I’ll be on The Chase (ABC)

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general observation, not an attack.

 

Yes. That’s my intent.

 

On the subject of James, I hate the fact that he's ruined Jeopardy, possibly forever!

By this, I mean his system of starting at the bottom of the board, which was extremely successful for him because of his fact-spewing intellect, is being copied by far less clever contestants.They inevitably blow out, ruining the board.

In some cases, the clues are meant to be revealed from the top down and in most, they get harder as the values increase. When they bomb, they ruin the flow.

Also, why do they go searching for the DD from the start when the payoff is minimal?

 

There is a bit of a preventative strategy in getting the DD early. You prevent your opponent from capitalizing on it. It was an effective strategy in Ken winning the greatest of all time tournament. He and Brad kept it from James.

 

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I agree that searching for the DD in the Jeopardy! Round is silly-but in Double Jeopardy! it can be wise-and people are making bigger and bigger bets and getting the responses correct! I love it!

 

I was just popping in to say basically the same thing. It can be a highly effective defensive move. Even if you don't get the question right, you prevent someone else from getting the DD and possibly keep the game far closer. (For example, if someone else has say a $6,000 lead, and they hit the DD, they could easily bet that $6,000 lead and extend it to a $12,000 lead. If there's no DD available they can perhaps extend the lead, but they'll have to do it in smaller amounts. On the offense side, yeah, if the DD is burned it makes it harder for the player to potentially make up the distance, but it can still be done slowly but surely.)

Personally, I don't mind the gimmick of a category that was meant to flow from top to bottom, but by the same token the questions should be independent of each other and not really matter all that much as to order. So if someone hops around the bottom of the board and quickly builds up a lead, or uses the bottom of the board to make up ground, that is a perfectly acceptable strategy.

 

Regarding the insults, I'm sure they're scripted by the producers. And several contestants have given their share of (I assume) scripted insults as well. I don't fault him for not being great at the delivery.

As for James' strategy on Jeopardy, I respect the hell out of him for it. It's not like he broke any rules. He just found a better way to play the game. If you were him, and you found a way to make a bunch of money on a game show, wouldn't you do it?

 

For sure. Of course, it is hard to say that the strategy really had a huge affect. James is quick on the button and has very few knowledge gaps. Even when he doesn’t KNOW the answer, he has shown how quickly he analyzes a question by some of his explanations on the Chase. So, would he destroy the field anyway?

 

Agreed. I think there is a trifecta of skills needed for trivia gameshows. Here's my opinion, for best to, well, third-best ('cuz they're all really good imo).

KNOWLEDGE: Ken, Brad, James
DEDUCTION: James, Ken, Brad
GAMEPLAY: James, Ken, Brad

So I kinda think Ken is the Trivia Master, but James is the best gamer. (Sorry, Brad.)

 

I wonder how much the chasers get paid and if they all make the same amount or if Ken Jennings makes more since he's more of a household name.

 

I would bet they have a favored nations-type deal and all get paid the same. Given the way the show was marketed, I'll bet they joined the show as a package deal.

 

You may want to rethink that knowledge list after watching the chase.

 

I think it's funny (not quite hilarious). Like was discussed earlier in this thread, I think both of them (the host and the chase) have basically admitted that their lines are scripted. Though it also *seemed* like he came up with one of the retorts on the fly right after the round (I don't remember what it was).. I also realize it may be clever editing or something.. (e.g. a lot of us didn't realize it was all scripted on "Hollywood Squares".. and heck, I didn't realize @Midnight was all scripted until someone posted it here too.)

Him being a jerk who wants to crush the competitor is his schtick.

 

Yeah. It’s part of the show. Always has been. From the UK days and the GSN days.

 

I didn't know what they'd do if all 3 contestants got caught in stage 2. Wow, $250K seems like a ridiculously high amount for a 'consolation (potential) prize' for round 3.

 

So last night's two episodes were the "season finale." If that's all we ever see of this show, I won't shed a tear. It's poorly designed and poorly executed. The only draw of this show is the three Jeopardy! GOATs, yet having them there actually ruins the game because it makes very difficult for the players to win anything. Hopefully KJ gets the permanent Jeopardy! hosting gig and this show just never comes back.

 

The only alternative would be not to air the episode. Chaser starts even. Chaser beat the contestant earlier in the show. I'd say the contestants chances are near zero. Results were expected

 

I'd make it $25,000 each - that's more in line with how the GSN version worked (if the contestant won, each contestant won the value of a question in the 60-second round).

 

Looks like you haven't watched one of the episodes from last night yet. This happened and they picked one of the three and allowed Ken to say how much he'd "give" them if they were to win. I'm sure it was a producer that determined the amount, but they made it look like Ken decided it. He said he'd give them $250,000.