Author Topic: Jeopardy! question (Read 7234 times)

JepMasta · « **on:** November 03, 2009, 06:45:30 AM »

Hey guys, considering my name I should know this, but I have never been able to get a good answer on this. Before Jeopardy! adopted the sky's the limit rule, after a five-day champ was retired three new players would play the game. Alex would always say to the person is the first position "You won the toss backstage" I never quite understood how you could do a toss with three people.

Any info on how they did this would be greatly appreciated

Thank you so much

Brian~

chad1m · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2009, 09:45:51 AM »

This is just a guess, but maybe Alex just used a different term to describe the similar practice of drawing numbers on Wheel of Fortune. Again, just purely a guess. For my exhibition game in 2003, we were just told where to go.

TLEberle · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2009, 10:54:53 AM »

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'229755\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 06:45 AM\']This is just a guess, but maybe Alex just used a different term to describe the similar practice of drawing numbers on Wheel of Fortune. Again, just purely a guess. For my exhibition game in 2003, we were just told where to go.[/quote]It could also be that they tossed coins until one person had something that was different from the other two and that person took the champ's spot on stage.

clemon79 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2009, 12:44:48 PM »

[quote name=\'JepMasta\' post=\'229752\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 03:45 AM\']I never quite understood how you could do a toss with three people.[/quote]
Well, you see, they have a midget on staff...

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2009, 12:58:49 PM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'229756\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 10:54 AM\']It could also be that they tossed coins until one person had something that was different from the other two and that person took the champ's spot on stage.[/quote]
That seems an awfully complicated way to go about it, when there are plenty of easier alternatives.

Speaking of which, do we know for a fact that Alex specifically said "You won the toss backstage"? It's a common enough thing to hear in a two-person game that our OP may just be misremembering. If the powers that be on Wheel of Fortune were smart enough to refer to a random draw correctly, surely we ought to expect the same of Jeopardy.

clemon79 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:06:16 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'229764\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 09:58 AM\']Speaking of which, do we know for a fact that Alex specifically said "You won the toss backstage"? It's a common enough thing to hear in a two-person game that our OP may just be misremembering. If the powers that be on Wheel of Fortune were smart enough to refer to a random draw correctly, surely we ought to expect the same of Jeopardy.[/quote]
When you were on, did you and the other ~~victim~~ opponent go through any sort of randomization process to determine who would occupy the middle podium and who would be out on the end?

The difference between J! and WoF is that in WoF turn order makes a difference so the randomization of all three positions has an affect on gameplay. On J! all that matters is who is in the pole position and therefore who kicks the game off. So it might *be* the sort of coin flip Travis describes.

(Unless I'm wrong about that. How do they resolve who goes first in Double Jeopardy in the event that two players are tied for second?)

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:14:12 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229766\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 01:06 PM\']When you were on, did you and the other ~~victim~~ opponent go through any sort of randomization process to determine who would occupy the middle podium and who would be out on the end?[/quote]
Honestly, so much of that is a blur today that I can't remember with certainty. I don't believe so, but it could easily have happened and just not registered in my long-term memory.

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229766\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 01:06 PM\']The difference between J! and WoF is that in WoF turn order makes a difference so the randomization of all three positions has an affect on gameplay. On J! all that matters is who is in the pole position and therefore who kicks the game off. So it might *be* the sort of coin flip Travis describes.[/quote]
You're right about Wheel, and that the advantage of selecting a category first in Jeopardy is minute at best. Still, I can't imagine doing multiple coin flips when three slips of paper get the job done faster.

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229766\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 01:06 PM\'](Unless I'm wrong about that. How do they resolve who goes first in Double Jeopardy in the event that two players are tied for second?)[/quote]
Unless soemthing's changed (it doesn't happen often, of course), it's the last one of the two to have given a correct response.

chad1m · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:17:31 PM »

Here's a good reference point, the first episode which began with three new players.

"Since we do not have a returning champion on the program today, we drew numbers and the winner was Greg and that means you have the honor of selecting the first category and the first amount."

KrisW73 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:17:36 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'229767\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 01:14 PM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229766\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 01:06 PM\'](Unless I'm wrong about that. How do they resolve who goes first in Double Jeopardy in the event that two players are tied for second?)[/quote]
Unless soemthing's changed (it doesn't happen often, of course), it's the last one of the two to have given a correct response.
[/quote]

Matt- I think it's the person closest to Alex (to the left from our view) if I am not mistaken...

clemon79 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:25:35 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'229767\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 10:14 AM\']Still, I can't imagine doing multiple coin flips when three slips of paper get the job done faster.[/quote]
Probably true, although fairly rare would be the time the flip would have to happen more than once. But you're right.

Quote

Unless soemthing's changed (it doesn't happen often, of course), it's the last one of the two to have given a correct response.

Makes tons of sense. I just wasn't sure.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2009, 03:05:32 PM »

I'm almost positive I heard Alex say "toss" before as well. I remember being quite baffled as to how a three-person coin toss worked.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2009, 03:11:58 PM »

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'229774\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 03:05 PM\']I remember being quite baffled as to how a three-person coin toss worked.[/quote]

Well, you see, they have a midget on staff...

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2009, 03:16:17 PM »

This is not how they do it, but they could pitch pennies for control.

Fedya · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2009, 04:16:05 PM »

You mean nobody's heard of a three-sided coin?

TimK2003 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2009, 05:13:33 PM »

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'229774\' date=\'Nov 3 2009, 04:05 PM\']I'm almost positive I heard Alex say "toss" before as well. I remember being quite baffled as to how a three-person coin toss worked.[/quote]

1st Coin Toss -- Person A v Person B
2nd Coin Toss -- Person B v Person C
3rd Coin Toss -- Person C v Person A

The person who did lost the least gets the first position. If all 3 are tied repeat the first 3 coin tosses.

4th Coin Toss -- is for the second position between the two who lost the most.