‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Call Out Ken Jennings’ ‘Unfair & Illogical’ Decision on Nixon Clue
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the September 20, 2023 episode of Jeopardy!.]
Jeopardy! hosts often ask players to be more specific with their answers during a game. When it comes to the September 20 game, however, fans think Ken Jennings unnecessarily asked a player to expand their response.
The clue came during Double Jeopardy, when players were tackling “The Real (White House) Wives of D.C.” category. The clues, as the category title denotes, were all about former First Ladies. When Alex Lamb, a data scientist from Lake Forest, California, selected the $1,200 clue, it read, “She met the future president in 1938 when they both tried out for a local play in Whittier, California.” Alex got the last name, Nixon, right, but Jennings said he needed a more specific response.
When Alex fumbled and said Richard, instead of Pat, Nixon, competitor Brian Ross, an attorney from Los Angeles, was able to chime in and win that clue. Some viewers feel this was a bogus call on Jennings’ part.
“Really, really did not like the BMS [“be more specific”] on the Nixon clue,” a fan wrote on the Jeopardy! Reddit page. “Clue already had a ‘she,’ the theme of the category was already set, just didn’t make sense. As far as the actual game goes, probably not a major effect in this game, but in the long run, it sets an odd precedent for these sorts of things as long as the show goes without its writers on hand.”
“That is bizarre,” reads one reply. “What other First Lady with the last name of Nixon did they did they have in mind that would be a plausible response?” Another notes that given there’s only been one President/First Lady Nixon, Alex’s fate felt “unfair and illogical.”
“I came here to make this exact same comment, It seemed really unfair and illogical to me. I’d understand for Barbara Bush, since there are two First Ladies named Bush, but a First Lady named Nixon could only be referring to one person,” they wrote.
Alex himself gave his perspective, commenting: “You can imagine that once I answered Nixon, my mind pivoted completely to the next clue. So when I was asked for clarification, I got caught flatfooted and that’s how it goes! Should have paused and answered.”
“Jeopardy candidates are always so kind and gracious regarding the show, which I understand since no one wants to look like a sore loser, but I really do think they should have accepted Nixon as a response,” the “unfair” commenter replied.
One fan still wants answers. “I’d like the judges to explain why you got a BMS on Nixon under ‘White House Wives,'” they wrote. “The rules are very clear that last names are sufficient if there is only one acceptable answer, and there was only one first lady named Nixon.”
What do you think? Was Jennings’ comment to “be more specific” uncalled for in this context? That one clue didn’t make or break Alex’s game. Pam Sung, a physician-scientist from Amherst, New York, won the night with a total of $20,000. Brian came in second with $19,600. And Alex came in third with $2,317. Let us know your thoughts about Jennings’ call in the comments below.
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C
Is it the host who decides if more information is needed or the judges? Isn't Ken just doing what the judges tell him to do when deciding if an answer is correct or sufficient?
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P
In a category about White House wives the answer to that question HAD to be the woman, so the woman has to be named. "Nixon" didn't answer anything other than the couple, and clearly he didn't know her name. Wrong answer. The category exists solely because while people might be able to identify presidents they don't necessarily know the name of the First Lady (other than Mrs./Ms. whatever). Hence, trivia. If "Nixon" was acceptable the category would have been White House Couples. Sheesh, this really isn't even difficult to figure out.
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P
Agree 100%! The category was "White House Wives" so in my opinion the first name was absolutely needed! But it's nobody's fault. If the judges disagreed with Ken's call it would have been rectified. People...move on!
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G
I keep going back to when a category was publishing and Matt Amadeo gave the answer Brown and it was accepted. No first name required. So why all of a sudden is a first name required when there has ever been only one Nixon in the Whitehouse? Judges need to keep rules consistent through all episodes.
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B
I think Ken was wrong to call his answer 'wrong'. There is only 1 Nixon first lady! One person was wrong as they did not have an 's' on the end of their answer , another got a 2nd chance to answer correctly. I love Ken and think he does a great job but tonight he was wrong.
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B
Nothing to do with the writers. It's about the judging. They should have either said something in the moment, or come back after the break and accepted the answer.
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G
The category specifically said "wives" and the clue used the word "she." I don't think it was at all out of line for Kem to ask Alex to be more specific. The judges could have overruled Ken if they thought Alex' answer was sufficient, but they didn't.
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L
Being a Ken supporter throughout the Jennings vs Bialik debate, to my surprise, I agree - it was definitely UNNECESSARY for Ken to add the BMS. I also take issue with the incorrect ruling on "oat", citing "oats", plural, as correct.🙄
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G
Ken Jennings is an idiot
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P
Wow! Just so rude! Since Ken's not an idiot, by process of elimination, we can guess who is!
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G
You said it so nicely, I think of him as something else.
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