Riviera.

I'm sorry to see Julia go, she was a classy champion. Considering they tape a bunch of episodes in one day I'm wondering if she just got burnt out.

[Mumbles]

Liked Julia fine, but glad for the change. Hated her vocal fry. I still don't know what she does for a living (she was completely incapable of explaining it when Alex asked her a few weeks back.)

[Grasonville]

Julia - you will be missed.

 

[Tigershark]

I knew this was coming sooner or later by virtue of the fact that she wasn't around for the week I was at a taping.  I honestly thought she would lose sometime last week.  Still her streak was mighty impressive.

[BlackCorduroy]

What an amazing run by Julia, I'm going to miss seeing her on the show.

In one of the "Easy Being Green" categories, Julia answered jade and someone else answered emerald which made Alex point out that the category was about green things. But uh, jade is green too. Sometimes he can be so needlessly snippy.

[Snow Apple]

When I saw Julia doing an interview, I knew that was it. But her winning streak is behind only to Ken Jennings and won over 400k. Not too shabby.

[YoureSoUrban]

Julia was a great champ but I like the guy she lost to. His story about when he first saw Jeopardy was charming.

[BitterApple]

Julia missed a couple of easy peasy questions. I too was surprised she didn't get abacus and emerald, those were gimmes.

I agree she was very vague about her career. She actually admitted last week that she was in the process of looking for a job. I don't exactly know what "supply chain professional" entails. She also had a weird educational path. I believe she had a BA in history and an MS in Engineering. How the hell does that happen?

[Bastet]

And there was a TS that I was really surprised about but of course I can't think of it now.

 

The one that surprised me most was foyer. 

 

Kyoto was ridiculously over valued as a DD clue in DJ.

 

The breech position clue was weird; I took Alex's point that "baby" had to appear in the answer, but at the point in time referenced by the clue, there was a fetus, not a baby. 

[Abstract]

I've heard the phrase "breech baby" enough times that the answer came easily. Before I quit watching, of course. I hate to see the end of a long run!

[Gilmel]

I'm so bummed. But at least she's number 2 in all time wins.

 

Her wins being all in this season means she and Arthur Chu will be up against each other in the tournament of champions.

[peeayebee]

Sorry to see Julia lose, but it had to happen some time.

 

Anyone catch that Trebek said what a pleasant person she was. I took that as a dig toward Arthur.

 

At first I thought it was, but it was just a setup for his "joke" that Julia was a tough cookie when she played.

 

I kept thinking the guy who won would be played by Chris O'Dowd in a movie.

 

Yes. I was thinking how much he looked like O'Dowd, who of course is also Irish.

 

I was distraught she didn't know abacus.

 

Man, that was shocking. Really really weird.

 

And there was a TS that I was really surprised about but of course I can't think of it now.

 

Was it Martin Luther? I thought even without the clue, his portrait was easily recognizable. (Even though that was before my time.)

 

I almost had a heart attack when they announced he was from Scituate, MA

 

What a strange looking word. I didn't hear this said. How do you pronounce it?

 

The breech position clue was weird; I took Alex's point that "baby" had to appear in the answer, but at the point in time referenced by the clue, there was a fetus, not a baby.

 

Like Abstract, the phrase 'breech baby' came readily to mind. It's too bad that Debra forgot what the category name was (i.e., "baby" in quotes). When Brian said "baby breech" it sounded bizarre.

 

I didn't get why both Jeopardy rounds had "Easy Being Green" as categories. Is there a joke I'm missing?

 

As far as FJ, I didn't have any idea, and that made me mad since I consider movies and Oscars to be my strongest areas. The first name that came to mind was Stephen King, but I knew he didn't win an Oscar. Then I was thinking of Lehane, but I was pretty sure he didn't win either. When John Irving was revealed, I was once again mad at myself because I love both the novel and film "Cider House Rules."

[ottoDbusdriver]

I was a bit confused about that DD in Historical People in Art  category that Julia got at the last minute when she guessed 'Becket'.

 

They showed the painting but the description Alex read mentioned a 13th Century person -- I looked it up and Thomas Becket lived and died in the 1100s (12th Century).  Did I mishear the clue Alex read ?  You go to the Wikipedia page for Becket and that painting from the episode is right there.

[TracySMiller]

Her wins being all in this season means she and Arthur Chu will be up against each other in the tournament of champions.

 

Well, they'll both be in the same Tournament of Champions.  Whether they actually will play against each other remains to be seen.

Anyone catch that Trebek said what a pleasant person she was. I took that as a dig toward Arthur.

 

Or, it could just be that he was being honest and it seemed like a nice thing to say.  Everything doesn't revolve around Arthur Chu.

[Gilmel]

I didn't get why both Jeopardy rounds had "Easy Being Green" as categories. Is there a joke I'm missing?

It's a reference to the Kermit the Frog song "It's Not Easy Being Green."

 

Well, they'll both be in the same Tournament of Champions.  Whether they actually will play against each other remains to be seen.

Sure, I'm just assuming they'll both make it that far.

[Gimmick Genius]

The joke was, in the first round "Easy being Green" had to do with the COLOR, and in the Double round it had to do with recycling and conservation.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Gimmick Genius

[Tunia]

Quote

I almost had a heart attack when they announced he was from Scituate, MA

What a strange looking word. I didn't hear this said. How do you pronounce it?

 

 

peeayebee, Scituate pronounced phonetically is Sit-u-et, with the accent on the first syllable.  Good ol' Massachusetts!

 

[Tabasco Cat]

Very sad to see Julia's reign as Jeopardy! champion come to an end. She earned every nickel and an esteemed place in the J Hall of Fame. I was really hoping she could keep it up and be the defending champ to kick off the new season later this year. She was a pleasure to watch and I'm going to miss her.

 

Back on the TWoP thread some people remarked on the peculiar way one of the recent pre-Julia champs, Sandie, pronounced the word, "hundred". The new chanp, Brian Loughnane, with his Irish brogue seemed to pronounce it almost the exact same way tonight. It sounds like "hunnerd", I guess you would say. Sandie is from the midwest and Brian is from Ireland and it struck me how regional accents can have similarities even though the regions are nowhere close to each other. An odd little coincidence.

 

Also, from back on TWoP, someone mentioned that when Sandie won her 5th game that that guaranteed the next Tournament of Champions would consist of all 5-day champions. When you add Julia Collins into the mix that means that it's gonna suck for one of this season's 5-day champs who will not get an invitation to the ToC. That's gotta really suck! (Can it please be Arthur?)

[6 MeowMeowBeenz]

SMH. Abacus. I cannot believe that did her in. 

 

Ah well, at least there will be a TOC for Julia and Sandie. 

 

And if Julia is looking for work in supply chain management, she should look in southeast Michigan. A ton of jobs here--automakers and suppliers have more jobs than people who are qualified. 

Edited June 3, 2014 by 6 MeowMeowBeenz

[Good Queen Jane]

Tigershark, when will your appearance air (the first of many, I hope)? If I remember right from TWoP (sigh), it should be soon.

 

I did enjoy Julia's run. I hope she takes her $400K + and does amazing things with it. She didn't seem to like being a "supply chain specialist" very much.

[Tigershark]

Tigershark, when will your appearance air (the first of many, I hope)? If I remember right from TWoP (sigh), it should be soon.

 

June 24th.  It feels like I've been waiting forever. 

[BitterApple]

My guess on Final Jeopardy was Dennis Lehane. At first I thought Stephen King, but decided no, that's too on the nose. Looks like I would have been wrong either way!

I look forward to watching Julia on the TOC.

[Mumbles]

" I believe she had a BA in history and an MS in Engineering. How the hell does that happen?"

I kid you not, the "engineering" degree is some "logistics and supply chain management" degree that MIT offers. Not all MIT engineering degrees are created equal. In ten months you can get yourself this (and then become a "supply chain specialist.") Sounds like Julia was looking for MIT gloss on her resume.

[peeayebee]

The joke was, in the first round "Easy being Green" had to do with the COLOR, and in the Double round it had to do with recycling and conservation.

 

Thanks. I should have figured that out. Like forumfish said out, there wasn't a twist in the category title or quotes or anything. I wish they could have done something, not that it's any big deal. (I knew it referred to Kermit's song btw.)