Boomer TV: Rediscovering Jeopardy

By Ken DeLaat

 It’s been awhile since I watched Jeopardy but I found myself alone at home on Wednesday night  because LSC Lil had left town for the night and I kind of stumbled onto it while eating some ice cream standing up because we’re not allowed to eat on the couch and I can’t bring myself to break the rules even when I might get away with it.

And that’s when I discovered James, Ken and Brad, the ex champions  who were participating in the Greatest Of All Time competition, an interesting title shortened to provide a categorical column during each game involving the acronym GOAT.

My past Jeopardy encounters came from watching the venerable Art Fleming who hosted the show the first 11 years or so. A group of us in college watched pretty regularly and once in a classic show all three contestants ended up in the minus column requiring Fleming to ad lib since there was no final jeopardy It was hilarious, particularly because toward the end no one was even trying to buzz in.
But I digress.
​
Need to put your ego in check when it comes to feeling like you’re pretty smart? Well, watch the wizardry of these guys who tear through questions about the most obscure topics imaginable. I was infinitely proud to have known some of the answers…I mean questions... as I sat there in the comfort of my couch but by and large it reminded me of when I was part of a team that took on one of Tony McHattie’s more dominant WC Quiz Bowl teams and were systematically spanked. 

This current canny crew is brilliant and the questions (answers) are mostly really really hard. It was the equivalent of watching a heavyweight fight with three guys in the ring. For former fight fans  James was Ali, deceptive, lurking in the background at times and lightning fast, Ken was Frazier, a grinder, a winner who won by pounding away with impressive streaks and Brad was Foreman, the guy who won by dominating the opposition (so long as it was human since he lost to IBM’s Watson) and never lost confidence that he was the best even in defeat.

It was compelling to say the least. For many years my similarly aged friends were the recipients of good natured Jeopardy jibes toward their tendency to engage in a daily dose of the show.
I stand corrected and apologize to those who were subjected to my sorry attempts at sarcasm.
 This was quality television, particularly when compared to the absolute dearth of entertainment to be found in the rest of the network world.

​James was fascinating the way he chose his questions...I mean answers... searching for the daily double, Ken’s artistic additions to final jep were entertaining and Brad who had crafted a  career out of the game show seemed impressed by opponents who didn’t fade like many in his other ‘championships’.

In then the risks taken by James along with his seemingly streaky runs of dominance put him in front and Ken held on to be within range but Brad fell in dollars and confidence landing in negative territory and being eliminated from final jep.
Their interactions along with the artful guidance and good humor of host Alex Treveck kept me glued to the set.

I looked it up and the Wednesday win for James was game two with Ken winning game one so since the first to 3 wins is the GOAT not only is there another battle this week (THursday) but it’s a lock to have another go next week with match 4 on Tuesday.

And in a momentary personal visit to another reality, Alex drops the answer in the category Boomer Activities for $800.
“The answer is...“An interesting inspiring entertaining  and thought provoking show featuring a celebration of knowledge.”
And I buzz in. 
“What is Jeopardy?”