Something that frustrates me about Jeopardy...

[terpfan1980]

Nah, it's not as simple as that pompous Trebek guy :p

It's that when they screw up on accepting an answer from a contestant and go back and and change their minds about it they completely change and affect the flow of the game which could mean a total swing in who wins or loses, how much the players might risk on Jeopardy or Double Jeopardy questions, etc.

In a recent episode (ok, maybe it was tonite, maybe not... ;) ) they did the mea culpa thing, stopped the game for a second and said there's a change in scoring, affecting such and such a player, and then gave credit for a correct (alternate) answer. Great, but it completely changes the game as the player that was in the lead is no longer in the lead and their competitor has leap frogged them with or without risking too much or too little on the Jeopardy questions.

Basically the kind of stuff that has me looking at the game and thinking they may as well bring all 3 players back for a another crack at the game. :o

[Turtleboy]

I think at the core, you're right, but when looking at the nucleus of the problem, they have to make the fix when they do.

[terpfan1980]

I think at the core, you're right, but when looking at the nucleus of the problem, they have to make the fix when they do.

Yeah, I'm sure that if they go back and replay the game from the point of the screw up they take a ton of time remaking an episode to try to get it right and it would still screw up the game flow if someone is on a roll, got favorable (to them) categories, etc.

[Turtleboy]

Yeah, I'm sure that if they go back and replay the game from the point of the screw up they take a ton of time remaking an episode to try to get it right and it would still screw up the game flow if someone is on a roll, got favorable (to them) categories, etc.

zoom?

[visionary]

I think it is entirely the show's budget status, someone just won big, the next game even a slight mis-pronouncing is WRONG, yet bad spelling is not wrong, and it is the same thing. They even have foreign people who say everything wrong later, and it is fine. I have heard several right answers ruled wrong. If that happened to me and was for big money I know what I'd do, get up and leave right then, I can say I am "sick" about it and need to go vomit, making the tape worthless. If they want to fix it now, maybe I can hold my vomit and finish after all. I wish I could recall one of those as an example but has been too long, but they were clearly unfair. Like someone answered a painting's name as "3 Soldier Fight" and he said "3 Soldiers Fight" or something like that. I think it is on purpose to keep down prize money.

[jrinck]

This show jumped the shark just recently when a contestant answered "muscles" and the answer they wanted was "muscle". Come on--way too neurotic for even me, and that's saying something.

:down:

[marksman]

Q: Things we name our baby-making equipment.

"A:What is Love Muscles?"

Uh oh!

[astrohip]

I think at the core, you're right, but when looking at the nucleus of the problem, they have to make the fix when they do.
:up: :up: :up:

When he said 'core', I turned to the empty spot next to me on the couch (because my family refuses to watch J with me, as I am a poor winner) and said, "I know nucleus is the answer, but core should be acceptable."

This, of course, is why no one has the guts to sit next to me when I watch J. They get embarrassed by my incredible smartitudiness. :D

[TonyTheTiger]

Trebeck has an idea of what's acceptable and what isn't. For the most part, they get it right but sometimes I answer with a British version and I know it's right and I wonder what would happen on the show. I know it may lead to a "score correction" moment.

As for plurals, they generally get that right too. Muscles would be allowed if the body has more than one or if the question is phrased in such a way that it would be acceptable. However, "Wizards of Oz" would be wrong as it is not the title required.

There have been occasions when (IMHO) they've got it completely wrong, but they are few and far between.

[Idearat]

There are detailed rules about adding "s" or such and for spelling, not spelled out on the show but explained to the contestants.

They do a pretty good job of trying not to interrupt the flow, or at least the flow we see. Usually they wait until the next Daily Double to correct a score. This is done just for the reason complained about, to let the bidder have all the information for the wager, but not stop play in the middle of someone's run. Same goes for going into Final Jeopardy, they adjust the scores before the wager.

[trainman]

I think it is on purpose to keep down prize money.

If they really wanted to keep the prize money down, they wouldn't have doubled all the dollar values a couple of years ago.

[Turtleboy]

If they really wanted to keep the prize money down, they wouldn't have doubled all the dollar values a couple of years ago.

Or take away the 5 times and your done rule.

[TonyTheTiger]

If they really wanted to keep the prize money down, they wouldn't have doubled all the dollar values a couple of years ago.

They don't have to keep the prize money down - that's just total baloney. Quiz shows have long been known as cheap television and even if a big amount is given away, it's cheaper than hiring actors for a scripted show. That's why game shows (and even reality TV) are big business for the studios. They can record five shows in a day and the only big payment goes to the host!

A big payday occasionally only goes to promote the show, so why people have to chime in with uneducated statements like "they have to keep the prize money down" beat me!

[Idearat]

A big payday occasionally only goes to promote the show, so why people have to chime in with uneducated statements like "they have to keep the prize money down" beat me!

I think the odds of someone saying that and winning on Jeopardy are slim. ;)

[mrdbdigital]

I think there are also specific laws that apply to scoring on game shows that were put in place after all the scandals in the early days of television.

[DevdogAZ]

A big payday occasionally only goes to promote the show, so why people have to chime in with uneducated statements like "they have to keep the prize money down" beat me!
Look at who said it. 'Nuff said.

I don't have any problem with them making the correction, so long as they do it within the same round. I don't think I've ever seen them make a correction after the players have wagered in Final Jeopardy! as that would be ridiculous. Anything before that and I don't see it having much of an effect.

[trainman]

I don't have any problem with them making the correction, so long as they do it within the same round. I don't think I've ever seen them make a correction after the players have wagered in Final Jeopardy! as that would be ridiculous. Anything before that and I don't see it having much of an effect.

Occasionally, you see them come back from the commercial break before Final Jeopardy! and Alex announces a scoring change -- but he usually also points out that the players had made their wagers based on the corrected scores.

I went to a "Jeopardy!" taping a couple of years ago and was seated in the front row of the audience right behind the table where the writers/producers/judges sit. They actually did have to make use of the reference books they keep at that table, when a contestant made a "wrong" response they weren't expecting (and then they stopped tape when the next Daily Double was hit, and indeed wound up crediting the contestant with a correct answer, thus changing the score).

[Idearat]

They do appear to be pretty diligent when it comes to correcting their mistakes. I've seen it happen a couple times where a "new" contestant is introduced as being a previous contestant. When they've lost due to a Jeopardy mistake they jump the queue and get brought back for another shot.