My dad and I have always watched the NFL draft “together” via telephone.
Yes, you would think by now that contestants would know that waving the buzzer around like that doesn’t work.
Had last night’s contestants done a little better, they could’ve had a chance. James didn’t land on any of the Daily Doubles and ended with one of his smaller winning totals (altho still a good amount).
Yes, but James was still $25,000 ahead of 2nd place going into Final Jeopardy, even without the daily doubles. Neither of the other contestants was very good.
Even though I know it’s probably not true, I am a little suspicious that a runaway player like Holzhaur comes along right when Alex Trebek announced that he has terminal cancer. Having a once-a-decade player like Holzhaur on the show is a great way to deflect attention from the very depressing reality that Jeopardy will most likely lose its host.
@hopedaisy I believe that these episodes were filmed months before Alex’s diagnosis.
@alwaysamom @hopedaisy The episodes are filmed 2-3 months before they are aired.
Glad to see some competition!
What is the record for the highest final total by a player finishing second?
Not sure but my H remarked how strange it was to have the second place person have such a high total. We were surprised at how many of the answers we knew between the two of us , but of course it is harder for a contestant and the stress with that. We don’t regularly watch but have tuned in some with this run. James still leaves me cold.
2d place total tonight was the 21st highest final total ever for regular play. James’ total was 20th highest ever. James has to has to have about 15 of those top 20 scores. So prior to his arrival, the 2d place total tonight was in something like the top 5 scores of all time (for regular game). Amazing.
Adam supposedly returned in the contestant pool from last week. So he watched James play 5 times last week (or before he was selected). Learned a lot I would say.
Also saw that Jeopardy has banned shout outs in final jeopardy. Was odd to see James not make one tonight.
I thought he might go down last night but when I saw the Final Jeopardy question knew he was going to win. Was too easy.
@sevmom The challenger followed James’ lead in being a big roller.
Last night’s contestants definitely gave James a run for his money. I think other players now know how he plays and some will be following his lead.
Yes. I actually know someone who won on Jeopardy (don’t remember the amount). He said that the three of them were equally adapt but that the ability to buzz in at the precisely the right time is what puts one player ahead. You can’t be late … but you can’t be too early either or you miss the “sweet spot” and someone else can buzz after you but get to answer the question.
An article in our local paper stated that James queried show staffers in depth on exactly how the buzzer technology works and built a practice version of one at home to master it. Fairly often in Jeopardy games you can see that other contestants are trying to buzz in, so presumably know the answer, but are getting beat out by someone else. The really consistent big winners all seem to be really good on the buzzer in addition to knowing a lot of answers.
Do you have a link for the article, @cellomom2 ? I am surprised staffers would give out info about the technology. That would seem to be proprietary information? He has lots of general knowledge, commands the buzzer, gets early control of the board (and gets control back quickly if he needs to), and moves the questions along quickly. Very impressive. He will probably be around for awhile! 
I don’t see how just having a version of the buzzer helps. The key is buzzing in at just the right time - when the lights around the board go out (something not visible to viewers at home). Until he was actually there, he couldn’t have prepared for that.
Here’s an article on James’ buzzer prep. https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/4/18/18456756/james-holzhauer-jeopardy-winner-alex-trebek-ken-jennings
It also shows he’s a very sweet guy if you read the bit at the end.
In an interview with the NYT, he said he gets many of his facts from children’s books!
“I have a strategy of reading children’s books to gain knowledge. I’ve found that in an adult reference book, if it’s not a subject I’m interested in, I just can’t get into it. I was thinking, what is the place in the library I can go to to get books tailored to make things interesting for uninterested readers? Boom. The children’s section.”