Letters to the Editor
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This Is The Lead Headline Story?
A book review about a guy who won a trivia gameshow? Don't get me wrong, I don't believe every lead story has to be about earth shattering events --- but leading with the review of a book about a game show contestant is kind of a letdown. I am a premium subscriber, I pay to read Salon. Seeing this headline story is like tuning into HBO and finding the big show is "Survivor Eleventy Seven: Orlando, Florida."
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Great article
I enjoyed it,learned a lot. Does every lead article have to be about politics? Sheesh, man, relax -- Jeopardy's on!
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Fluid prose
Exemplary syntax.
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Glad I know a little more about Louis Bayard
I enjoyed reading this witty, warm, and insightful book review/personal reminiscence. Like Bayard, I am a long time Jeopardy fan who tuned out during Jennings' run (envy and saccharine overload). Thanks to this review, I'll definitely give him another chance.
I want to add, though, that now that I've read this article, I feel incredibly guilty for rooting for Bayard's opponents. I'm glad I got this chance to give *him* another chance as well (despite his Britishy teeth).
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"Fifth Avenue"
and "Lee Aspin", which was Jeopardy's mistaken crediting of a wrong answer to my opponent, but we won't get into that.
Heck, my wife and I got a wonderful week in Aruba, and if I'd won I'd have qualified for the lunch they serve after three games, which wasn't Kosher for Passover so I couldn't have eaten it.
Trivia is a cultural phenomenon that, apart from Jeopardy and its shorter-running progeny on cable, usually exists well outside the notice of popular culture. Indeed, you'll find, say, an athlete or artist who has become a trivia question (say, Floyd Rayford or Pete Best; I'll explain Rayford at the bottom), either shying away from the celebrity that induces or embracing it in a Danny Bonaduce way. Yet, the culture does exist; I've been part of it for over a decade, hosting a weekly trivia game on AOL since 1995. Some people play for the trivia, some for the camaraderie and sense of community that comes from a shared interest in knowledge, some for a chance to kick butt without eating bugs or exerting themselves physically.
Floyd Rayford was the Orioles third baseman on May 30, 1982, when Cal Ripken, Jr. was moved to shortstop and started his consecutive games streak.
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They Can't Take It Away
When I lost on Jeopardy the day after after winning one game, I was disappointed because the loss was close, and because it was congenitally impossible for me not to ring in on the spelling category that undid me. Typing “Nietzsche” now I don’t think twice, but then, with no paper in front of me and the lights timing out in five seconds, I was painfully reminded why I never did well in spelling bees. And sure, if I had remembered Corazon Aquino, I’d have won 20 grand instead of $7,600 with my title. (My shows were taped in February and aired in June of 2003; the check arrived that October.) I would not have had that exquisite moment if the buzz saw who dominated the first four shows of the day hadn’t been retired after five wins. Alex underscored this when he replied to my “Wow!” while the credits were rolling with, “That wasn’t a ‘wow’ win. 'Wow' is when you win a hundred thousand dollars and a Jaguar like the guy before you. Your win was a ‘Phew!’” American wisdom, spoken by a true Canadian.
I enjoyed Louis Bayard’s article/review, and find his observations about what Jeopardy means to America--its exhilarations and its contradictions--apt. Some among us strive for depth and thoughtfulness, but what really impresses most of us is breadth and quick-wittedness.
Bayard probably remembers the spunky red-headed producer with the smoky voice telling us that 25,000 people pass the screening test each year, and of those only 400 are invited on the show. All I could think when I heard that is that I had better take advantage of the opportunity. Do my best, play to win, have no fear—all the sports clichés. I’d already won the lottery by making it to LA.
Bayard certainly made me think about what my winning meant more than I have these three years. I wasn’t someone who always wanted to be on Jeopardy; in fact I only really followed it regularly in high school, and haven’t watched 15 whole episodes in the last 15 years. The experience meant a lot to me and my family, however. My mother, for one, has gotten plenty of mileage out of it!
I only half-agree with Bayard on the museum analogy. The initial euphoria of being a “Jeopardy champion” (and for all Ken Jennings’ 70-something wins and un-begrudged multi-millions of dollars, Louis, we, too, get to keep the title) fades pleasantly into the eternal validation of having won a culturally significant prize, however marginal.
Though I was much happier when the Red Sox finally won the World Series!
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"...who had transcribed the lyrics of two dozen Broadway shows by the age of 10..."
I had never heard of Louis Bayard before, but when I read that line I figured he was a pillow-biter. And lo and behold he is!
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Should we care?
Yikes - this drivel is the lead story I'm paying a hefty premium for? Salon, could we have some content please?
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Another veteran chimes in
I, too, have danced with the cruel mistress that is Jeopardy. I consider myself lucky that, unlike Messrs. Jennings and Bayard, none of my (four) misses on Final Jeopardies cost me the game -- either I was untouchable or too far behind. That doesn't mean they still don't hurt (I'm looking at you, Duke of Windsor!)
One thing to add to Bayard's analysis is that once you're on (and eventually off) Jeopardy that that's not just the end of Jeopardy, but of the practicality of having that well of trivia. Sure, you can gather for events like the ones in Steven's Point and Glendale. A retired NFL quarterback can also play in a weekend game, but it's not the same. I've said quite seriously in the past (and some of the better players I've talked to feel the same) that if I were offered a minimum-wage job for playing Jeopardy 40 hours a week I would take it in a heartbeat.
My only stipulation in the contract would be that I would get to take my 15-minute break during the sports questions.