What Is… the Most Awkward ‘Jeopardy!’ Second?

It’s normal data for any avid Jeopardy! watcher that sports activities questions are kryptonite for the common contestant. Regardless of being within the 99th percentile of intelligence in America, the bookish contestants will inevitably slip up on the obvious sports-related clue that the common fan would accurately reply with out a lot thought. These flubs, pertaining to sports activities clues, whereas hilarious, make us watching at house really feel like geniuses for a quick interval. It is solely human to have the benefit of understanding one thing that three brainiacs are oblivious to. No second in Jeopardy! historical past encapsulates the woeful sports activities blind spot in most contestants’ pool of information extra than the notorious awkward silence in 2018, the place every of the three gamers did not even trouble to enterprise a guess on all 5 soccer clues, resulting in some unforgettable Alex Trebek zingers.

Whereas many awkward failures come up from cringe-inducing contestant interviews, nothing creates extra viral-worthy moments than in-game whiffs. Fails in sports activities classes have been a time-honored custom on Jeopardy! In 2017, contestants had been triple-stumped by clues concerning the groups that NFL legends like Michael Irvin and “Imply” Joe Greene performed for. Solely on Jeopardy! might somebody confuse Wayne Gretzky for Magic Johnson, as one contestant realized the arduous approach {that a} clue about assists associated to hockey and never basketball. In a single 2023 match, the class “Hall of Famer by Position” went untouched till the final moments of the spherical, leading to a quadruple triple-stumper. These pale compared to the 5 triple-stumpers heard across the Web in 2018.

On February 1, 2018, contestants Justin Earnshaw, Sara Helmers, and returning champion Ryan Fenster noticed a typical slate of classes relating to literature, movie, vocabulary, and geography. Nevertheless, one class, titled “Talkin’ Football” could be the bane of their existence. It was a well timed theme, because the episode aired a couple of days earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. All three prevented the class like a plague, with the final 5 clues on the board within the spherical belonging to this dreaded topic. Ryan reluctantly chosen the $200 clue in disheartened resignation, as if he knew a viral moment was looming. After not one of the contestants buzzed in for the primary clue, the late Alex Trebek knew immediately the three had been clueless concerning the gridiron. When Ryan grudgingly chosen the $400 clue, Trebek wryly remarked, “I can inform you guys are huge soccer followers!” The second triple-stumper provoked audible viewers laughter. “You suppose we must always go to business?” the host requested.

The ultimate three clues had been a procession for the contestants to expertise continued embarrassment on television. “Two clues left, Ryan!” Trebek stated after the third consecutive triple-stumper, now rubbing it in, because the gamers prayed to be saved by the buzzer. Even after 4 clues, there was nonetheless no guess available by any contestant, virtually as in the event that they had been actively protesting the class. “Let us take a look at the $1000 clue, only for the enjoyable of it!” Trebek proclaimed, now in full roast mode. Contemplating that the three had been unaware of who Tom Landry coached for or what a good catch was, Trebek was pretty assured they would not know the nickname of the Minnesota Vikings line of defense from the Seventies, a lot in order that he did not trouble to cue within the “time’s up” buzzer. “In case you guys ring in and get this one, I’ll die!” the beloved host stated, closing out an unforgettable second that can stay on in Jeopardy! historical past.

Even for informal soccer followers, these misses are howlers. If any of the contestants tried a guess, the hilarity might’ve been taken up a notch, however the silence echoing by means of Sony Footage Studios after every clue was priceless. In fact, it is tempting to ridicule any Jeopardy! participant for his or her sports-related gaffes, however in roughly 99% of different topics, they might make all of us look foolish. The typical American would seemingly stand there frozen throughout an opera-related class. This iconic second shouldn’t be solely hysterically amusing, however it helps humanize these contestants who’ve a seemingly otherworldly degree of information.

Alex Trebek, along with his easy attraction, fast wit, and candor, elevated a mildly humorous second to a must-watch tv occasion. Ken Jennings has come into his own as a host, however there can be just one Alex Trebek. These sneakers are unimaginable to fill, and these cases are why Jeopardy! followers miss him dearly. The host’s shrewd instincts on this ill-fated quintuple triple-stumper stand out probably the most, much more so than every contestant’s egregious lack of soccer data. After Ryan nervously chuckled upon deciding on the second clue, Trebek recognized that this may be an all-time section. Viewers might rely on a Trebek zinger in a given episode, particularly as he aged, however his sardonic humor was all the time wholehearted. Any contestant felt honored to face ribbing from America’s favorite game show host.

The second turned a sensation on-line, amassing 2 million views on YouTube. In 2020, Jeopardy! returned with more football trivia, this time about in-game penalties and referee indicators. To make issues slightly simpler for any football-ignorant contestants, Trebek accompanied every query by performing every sign himself. This time round, the gamers placed on a much better exhibiting, accurately answering three out of the 5 clues. Maybe all sports activities clues want is a visible demonstration.

For a recreation present that is as prolific as Jeopardy!, awkward and cringe-inducing moments are a given, particularly for the reason that contestants are on a regular basis folks, which, in flip, solely makes these uncomfortable flubs and gaffes extra awkward. The typical Jeopardy! contestant has loads to sweat over; the intense lights, the stay viewers, and the rapid-fire questions. Nevertheless, these apprehensions are nothing in comparison with the horror of seeing a sports activities class on the board.

Jeopardy! is accessible to observe on ABC within the U.S.

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