Ross: America needs Jeopardy and Ken Jennings
Jan 16, 2020, 5:34 AM | Updated: 10:17 am
Ken Jennings. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
I thought the Jeopardy Greatest of All Time tournament was a daring programming choice considering the epidemic of test-anxiety in American schools.
And the questions were diabolical. Like this category: “Math to Roman Numerals to Initials to names.”
You get a math problem, you change the answer into Roman numerals, and then those Roman numerals become the initials of the first and last names of the person referred to by the clue.
Who thinks that way? Turns out Ken Jennings does:
“Ten squared minus ten to this Latin band leader, the Rumba King,” Jeopardy host Alex Trebek posited.
“Who is Xavier Cougat,” Jennings answered.
7.6 seconds!
Ten squared is 100, which is Roman numeral C. Subtract ten, which is Roman numeral X, you get XC. Xavier Cougat. Or the official name of the Superbowl in 2056.
Except, Ken Jennings probably could skip the math. I’m betting he already knew who the Rumba King was, so all he had to do was check that the initials matched Roman numerals.
The math was mostly a distraction, which I only figured out afterwards. That’s what makes Jeopardy great.
The questions are sophisticated, judges care about accuracy, and there is no razzle dazzle.
All of which is why America needs this game. America needs at least one TV show that will make you a millionaire for getting your facts straight.
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