I used to be a daily watcher, until Alex passed and the shenanigans with the rotating guest hosts.
However, I have noticed over the years that they use predictive programming in their clues. Several years back, they did an almost monthy category devoted to Cern, often sending the "Clue Crew" to the site. I was curious at the time, but didn't think much about why this deserved so much attention.
Last week, or the week previously, the answer to Final Jeopardy was the Three Gorges Dam. I thought that was an incredibly easy Final Jeopardy answer and believe it had a purpose.
I've noticed, in retrospect, predictive programming used a lot on the show. Has anyone else noticed this?
It's gotten wo see since Mayim Biallick has been host. I think the show is being used as comms now. Her outfits leave me wondering, too.
I've only seen one where she hosts, I can not stand her, but I will continue to watch now and note the comms/programming. What is it about her outfit?
Mass unconcious programming.
The Three Gorges Dam was probably the easiest final Jeopardy question in my years as constant viewer. Why that simplistic final question and why now? Really activated my almonds
Watch the water.
This was my immediate though!
Easy final jeopardy questions are also the show’s way of making sure that the person leading after two rounds wins the whole episode.
There are videos of how Jeopardy set up James Holzhauer to get eliminated. They used his pattern against him of hunting daily doubles and betting big, while they hand picked a well read librarian to take him down. Even though James was good for ratings, he didn’t improve Jeopardy’s profitability. Those advertising prices were already set based on previous seasons’ ratings. James’ popularity couldn’t really be used for advertising-price negotiations for future seasons because there would be no guarantee that he would still be on the show. His huge per game cash amounts were a big liability for Jeopardy, so he got the Herb Stempel treatment except that Herb was in on his own defeat and James wasn’t.
Matt Amodio was also making high per game cash winnings so he got in the crosshairs. Towards the end of his run, I noticed a few times that the returning champ’s first clue selection in the first round would be the daily double. That way he could only bet $1000. I thought Matt should’ve changed his tactics at that point. Eventually when there was a game where Matt wasn’t in the lead after two rounds, they gave an easy Final Jeopardy clue about Germany annexing Austria that all the contestants knew. When they had Matt on the ropes, that was the knockout punch.
Some people claim Matt threw the game by answering ‘Poland’ when everyone including Matt knew it was ‘Austria’. Daily fantasy football players understand an aspect of Game Theory: that there’s potential value in answering differently than others. If everyone else buys the stud RB going against a weak defense and you choose someone more obscure instead, if the stud RB gets stuffed and your guy does well, then you’ll shoot up the money rankings. When Matt saw the easy Final Jeopardy in the only game that he was trailing, he knew he already lost, so he answered differently than everyone else for the off chance that it was a trick question that wasn’t perceived properly.
Very interesting! Thanks! I am (or was) a big fan, but not a super fan, like you seen to be. The Holzhauer situation makes perfect sense in your explanation.The opinion of mamy that Matt was cheating, I never entertained. I do believe the producers knew he was a ringer( aced the test and practice games) so they kept him in their back pocket until they needed him to pull up their garbage ratings. I understand what you are saying about the easy Final Jeopardy questions, some are easier than $200 questions, plus the way they are worded gives context, making them even easier. My initial point was that the Three Gorges answer was so simple for Final and in light of the talk of potential flooding in the recent past, as well as Q saying 'watch the water" was very intriguing. The monthy (or so it seemed) Cern categories were as well. Recently there was also a clue about a musician that died that very day. Don't know the details, because I haven't been watching. This had happened several times in the past, and considering they tape months on advance, these are supposed coincidences? Nice chat, fren. Even though I can not stand Bialik, I will hold my nose to look out for more oddities.
I've also noticed this...sometimes the answer matching info in Q drops couple of years back as well.
Do you have any examples? I had a gut feeling that the constant Cern categories was strange and there have been others that I can't recall. The recent Three Gorges answer cemented it for me. Would love to hear any examples you can remember.
Sorry, I never wrote anything down... I'll try to keep track going forward
I'll do the same 👍