Did anyone else see this? I hate to say that he "threw the game", but it didn't really seem like he was trying. Maybe he was just tired and wanted to go home.
Well, his 75th appearance tied Ian Lygo for most consecutive appearances on a game show (for the show 100%). Ken's talked about respecting previous record holders, so the conspiracy theorist in me says that he didn't want to break the record by Ian.
But, on the plus side, it means I can watch Jeopardy again. Not that I wasn't impressed, but I knew when he was going to lose (I peeked, I admit) so I wasn't exactly surprised when he kept winning.
EDIT: and Lygo's win streak, which was 75, is still in tact. He was retired by the producers and never lost.
Did anyone else see this? I hate to say that he "threw the game", but it didn't really seem like he was trying. Maybe he was just tired and wanted to go home.
I am bummed.
OK, Teapot - GIVE - you can tell anything you know. :)
Now, is it ok for me yell THEATRE! in a crowded fire?
What an anti-climatic ending. The crowd gasps as if JFK had just walked out on stage, and Nancy throws her hands up to her face in shocked glee. Then Trebek is like "Well, it's all over. See you tomorrow, folks."
Next year's tournament of champs will be fun.
You know, first of all, we are doing this for her, okay? Because neither one of us wants to get divorced. And second-of-ly, I know you're the big marriage expert... Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Your wife is dead.
[laughs] [beat]
...I'm sorry, that was 100% inappropriate, and I do apologize profusely...I'm...oh...
I'm actually a bit sad that it's over. This guy was simply amazing to watch. I first heard about his exploits a week or two in, when I read an article in the NY Post on his winning streak and my boss started to talk about it. From that point on, I was hooked. His encyclopedic knowledge of minutia combined with a rapid-fire, first-every-time buzzing technique made him invincible, like a robot with super A.I. out of the Matrix or something. Soon, I even had my family hooked on watching; we even took time out on Thanksgiving at 7PM to ensure that he was on. It's like the end of an era...but now I can go back to watching other stuff than Jeopardy! every night.
Still, 74 wins and $2,520,700 ain't bad...
"Remember, it's not a lie if *you* believe it." - George Costanza
Since the cast of "Seinfeld" read a whole category, and the first round categories were all named after "Seinfeld"-ian moments, does that mean the "Seinfeld" curse has struck again?
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What did I know? Other than being privy to the fact that he'd win out last season, not a damn thing. I tried to keep myself spoiler-free, but that doesn't really work when you're "the Jeopardy guy." "So, have you heard about Ken losing?" or "I heard he loses his seventy-fifth game." To be honest, I don't think I would have done so well today, either. I definitely would have missed both of the DJ daily doubles, and I probably would have missed Final Jeopardy as well.
As somebody on the Sony board said, now we need 74 one-day champions in a row to even things out.
Originally posted by TeapotWhat did I know? Other than being privy to the fact that he'd win out last season, not a damn thing.
Well, damn. I was hoping for incredible insight from you. You hinted at "inside knowledge" from Alex back in an early Ken thread, so I thought there might be big stuff there.
Oh well - I'd like to see YOU go up against Ken- and that guy who nodded along to the theme (what, 3-4 seasons ago?) during final J - I always dug him too. Ok, and the guy from Japan in your season. He was also interesting.
Now, is it ok for me yell THEATRE! in a crowded fire?
Maybe I'm spoiled by reality TV, but it did feel like they kind of short-changed the moment there. Ken finally losing was a big deal, but they just kind of waved goodbye and went to credits. Maybe Jeopardy thinks they're above that, I don't know. Certainly Ken's always been very humble about it.
I wonder if Ken is a full-tithing Mormon? IF so, the LDS church is looking at a BIG check coming their way.
I'd really like to see Ken come back for some sort of super-tournament someday. I've heard a lot of people talk about the kind of streaks previous five-time champs could've gone on if there hadn't been a time limit in seasons past. Throw some of the best of the best at him and see how it goes, I say. Does anybody know if Ken's had a positive or negative effect on ratings for the show?
"All I ever asked for in life is an unfair advantage." Microchip, Punisher Annual #2
Originally posted by GodEatGodI wonder if Ken is a full-tithing Mormon? IF so, the LDS church is looking at a BIG check coming their way.
Ken mentioned very early in his run (somewhere around the $100,000 mark) that he's giving 10% to his church. So they're in for about $250,000. Good for them.
Ken definitely helped the ratings. Anytime people go from not talking about Jeopardy to talking about Jeopardy, it's a good thing and it will help the ratings.
Good to see that Ken was a class act about it. Shook Nancy's hand, gave her a hug, soaked in the applause. I bet Nancy loses tomorrow.
"He is the most overrated piece of crap in the league. He bitched and whined after he got his ass beaten in New England last year, so the NFL changed the rules. Then he got his ass beaten in New England again. Every year he's the top MVP candidate. Every year he's supposed to be the best. Every year he's going to carry the Colts to the Super Bowl. And every single year he goes to New England and gets his ass beaten. And his brother's a whiny little bitch." -A friend of mine, on Peyton Manning
Zap2It says ratings were up 20%. Since it was as out there as spoilers can get, I'm sure this episode did record numbers for Jeopardy.
Ken will obviously be back for the Tournament of Champions later on; do people who did really well in their initial runs on Game Shows typically do well? I can think of examples like the (first) Guy Who Won On "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" not making it as far the next time, and the (first) Guy Who Won Survivor losing an edge because everyone was ready for him and knew what they were doing.
Nuclear Winter: Celebrating one whole year of mediocre posts. Anyone know if Trebek has any plans to retire soon? When and if he does, I think Ken would be an ideal candidate to replace him as host.
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It was really kind of fun watching the episode knowing that this was THE ONE where he loses. Watching the gap between him and Nancy get smaller and smaller. It was just like watching "Titanic" for me. You know how it comes out in the end, but are glued to the screen anyway.
Seemed to me like he gave up as well. FedEx? White collar workers.. That's not the kind of question I'd think Ken would miss. I agree that after that amazing 75 show run, the ending was kind of, ...abrupt.
Not counting the time between the two seasons he was on (he was on over the course of two seasons, right?), how long of a period of time was he actually on Jeopardy to be on 75 shows? How many shows do they shoot in a day, and how often do they shoot them? Anyone know this?
"Toby...Toby...Toby... Toby Wong...Toby Wong...Toby Chung...fuckin Charlie Chan."
Originally posted by Nuclear WinterAnyone know if Trebek has any plans to retire soon? When and if he does, I think Ken would be an ideal candidate to replace him as host.
Don't know/haven't heard -- but I don't know if Ken would want to be a host. If anyone's piqued my interest as a replacement (if/when that happens), it's Pat Kiernan, who broke his hosting teeth on "Studio 7." He's perfect for Jeopardy!
Originally posted by jfkfcNot counting the time between the two seasons he was on (he was on over the course of two seasons, right?), how long of a period of time was he actually on Jeopardy to be on 75 shows? How many shows do they shoot in a day, and how often do they shoot them? Anyone know this?
Assuming that game shows *usually* tape five shows in a day, I would venture a guess on two to three weeks or so. Maybe a month. Teapot might know better that I, however.
Ken started on Wednesday, June 2. He ended on Tuesday, November 30. He taped on a total of 16 days over the course of nine separate weeks.
During the "chat session" over the closing credits during my QF game in the ToC, Alex asked us if we'd heard any rumors about their super-champion who'd won 48 games and 1.6-1.7 million dollars. He said his name was Ken Jennings. That's about it. (Actually, I *had* read a rumor about Ken waaay back when he was just an 8-day champion, but I really try to keep myself spoiler-free.)
Arthur Gandolfi refused to believe it was true, and jokingly bet Alex his winnings that it was all a lie. I stress the "jokingly" part.
I stand corrected, but the game show host idea for now is UTA's, according to the story. Call me a purist, but I don't recall seeing Thom McKee, Kevin Olmstead, John Carpenter, Brad Rutter, et. al. vying to host in a genre that's not the hottest at the moment.
OTOH, a Mormon *has* hosted a game show before, so you never know.
Originally posted by Teppan-YakiCall me a purist, but I don't recall seeing ... Brad Rutter... vying to host in a genre that's not the hottest at the moment.
Actually, on A&E's Biography, they showed that Rutter used part of his winnings to start a TV game show for local high school kids in his hometown. They used to have something like that in Louisville while I was in high school (which my high school won a couple of seasons), but it's since gone defunct.
Originally posted by Teppan-YakiDon't know/haven't heard -- but I don't know if Ken would want to be a host. If anyone's piqued my interest as a replacement (if/when that happens), it's Pat Kiernan, who broke his hosting teeth on "Studio 7." He's perfect for Jeopardy!
Anyone else think that show got screwed? Personally, I liked it, but hey, the ratings didn't hold up...
Although I agree, Kiernan would make for a great replacement for Trebek. Probably not with the same style he had on Studio 7, but he'd be intriguing.
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I'm still thinking she still might get a nomination for Hunger Games. I remember thinking that The Silence of the Lambs- released in February- would be forgotten by the time Oscar season came and we know how that turned out.