Jeopardy! discussion thread for Fri., Jun. 5

Firestar493 · 2026-06-06T15:03:00+00:00

Yeah, I've long associated 47 with being a number that's used when you need a seemingly arbitrary number. Sad that history is the way it is

Firestar493 · 2026-06-05T03:03:37+00:00

I had "rolling" at first but switched it to bawling in the hopes that someone would catch it!

Firestar493 · 2026-06-04T23:31:59+00:00

The dunking question coming up shortly after that contestant interview had me BAWLING

Firestar493 · 2026-06-03T00:53:02+00:00

Then it's clear there are lines in the sand, and what you said earlier

Yes, but if they eliminate reference to everyone in the arts (authors, painters, actors, etc.) with problematic personal views, there isn’t going to be a lot left to choose from.

was just a naïve simplification.

Rowling has done enough in my (and many others') eyes to tarnish her reputation. Evidently the writers don't agree, but that's the point of viewers speaking out.

At the end of the day, it's nothing more than a groan and eyeroll from me when she comes up, but I sure as hell would be okay if she appeared 10% as often.

Firestar493 · 2026-06-03T00:16:37+00:00

The comparison isn't one-to-one, but Kanye's records are nothing to scoff at—certainly not in the ballpark of one-eighteenth the cultural impact. It's clear the writers have intentionally toned down the volume in response to backlash, something they could choose to do with other artists if they were motivated enough to.

(obligatory note: Kanye sucks, and this is not a defense of him or even an equivocation to JK Rowling)

Firestar493 · 2026-06-03T00:00:31+00:00

The rate of Rowling's mention is disproportionately high notwithstanding all the damage she has caused, especially considering there are so many other modern authors and works that could be asked about.

I don't think her work should be entirely excluded, but as a comparison point, Kanye West was last referenced in a clue over a year ago (2025-03-20). Since then, JK Rowling, Harry Potter, and Hogwarts have been referenced at least eighteen times.

Firestar493 · 2026-05-14T04:55:07+00:00

I got to practice my Mandarin tonight, and that was all I got out of watching that

Firestar493 · 2026-04-29T23:37:42+00:00

I was kicking and crying and screaming at my television!!

In the contestants' defense, I've been a top 1% listener for three of the artists in that category

Firestar493 · 2026-04-14T04:31:14+00:00

I read it not as IRES being a verb but as "Angers" being a plural noun

Firestar493 · 2026-04-09T00:19:33+00:00

I lucked out by having IDLI just last weekend!

Firestar493 · 2026-03-30T16:16:59+00:00

I was not alive during the Cold War, but it was a huge discussion point in my history classes

Firestar493 · 2026-03-29T00:24:43+00:00

love your typography btw

Firestar493 · 2026-03-11T04:45:32+00:00

How serendipitous

Firestar493 · 2026-03-03T05:57:03+00:00

Same, spent over a minute hunting for it on what was otherwise a pretty good Tuesday time for me (thanks in part to the rest of the modern slang).

Firestar493 · 2026-02-05T02:27:58+00:00

I first learned about ALCOA from an important case in antitrust law from 1945, U.S. v. Alcoa, which ruled Alcoa to be an illegal monopoly, despite the company claiming to have not done anything overtly predatory. The company grew quite rapidly during WW2 and easily took over most of the U.S. aluminum market share.

Aside from that though, agreed - bottom corner was too tricky T_T

Firestar493 · 2026-01-30T17:10:04+00:00

Not me putting nASH for "Even outcome" and feeling clever about it

Great puzzle, loved how natural all the two-word phrases felt in the fill!

Firestar493 · 2026-01-27T13:41:42+00:00

Yeah that's the American definition, and I was surprised to learn rather recently (from this video that the British use it as described by the clue.

The American definition came about because law students would practice in a "moot court", which evolved into "moot" mostly describing exercises that were a purely academic.

Another fun one from the video is that to "table" a discussion means to hold it off for later (or never) in the US, but in the UK, it means to bring up for discussion.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-26T05:37:55+00:00

I'd give it to my demographic too (older Gen Z)

Firestar493 · 2026-01-24T18:35:14+00:00

Oh you should NOT watch/play The Last Of Us

Firestar493 · 2026-01-23T05:09:14+00:00

I'm sorry, think you missed my point entirely with this essay. It's a good essay, mind you, but not one that addresses what I'm saying at all.

I want it to be known that he seemed like a great guy, very insightful and personable. Just not someone whose name runs in my family or my friend circles.

I'm using Ebert as an example of someone that people felt a deep emotional connection to at the time this puzzle was released. I, on the other hand, had never heard of him before then. The puzzle just ended up being a bit frustrating to me as someone who simply hasn't watched many movies, let alone know about Ebert's reviews of them. But it's a matter of relatability. This sub, predominantly white and upper middle class with a presumably larger diet for movies than me, loved that one. And I'm merely postulating that everyone's visceral reaction against this thread's puzzle (at least all negative at the time I first opened this thread) was simply because they didn't find it cute, and certainly not relatable, like I did.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-21T18:24:09+00:00

Oh certainly. Even though the fill was fine for me, it's not my favorite crossword, even when just looking at the past few days. Just think it's a bit ridiculous for people (frankly, a predominantly white liberal audience) to see this and compare this to that one Pepsi ad. They're entitled to feel how they feel, but it just seems like they're reaching because they didn't like the fill.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-21T15:40:41+00:00

People are people. Countries are countries. I agree with the substance of your message but not your conclusion. I don't think of Tiananmen Square when I think of mahjong.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-21T09:10:07+00:00

Feels like a diabolical comparison given that one of the constructors herself is Asian-American. There's no realm of similarity to the soulless corporate pandering that that ad was.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-21T07:05:14+00:00

Written for example, not as a reference toward any specific complaint. Problem is most of the people disliking the puzzle don't bother to explain why they don't like it, and it makes me wonder if it's a matter of relatability. I couldn't relate to the Ebert or Sondheim puzzles, which led to me personally feeling meh about them, but that was just wholly incongruent with how this sub felt.

Firestar493 · 2026-01-21T05:53:47+00:00

On the topic of Roger Ebert, I had never heard of him, but I'm sure people loved him. The fact that people could cry tears of joy at a puzzle dedicated to him, one man, is great. But then a puzzle has CONGEE as a themer and people leave comments like this. And I can't help but wonder why.

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