Let's NOT Play "Jeopardy"?
Was there something strange about the June 7, 2023 episode of the Jeopardy! game show? Here’s the answer, in the form of a question.
Like so much of American popular culture, this TV episode--where nearly two dozen clues became “triple stumpers,” eliciting no guesses from any contestant—yielded plenty to ponder among seekers of practical wisdom.
On a recent “Inside Jeopardy” podcast, host Buzzy Cohen suggested the episode’s clearly bright players—Suresh, Kristene, and Collete—might have been sleepy or hungry because the taping took place late in the morning. The obvious, and very rare, level of silence among the buzzers during the half-hour had peeved numerous fans.
(In a previous podcast, Buzzy had hinted that Jeopardy! participants in general might be wagering too timidly.)
My reaction, as a loyal viewer and amateur social critic, was concern that the June 7 threesome accidentally spotlighted mega-trends our culture needs to monitor.
By not even venturing long-shot attempts, possibly fearing errors would send their dollar totals into the red, the trio reminded us that the game of life won’t produce excellence (or excitement) unless we grab for the gusto. Repeat after me: “Make it a true daily double.”
We’ve got to be in it to win it. But, in various settings, too many of us are losing our zeal, holding our peace, becoming more defensive, settling for “good enough.” We lack confidence in what we know, and indeed many of us fear we know less than we should.
The Jeopardy! meritocracy symbolically shakes its finger at the insufficient, narrow, and self-centered education some kids—and parents--receive these days, even as torrents of new data emerge about everything. How shall we explore, and think about, reality?
“Old” facts, remembered or forgotten on the Alex Trebek Stage, create their own controversies. Some fans reportedly sniped at one episode’s trio of competitors who all failed to buzz in with the word “hallowed” to complete “be thy name” in the Bible quotation/prayer. They had no guesses.
As our shared pool of common knowledge shrinks, we hear calls for fewer merit-based pursuits so that kids aren’t embarrassed or disempowered. Should our culture, or a game, force people into traps of failure perpetuated by supremacy, outmoded expectations, and systemic racism?
(The best answer in any showdown between a cold-hearted meritocracy and a modern-messaging paradigm is probably something in the middle. Jeopardy! reminds us of the ancient wisdom that humans simply need to play; their competitions bring sustainable growth as a form of fun. They lift up both the striving individual and the team-spirited group.)
Even in this successful show’s dedicated fan community, one hears occasional allegations that the hosts and judges are making mistakes. Idealistic perfectionists may fear TV bosses are risking carelessness as they expand the franchise with spin-offs and tournaments, requiring the crew to take on extra assignments and hours. Nobody wants to place Jeopardy! in jeopardy!
One former contestant ventured into social media, opining that the show did not reflect a broadened, awakened culture of “quizzing.” He wondered if the program was a meaningful test of intellectual attributes, or merely a glorified reality show with contrived conditions.
These trending dramas call to mind increasingly common observations about American society.
Are meek contestants guilty of “quiet quitting” (or “quiet quizzing”)? A recent Gallup report on the state of the workplace estimated that close to 60 percent of employees in the country are quiet-quitting in one form or another, partly because they do not find their work purposeful or rewarding. This happens not only in offices, but in daily life.
Are we also watching the “dumbing down” of the population due to personal insecurities, distracted mindsets, and one or another sort of intoxication/addiction?
Might the profit goals of bosses lead to “skimplification” that erodes quality and frustrates audiences? Our media frequently hyperbolize and oversimplify, using sensationalism to glue us to our screens. But podcasts and other formats suggest that wise audiences also will stick around when content probes subjects in depth, with avid curiosity.
Some folks nowadays seem to be guilty of sloppy work—or sloppy thought about the purpose and rewards of work. Management mavens may fear we are less attentive to detail. In a world where truth is relative, objectivity is prejudicial, and screen-assisted multitasking is commonplace, are would-be gladiators persuaded not to sweat the small stuff, especially when that stuff is dismissed as “trivia”?
Although fewer people affiliate with religions or believe in God today, this game show has a liberal-arts and humanities tradition of elevating our brains through “answers” tied to particular faiths. Will this lens of meaningfulness guarantee fewer correct responses—and increased fan allegations of offensive irrelevance?
Emotions, self-conceit, and “tribal” identification powerfully shape what we learn about and care about. Some contestants may be deterred from brandishing their knowledge if they fear being judged by current criteria akin to clickbait.
Given all this gravitas I am imposing on a TV show that grew from humble roots in 1964 (see video), perhaps it’s time to take a break for some “potent potables”! We must acknowledge that we love Jeopardy!’s rigor, that it bestows renewed memories on our minds and hearts, and that its participants, including the June 7 cohort, make us smile about humanity’s germ of genius.
Should such a program—especially one that pursues high standards, honors diverse and beautiful minds, and inspires nightly family gatherings nationwide—confront fans and foes alike with all these risk analyses, so many galvanizing questions?
Yes! That’s the whole idea of Jeopardy! … and of any arena for boldly displaying that our culture can handle the truth.
Songs that Made the Hit Parade
I felt like giving my daughter a present for Father’s Day. It’s the thought that counts, and my thought was about the joy and hope that Mary Schmitt, now 26, has already given not only to me on any given day, but to countless family members and friends over time.
Like fatherhood itself, the tasks related to this present required some work, but I knew this was no day to skimp on the effort of imparting knowledge and experiences. They will come in handy. And anyway, it was fun.
I prepared a list of links to 20 YouTube videos featuring some of my favorite songs from decades past. To make this an even more transcendent family affair, I also linked to 11 videos containing songs that I knew were important to my now-deceased dad—because of ideas they expressed, or who performed them, or simply the memories they evoked.
In consultation with Eileen, I added two “bonus tracks”—songs that she remembered had brought a special smile to her own dad. Thus, two great grandfathers (not great-grandfathers) received a voice allowing them to speak and laugh with Mary.
This whole exercise highlighted for me the importance of intergenerational conversation, passing important-ish wisdom down from the Boomer generation to the Millennials and Gen Z. Our digital tools make this purpose-driven browsing an easy, interactive experience, even though we often neglect or trivialize the internet’s archive of authentic pleasures.
Fathers (and mothers) can play a stewardship role with these legacies which help form and inform those we love, spanning the past, present, and future. My service was pro bono, with the only “cost” being my safari-like quest through YouTube for the most impactful video versions of each song. And the occasional tears triggered by my own nostalgia.
I also got to celebrate the talent of performers from different eras, the gift of YouTube as a digital medium of analog exchange, and the power of music in packets of sharable values. My venture sent me down several fruitful, upbeat rabbit holes offering additional facts and inspirations. Plenty of songs about affection and appreciation.
You are welcome to see and play the eclectic and eccentric list I delivered on Sunday. I welcome your comments. And I wish a Happy Father’s Day, unbounded by time, to all of you.
Songs my own dad liked:
I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General
Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
“Lawrence Welk Show” Closing Theme
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together
“All in the Family” (Opening Song)
Bonus: Songs Papa Joe liked:
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Songs I like:
Trying to Get the Feeling Again
Superman Theme (John Williams)
Superman Love Theme (from film)
Shower the People You Love with Love
Image from ClifSafari, a collection of Creative Commons designs.
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