A blast from the past. Ken and Alex at their finest
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before I hear him answer I said Hoe to myself also!
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I remember when the episode originally ran, and that’s what I said then as well. 
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Now that’s just the kind of quick thinking ad libbing from Alex that Ken was missing during his first stint as host, that is now coming out as he is WAY more comfortable doing the job!
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Ken was also the first host post Alex and did it for 6 weeks when most of those trying out only had 2 week runs. I think Ken was in a very different and difficult position. His friend had just died. Everyone was expecting ‘Alex II’ right off the bat. We were in deep Covid times and even the set looked different.
I don’t remember if the email/twitter issues had been revealed against him at that time but I think so and some people were against him for those.
I think Mayim does fine but she still has other acting gigs and personal projects and maybe doing just the special tournaments is a better balance for her. That’s what I’d prefer, for Ken to do the daily Jeopardy! and Mayim to do the specials. I kind of like the dual hosting.
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I agree. I don’t think anyone could have followed Alex and immediately been embraced as a viable alternative. Alex was the human embodiment of the show: quick, smart, with a quiet confidence that crossed the line to arrogance on occasion. To be smart, arrogant, and loved…that’s a pretty small needle to thread, that over time expands as memories fade.
I don’t care too much about the host at this point. Either of them is fine. The difference with Ken is that he brings a sense of continuity that no one else has. He knew Alex. He knows more about the show, and he’s developing an enjoyable comfort for sarcasm toward contestant comments and responses that is incredibly dangerous these days. I can’t tell you specifically, but there have been a few comments made by Ken over the past few weeks that I have thought to myself “he’s very quick, and genuinely funny”.
I think Ken has settled in nicely, and think he’s doing a good job.
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Some stats comparing Matt, Ken, Amy and James:
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Interesting final jeopardy tonight. Immediately thought it was way too obvious/easy for a final jeopardy question but then Amy was the only one who didn’t get it!
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It seems that some Final Jeopardy questions are way too easy. Once in a while they will have one that is very tough, that no one gets correctly. Most have some sort of hint, be it a date, a location, etc.
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Amy started off strong in Final Jeopardy questions. I think she missed 1 question in first 15 shows. But has struggled last week and this week so far. Answering 2 correct I believe in that span. Worked out with runaway wins. But may not in the about 14% of her games that are not runaway games. We shall see.
One of the most obscure Jeopardy questions was:
Category: Rhymes with Here
Answer: North Chelsea, Massachusetts was renamed this.
Question: What is Revere?
None of the contestants even tried to guess. I knew the correct response because I was born and raised in (south) Chelsea, Massachusetts.
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Maybe Amy is just getting tired and wants her regular life back. Remember that on Matt’s last day he was awful, and he gave a ridiculous answer to an easy Final Jeopardy question. Maybe he wanted to get back to writing his dissertation.
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I never knew Revere was North Chelsea.
My father grew up in Chelsea and I still have family there. My grandmother had an “ocean front” cottage in Revere for more than 50 years. I have many happy memories of summers there. We could walk to Kellys. In fact we just made a pilgrimage there after many years. So much has changed in the area but not the roast beef sandwiches or fried clams.
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From what I have seen, shows that air on Monday and Friday are biggest threats to long time champs. Friday its a matter of fatigue with 5 shows taped a day and Friday aired shows being the 5th. Monday aired shows are often after some length of a break. Buzzer timing is critical and with some days off it can be lost. Matt, James and Julia Collins (20 game winner) lost on shows that aired Monday. Don’t know if any 10+ day champs have lost on a Friday aired show.
My recollection of Matt’s last game is that his timing was off in the first round, he didn’t find delay doubles and got flustered in the second. What he had done to contestants consistently during his run. I also recall Final Jeopardy didn’t matter for him because he was in third going into it and both of the other contestants got it right. So what he wagered or answered didn’t matter. And going into the final, he knew the most likely path for him for a win was a triple stumper (unless the second place contestant risked nothing but from what I have seen, not may second place contestants take that path).
When James lost, there were people who thought he threw the game/was tired of playing/etc. The reasoning was wager in his final game for Final Jeopardy was small (especially by his standards). But his bet made the most sense given where he was (in second going into Final). Emma gets it right (which she did) and he wasn’t going to win. He played the bet that gave him the best chance to win if she didn’t while protecting against the third place contestant. Even Alex was surprised by James’ bet (Alex never really understood the betting strategies involved in Final Jeopardy – guest hosts other than Ken didn’t either).
If Amy is looking to get back to regular life, presumably she would be better off slowing down a tick on ringing in. Her first in percentages are still high (and this week she had 40 correct answers in one game). Rather than looking to return to regular life, seems more likely she is just running into Final Jeopardy questions she doesn’t know.
Jeopardy is now providing box scores:
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Here is a recent viewpoint from former 5 time champion, Tom Nichols, about the recent multi show winning by more players-
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I agree about bringing back the 5 win (or maybe 10 win) rule. I’m getting very bored with Amy, and was the same with some of the other multi game winners. I was tired of Matt, but not of the 11 game winner (the guy from Florida) from recent times - he never had runaway games and always had to work hard to win.
I remember when Ken was on. My daughter was about 10 years old and one day, after Ken had lost, she walked in and said “Where’s Ken?” She just thought he was always on.
I liked when they had 5 day champs and they also won a car if I’m remembering that correctly.
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Since they removed the 5 day limit in 2003, they have had twelve 10+ day champs. So fewer than one per season. Seems like this is a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist.
And ratings are up. So apparently not everyone is bored with super champs.
The Big 4 (Ken, James, Matt and Amy) all have had north of 80% runaway games. Its what makes long runs possible. If you are in nailbiters every game you likely won’t go on a long winning streak.
I also don’t think you need close games every night to be interesting. Just like you can enjoy a 1-0 baseball game and one that is 9-7 as well. I think its fun to watch dominating players as well as games that are close. Matt was fun to watch. As was James. And Amy is fun to watch. Today’s show would tie Matt for second most games won if Amy wins.
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But would you want to watch a 10-0 game every day?
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Probably depends on why you watch. If you watch for close games then likely no. If you like the format of the game and like to challenge yourself, you may well like the games no matter the scores. And watching people who are extremly good at playing the game is enjoyable to many people as well. Increased ratings are consistent with that.
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I like Amy but do wish there were more competitive games.
I would not hate a 10 or even a 20 game limit.
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