Do all those crazy assholes really know ALL that information? On average, I find myself answering about 45% of the questions in the first round, and 35% in the second round. Some of the questions asked are just ridiculously specific or weird, and these people answer them. Is there some system of preparation?

I know they go through tests to make sure they are really good at trivia beforehand. Then, they are informed of the categories that they will face. I imagine that these people might actually just be that good.

Some game shows have gotten in trouble for giving contestants the answers in the past, so that is, of course, quite possible. I would be inclined to think that jeopardy is not one of them though.

-Biscuits

One of my wild guesses was that they hand them something like 50,000 questions and say, "here, any of these could come up." Where did you find out that they were given the categories ahead of time?

Have to watch Jeopardy

I have a brother that tried out to be a contestant once. He is pretty smart and did not make the cut in the end. They were asked many questions about many different subjects so I figure the people who do make it are either very smart or know a lot of useless information .

I would go with the know a lot of useless information option

Unless something has changed in the last ten years or so, they aren't told the categories beforehand. I had a friend that was on Jeopardy, and he did pretty well until the Final Jeopardy category was Ballet.

And, to answer your question, they just know a lot of stuff. Actual contestants will read almanacs and encyclopedias to prepare. Didn't you ever know any college bowl contestants? When I watched Jeopardy regularly, I got about 75% of the questions (answers?) right. Of course, there's much less pressure at home than in front of a studio audience. I haven't watched it much in years, though. I should.

I could be wrong then. I read that 5 years or so ago. I don't have a source, so it could have been an unreliable source or I could have simple remembered it wrong.

-Biscuits

Hey, they could have changed. Mine is definitely old info.

Dude, I was on the scholar's bowl and college bowl teams at my schools. (Scholar's bowl being the high school equiv). My best friend made it to the 3rd round of tryouts /w Jeopardy before finally getting cut. What amazes me is that Wheel of Fortune comes on right after Jeopardy, and Wheel must have NO type of screening whatsoever. I mean, they get some of the stupidest contestants I've ever seen. Then there's the Jeopardy crowd, who are some of the most well-read contestants ever.

And as to how some people remember all that crap, There are plenty of people with photographic or audiographic memory. I rarely miss a question in trivial pursuit, since I've heard the answers once. Needless to say, it pisses my mom off to no end.

Wheel must have NO type of screening
Wheel probably screens like other shows that are of sheer luck and not particularly skill or knowledge based. They like "bubbly" people, not really bright and bubbly, just bubbly. The Price is Right interviews people in line waiting to get into the studio audience for their contestants. They say the funner you appear to the interwiewer the better your chance. Granted I would probably nervous as well on a studio set vs my living room couch.

Am I the only one who thinks Trebek shouldn't have shaved 'stache?

And I agree, they just seem like smart people. I always enjoyed the contrast between that show and Wheel, because of the severe drop in IQ.

My favorites are the champion shows, where the contestants look like super geniuses and they answer almost every question at rapid-fire pace.

I think my mom got the chance to meet Trebek, because he always does the Geography Bee championship in her building at National Geographic.

Yeah i don't like mustaches but i think Trebek looked alright in one.

One of my favorite things about Jeapardy is watching people get creamed. The best is when Final Jeapardy comes around and you have some dude sitting pretty at like, $14,000, the next person at like $7,400 and then some dude with - $300 who doesn't even get to appear on stage at the end. Thats like a giant F-you.

Mandatory Simpsons reference of the day...



"You owe us money, Marge."

Just as an aside; I heard a 'contestant' on a radio show. To be entered into a draw and to get a CD he had to spell "ACDC".
His version went "ADAC"
Even the host couldn't believe how stupid this guy was.

How does Jeopardy work?


I'm sorry, but if you want correct responses you'll need to rephrase your subject line;

"The mechanations of a popular game show where all the answers have to be phrased as a question"

That was brilliant - he kept trying, and knew he was saying it incorrectly but just couldn't manage it. I kept wondering whether the presenter was initially thinking it was a wind-up.