I just finished watching an old friend of mine compete on Jeopardy. (She got second place.) It reminded me how much I hate it when the audience claps after the “Daily Double” pops up.
Mind you, they’re not clapping after the contestant has successfully answered the question...they clap before the question has even been asked. It’s just a ritual for everyone in the studio to applaud whenever the Daily Double graphic appears on the screen. But why? The Daily Double is not telling them nice things about their personality. It is not doing their laundry. It’s not actually benefiting them in any way. It’s simply an aspect of the game--entirely neutral. This is like standing around on a street corner and applauding a lamp post.
I was very disappointed that my friend couldn’t answer my single biggest burning Jeopardy question: what does everyone talk about when the show is over and all the contestants stand around chatting with Alex Trebec?
“I don’t remember,” she said.
That is just lame. I’d like it if Alex said “You, on the left. You annoyed me the entire show with your rapid blinking eyes. Are you on drugs? And you, returning champion--you are an insufferable twit. I’m tempted to use my power as host to accuse of you of cheating and kick you off the show. Greg’s friend totally should have won. I mean damn, she even knew that ‘cater’ is an archaic reference to the number ‘four.’ If it wasn’t for my cue cards, I wouldn’t have known that one.”
Posted by Greg at 04:03 PM. Filed under:
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She doesn’t remember or she can’t say?
There’s a reason why they edit portions of the show out and it’s not because they don’t effect the outcome. I’d have a good long look at my life before trying to dig any deeper into this, Greg.
Pisses me off, too, and I asked the question on my blog long ago...and someone who once competed on the show said that the applause is “anticipatory,” and allows the contestant to gather his/her thoughts and decide how much to wager.
Lame.
Why indeed? Personally, I’m boycotting Jeopardy until they adopt a less musically irritating theme song…
Oh, I’m Shari. Romy sent me. Please forgive my lack of manners—I should have introduced myself before joining the fray. *blush*
Why? I’m guessing the giant, blinking ‘Applause’ sign has something to do with it. I think if you don’t applaud when prompted you get an electrical shock. These are just conjectures mind you. I don’t want Alex Trebek coming after me. Anyone who manages to be that boring and yet stay on TV for so long must have connections.
I barely even watch Jeopardy! anymore. I’ve been watching it since high school, and the questions have been so dumbed down it is laughable.
It is to laugh! Ha! Hahaha!
Though Alex has gotten hotter (for an old man) as the years have gone by, so go figure. Or just forget I said that.
As for the applauding the Daily Double, at least it’s better than people clapping and oooohhhhhing Emeril for SALT.
:::clapping at your entry (i didnt read it):::
If you really want to extract information from your friend, you should pose the question in the form of an answer. For example:
You might say:
“Menial items discussed with Alex Trebec after taping of show.”
then wait for a maximum of three seconds. She might say:
“What is Alex Trebec’s disdain for all living beings?”
or something to that effect.
I haven’t watched Jeopardy in an age, either. At some point Trebec’s holier-than-thou schtick became unbearable to me. I swear a couple of times--in addition to the wincing, I-can’t-believe-you-missed-that-one face--he said, “Oh, dumbass, if only you’d stopped to THINK before answering… obviously the correct answer is [insert answer here].”
I started having fantasies about ripping off his entire moustache, band-aid style, and then I realized it was time to get help. Or stop watching.
they clap because if they released and ran with bulls it would get them thrown out. but if they just sat there they’d incur the wrath of Alex. He strides around in the studio audience during commercial breaks, growing to gargantuan proportions and breathing fire, while his mustaches grow prehensile and serpentine and carnivorous.... they call it jeopardy for a reason, and it’s nothing to do with the fifth amendment. That man is goddamn dangerous.
I’m boycotting till they go back to filming it nude, on trampolines. Evil cannot survive in the presence of a trampoline.
Isn’t this the SECOND friend you’ve known on Jeopardy? Doesn’t the daily double mean twice as much winnings? Is this what they mean by answering in the form of a question?
Yup, 2nd friend, and she came in 2nd place. Other friend came in 3rd. So next friend will be champ...and/or start hosting the show.
I’ve heard that Alex has a hypnotic effect on people, even though he’s a total jerk.
So the answer to the question, “What does everyone talk about when the show is over and all the contestants stand around chatting with Alex?” is ANYTHING HE WANTS.
Probably how the Canadians are superior and are going to take over sooner or later. And how Canadian Thanksgiving is better because it’s in October.
My fourth grade teacher used to rant on and on about how much she hated Alex Trebek and his superior Canadiensis attitude and I never quite got it until I got older and realized that he really is a big jerk. In spite of this, I still LOVE that show!
When are you going on Jeopardy? Seems all your friends are doing it.
One day I saw a guy at the bookstore who had been on Jeopardy the day before. I told him I’d seem him and asked what it was like to be there. He just shrugged and said it was okay. Then walked away. I wonder - maybe they’re not allowed to talk about what happens there. Hmmm.
I don’t know if this helps at all, but…
You know how David Letterman whispers in the ear of hot guest ladies before they sit down on his show? Yeah, I know! Anyway, apparently, he says stuff like ‘I hate my necktie.’ True story.