I 'd be curious about what some of the younger viewers are looking for in a permanent host. I’m guessing most of us commenting here are in our 50’s and 60’s? Someone who knows and respects the game, interacts well with contestants , and shows some personality without being over the top would appeal to me .
The episode tonight was one of the most boring and mismatched ones I have ever seen. My husband agreed.
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Had an interesting wagering scenario though. Steve was in second place late in the Double Jeopardy round with 1/4th the amount that Jamie had in 1st place. He found a Daily Double and had he doubled his score, he would have had a chance to win the game. But he risked $200 less than the max bet meaning that even had he gotten the DD question right (he didn’t) he still would have had no shot to win the game. He basically bet to be around for Final Jeopardy. Not sure what the point of that was if you have no chance to win and you could have bet to have that chance.
On Weds show, Jamie was the beneficiary of someone who committed what to me is a cardinal sin of Jeopardy contestants: being in the lead going into Final Jeopardy, getting the final question right but losing the game. There is some wagering strategy there based on relative totals of the 3 contestants going into the Final (thinking that second place will bet to lock out third place, first place can/should bet small). I can live with losing if I get the final question wrong knowing that I bet to ensure I wouldn’t go home having given the right answer.
Seems like more people are betting big on Daily Doubles. Influence of James I think. But still see too many people not betting to take the lead late in Double Jeopardy (being behind say $5k, finding a DD but betting $3k). Goal should be, if you have a chance, to go for the lead going into the final. If you don’t have it, betting strategies are what you have but you will not be in control. On Weds, Jamie was in the lead most of the Double Jeopardy round and was passed by Elliot very late (I think on the last question). He then got the final question right but lost.
Agree, I have found many of the Daily Double bets confounding. Also, some of the second place Final Jeopardy bets demonstrate poor strategy. Those in second place bet it all, and can drop into 3rd place by getting it wrong, but still lose the game if they answer correctly but the first place player bets just enough. The only way second place can win is if the first place player gets the question wrong. Second place needs to bet just enough to beat 1st place should first place be wrong.
As you say, the cardinal sin of Jeopardy is to be in first place, get Final Jeopardy correct and still lose the game.
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I know some of you really seem to like Bill but I just could not watch him regularly. He is now into his second week and I just am still not feeling him. Katie,Dr. Oz were also hard to watch for two weeks. They seem to be moving to one week stints for guest hosts. That seems like plenty of time to give a guest host and if they’re not great, you’re not stuck with them for 2 weeks!
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Saw Bill for the first time yesterday and turned it off. I couldn’t take his voice and the delivery was slow.
I don’t like Anderson Cooper politics but he has a good voice and got to a good rhythm in delivery.
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New math never was a good thing…
Exactly right, with the caveat that the second place person also needs to guard against being surpassed by the person in third place.
All too often I find myself shaking my head at someone’s Final Jeopardy wager. Particularly baffling are the occasional games I’ve seen in which the first place person has a runaway in Final Jeopardy, and the second place contestant can’t be caught by the remaining contestant and thus has no reason to wager anything – and yet the person in second place bets everything, gets it wrong and winds up in third. Why throw away $1000 bucks like that?
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Another example that gets me is where all three contestants are quite close together going into final Jeopardy. In this case the third place contestant’s only chance to win is if the first two both get it wrong. If the first two both get it wrong, they will probably get it wrong also. They should bet accordingly. If I remember correctly one person did bet appropriately recently in this situation.
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But he finished the board in the same time that the other hosts did.
I think that is part of the problem with a new host every week or two week - there is a skill to plowing through the boards and getting the questions read and answered.
My mom and my husband who are both hard of hearing and wear hearing aids, are finding Bill hard to understand. For whatever reason his voice is in a range that is hard for both of them to hear
I don’t expect many people will find Buzzy Cohen boring when he hosts the Tournament of Champions for 2 weeks starting next week.
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Oh, I REALLY like Buzzy! He’s great.
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I commented to my mother that I think Buzzy is the best so far. Pleasant voice, good comments, good rhythm with the clues and answers.
Hated Buzzy as a contestant—came across as arrogant.
BUT----great as a host. Voice easy to listen to with inflection, can keep up with these top notch contestants. I cringe at thinking of Bill Whittaker or Dr. Oz trying to keep up…
I would be OK if Buzzy got the permanent gig.
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Much to my surprise I agree about Buzzy! He is terrific – nice manner, good voice, right pacing etc. The best guest host by a good margin IMO.
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Agree, Buzzy is terrific. (and I was also surprised.)
I’ve been traveling so have missed it, but y’all are making me excited to tune in today!
My D and I have enjoyed Buzzy as host, but we think he speaks too loudly…but overall we love him as host -
After watching a recorded episode last night I checked my FB (my family is scattered all around the world so I often check to see how everyone is doing) and there was a meme…“You are suddenly stuck with the job of the lead in the last TV show you watched. What are you?” I had to laugh…Host of Jeopardy! Nice gig!
Anyone else read Alex’s last book? The Answer Is…Reflections of My Life…I’m listening to the audio book, which is co-read by him and Ken Jennings. It’s mini essays and tidbits. Light reading. I find it comforting.
I am really liking Mayim Bialik!
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