[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Jul 1 2004, 11:06 AM\']The bottom line is that Ken Jennings is doing for "J!" exactly what Harry Friedman wanted the waiver of the five-game limit to do--and hopefully, most of those people coming around for the first time in a while might stick around after Ken's last game.[/quote]
The first half of your comment appears to be happening, based on the most recent ratings I've seen. After dipping from 6.2 to 5.8 the week of Reagan's funeral (the week where Ken had only hit 7 wins, and wasn't getting the publicity he is now), the ratings for the week of June 12-16 are up to 6.5, about a 5% increase from two weeks earlier (and last year's comparables). I wouldn't be surprised if there's another pop the following week as well.
As for the second half ... we'll have to wait and see. Depends on a whole bunch of factors that nobody can possibly know:
1. Is J! really losing some of its hardcore audience who don't like watching Ken over and over? I know that Chris isn't alone in his feelings, but how many of the hardcore viewers feel that way? FWIW, I'm still taping the shows.
2. If Ken's run continues for many more shows, will even those who are currently interested in how he's doing get bored?
3. When (or perhaps I should say "If") Ken's run ends, how many of the new viewers will keep watching? And how many of the hardcore viewers who stopped watching will come back to the show again?
The unlimited rule was a gamble on J!'s part right from the start. If they had gotten a long-term contestant that people found unpleasant to watch, it could have hurt their ratings significantly. In Ken Jennings, they've got as good a poster boy for long-term contestants as they could have hoped for - smart, fast, and personable. I hope he boosts J!'s ratings a lot, if for no other reason than that it might inspire a revival of quiz shows.
