I think the middle guy did what he had to do, but it just didn’t work out. He bet the max on a double jeopardy (he was at -$1000 and bet $2000) because he needed to get out of the negative. He then chanced it on some other questions just to get back to the positive numbers. Didn’t work.
He had to take those chances.
The champ appears to pause when answering questions (almost like a stutter, but not aloud), so that causes the timing to be off.
It wasn’t shown here yesterday either - I was able to find the episode on YouTube and watched it there.
Thanks for the tip, @college_query. We get new episodes at 3:30 pm each weekday and I guess we are pre-empted for Olympic coverage for the next two weeks. I don’t watch every day, but I am trying to take in many of the celebrity hosts.
I was underwhelmed with Lavar as well. Maybe because I expected him to be perfect for the job. Had missed Miyam’s turn so I just watched them on YouTube. She was great. Perfect pacing and warm and friendly demeanor.
He is one of my least favorites so far out of the gate. Just hope the hype and pressure from fans around him doesn’t make the producers/network pick him if he doesn’t improve( which hopefully he does). There are a few others that I wasn’t wild about so will be interesting to see who they end up with.
I also don’t really like that Lavar has been actively lobbying to get the job.
My personal preferences to date are: Mayim Bialik, Buzzy Cohen and Mike Richards. I would not mind it if two people shared hosting duties but that is unlikely.
I do like seeing where the guest hosts are sending their charity money. I knew Lavar would choose something to do with reading, and he did. Everyone is a winner there.
I’m still not feeling him after his second outing . But, I’m also not feeling the current champion. He is obviously very intelligent but I find it more interesting when contestants have a little more personality.
The current champ annoys me when he answers by saying “What is (person’s name)?”
IT"S WHO, NOT WHAT!!!
(don’t worry…I’m OK now… ; )
Sean Connery
Swords for $200, Alex.
Turd Ferguson
I agree. Very annoying.
Lavar Burton looks like he’s relying too much on his note cards. And his enthusiasm seems forced, a tiny bit over-the-top. AND…his slow responses are slowing the game down. Holhauzer would have made his next choice before Lavar would rule right or wrong!
As much as I did not like Buzzy Cohen as a contestant, he was excellent as a host. It is clear why he was selected to host the tournament of champions—he could handle it.
The two who have campaigned for the job full time (Burton, Aaron Rodgers) have not put their best foot forward.
Here’s a discussion about the answers being in the form of the right question:
Answers Must Be in the Form of the Right Question « Literal-Minded.
I think Aaron Rogers did well. But given he just signed a one year deal with Green Bay, I don’t see him becoming the new permanent host.
At this point, I would put Mike Richards at the top. Followed by Jennings, Mayim, Cohen and Rogers.
And I agree that Buzzy was better than I thought he would be (didn’t think his contestant vibe would carry well as the host but he modified it well to be a good host).
From the link:
To give one of the more egregious examples I saw last night, the category was anagrams of place names, and the answer was “Down under barn race.” The contestant said, “What is Canberra?” and got credit. Now hold on a minute… What the contestant should have said is, “What is an anagram for Canberra?”
Umm, no. It’s one thing to be pedantic. It’s another to be pedantic and wrong. The category is anagrams, so “an anagram for” is superfluous.
I’ll take “Kids who were beaten up for their lunch money” for 400, please. 
If Mayim is chosen as permanent host will she have in her contract that one of her commercials for whatever the is promoting be aired every night like it was when she guest hosted?
Did Alex have one in his contract for Colonial Penn ads?
I have been disappointed in Levar’s performance. Too forced, his YES. Plus I don’t get the feeling he would know the answers
Not sure if the ad is a local Boston station-run ad or not, during Jeopardy often we see an ad featuring Mayim Bialyk for one of those “memory” drugs that has the usual “this drug hasn’t been tested for this” disclaimer in tiny print at the bottom. In my mind the ad undercuts her credibility as a serious scientist.