Jeopardy contestant who fainted

[Bobby B.]

I've seen the video clip on YouTube many times (thanks to Adam Nedeff, who posted it), and I've always wondered exactly how they handled it.  It looked like there was an edit after the think music ended, and I would assume they had a stopdown and made sure the guy was ok before they continued.  Any Jeopardy! experts have more details about this?

[DoorNumberFour]

I remember someone on the Jeopardy message board who was at the taping said there was about 30 minutes of stopdown time between the end of the think music and the answer reveals.

I can't find the post -- it was a couple of years ago, and it looks like the message boards have been renovated since then.

[JepMasta]

I remember reading about his in Harry Eisenberg's book about what happened.  Apparently, this guy was on a liquid diet to lose some weight so he would look good on TV.  He dropped about 100 pounds in short order, and his body hadn't really had a chance to recover.  Interestingly enough, he was actually lucky to have fainted where he did, since back then, Jeopardy! taped at the same complex as the California Big Spin, which by law required a EMT unit on hand in case someone had a heart attack or some such.  Also, one of his opponents was an RN.

[PYLdude]

I remember reading about his in Harry Eisenberg's book about what happened.  Apparently, this guy was on a liquid diet to lose some weight so he would look good on TV.  He dropped about 100 pounds in short order, and his body hadn't really had a chance to recover.  Interestingly enough, he was actually lucky to have fainted where he did, since back then, Jeopardy! taped at the same complex as the California Big Spin, which by law required a EMT unit on hand in case someone had a heart attack or some such.  Also, one of his opponents was an RN.

Yet another example of why crash diets don't work. Cautionary tales, people!

(I could drop 100 pounds to go on J! and still look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.)

[J.R.]

I must say this has made my day. It is a little funny, especially when they are showing all three contestants.

You actually find a contestant out cold and slumped on his lectern humorous?

You are something else.

[snowpeck]

I must say this has made my day. It is a little funny, especially when they are showing all three contestants.

Now on Jeopardy!, there have not been too many nervous contestants lately. If anything, they've had overbearing pride/cocky. The show probably prepares their contestants better nowadays.

I don't think it's funny at all... it's actually kind of frightening. Anybody who has actually fainted (as I have) would say the same thing.  What an inappropriate comment.

[Dbacksfan12]

First, he didn't faint and fall to the ground like I thought the video would be actually about. It's like someone falling asleep during a test.

Oh, well that makes it better.

Wait; no it doesn't.

[TLEberle]

I'm guessing I am the only one here who didn't cry at that video

One, you're wrong. Two, so what?

You are an incredible piece of work.

[clemon79]

You are an incredible piece of work.

Oh, so sorry, "work" is not the word I had on my card. Anyone else wanna buzz in?

[jjman920]

I don't think it's funny at all... it's actually kind of frightening. Anybody who has actually fainted (as I have) would say the same thing.  What an inappropriate comment.

First, he didn't faint and fall to the ground like I thought the video would be actually about. It's like someone falling asleep during a test. He was alert enough to communicate with Trebek five seconds later.

I guess you missed the post where someone said there was quite a stopdown to ensure that the man was okay. The magic of television makes it seem like he got up and talked to Alex only seconds later. Fainting is not like falling asleep. He's lucky that he fainted the way he did in that direction.

I'm guessing I am the only one here who didn't cry at that video

That's not the point. Just because someone didn't find it funny doesn't mean they were absolutely saddened by it. They just didn't find it funny. Way to go to the extreme.

[bossjock967]

I'm guessing I am the only one here who didn't cry at that video

You, sir (and I use that term extremely lightly), are an asshole.

[Don Howard]

You, sir (and I use that term extremely lightly), are an asshole.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, we're in the mud now. Doug, pass me some popcorn, please. And thanks for the card!

[bossjock967]

You, sir (and I use that term extremely lightly), are an asshole.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, we're in the mud now. Doug, pass me some popcorn, please. And thanks for the card!

Well... someone needed to say it. I figured I'd fall on the sword.

[Don Howard]

You, sir (and I use that term extremely lightly), are an asshole.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, we're in the mud now. Doug, pass me some popcorn, please. And thanks for the card!

Well... someone needed to say it. I figured I'd fall on the sword.

Whatever gets you through the night. I'll have some more Good n Plenty while we wait to see if it's gonna be pistols or swords.

[Adam Nedeff]

I must say this has made my day.

Nothing to add here, I just want to make sure LetsGoYank has another opportunity to read this and reflect on the fact that he actually typed it.