In Houston, they're all seeking plaintiffs poisoned by asbestos (if "poisoned" is the right word). They come right out and say, "Are you 50 or older?" so the demo they're aiming at is obvious: old J! fans like me.Bamaman wrote:Personal injury lawyers make up a lot of ads on my station.
Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
Moderators: alietr, trainman, econgator, dhkendall
-
- Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 12:37 am
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
- Winchell Factor
- Jeopardy! Champion
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 4:07 pm
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
I worried about this before I got the call. I was old enough to have qualified for a Seniors Tournament when I played, but it turned out quite all right. I was not even the oldest guy in my season's Tournament of Champions.lbligh wrote:Does anyone know why the Seniors Tournament was discontinued? I read somewhere that that tournament was Alex's idea, because he had noticed that older contestants tended to be slower on the buzzer. Now that I am 56, I am beginning to worry that if I ever do get The Call, I will be at a neurological disadvantage against those young whippersnappers.
On one hand, it is true that I couldn't really compete with Alex Jacob in buzzer speed, but on the other hand, neither could several players who were literally half my age.
The more serious issue, I think, is recall. I joked at the time that I was worried the judges wouldn't accept, "Who is...oh, hell, you know--that actor...he was in the movie with all the mobsters...?" But the older I get....
-
- Also Receiving Votes
- Posts: 12897
- Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:39 pm
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
There is a guy here who calls himself the Alabama Hammer. No, he is not a professional wrestler. He is an attorney.Kenny wrote:In Houston, they're all seeking plaintiffs poisoned by asbestos (if "poisoned" is the right word). They come right out and say, "Are you 50 or older?" so the demo they're aiming at is obvious: old J! fans like me.Bamaman wrote:Personal injury lawyers make up a lot of ads on my station.
- Magna
- Hooked on Jeopardy
- Posts: 3079
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:37 pm
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
Maybe they should be advertising this product.Winchell Factor wrote:The more serious issue, I think, is recall. I joked at the time that I was worried the judges wouldn't accept, "Who is...oh, hell, you know--that actor...he was in the movie with all the mobsters...?" But the older I get....
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/ ... 2500?snl=1
-
- Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
- Posts: 1270
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2016 12:26 am
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
It's notable that most of the great Jeopardy champions had their initial runs when they were 20-40.
While one is constantly learning trivia, it's very possible, especially nowadays, to hit a $35,000+ Coryat level average in one's 20s. After that, one comes across diminishing returns, and I imagine it's more a matter of buzzer speed. Recent champion Seth Wilson is a great example; a 12-day champion with immaculate buzzer speed but a knowledge base that, while certainly impressive, was less than that of most other superchampions.
And buzzer timing gets worse with age, which we know since countless studies have tracked reaction time as a function of one's age.
Point being that, yes, older players are absolutely at a disadvantage.
I imagine the real reason they scrapped the Senior Tournament is because of poor ratings.
Just because a lot of older people watch Jeopardy! doesn't necessarily mean they will watch more or less because other older people are on there.
While one is constantly learning trivia, it's very possible, especially nowadays, to hit a $35,000+ Coryat level average in one's 20s. After that, one comes across diminishing returns, and I imagine it's more a matter of buzzer speed. Recent champion Seth Wilson is a great example; a 12-day champion with immaculate buzzer speed but a knowledge base that, while certainly impressive, was less than that of most other superchampions.
And buzzer timing gets worse with age, which we know since countless studies have tracked reaction time as a function of one's age.
Point being that, yes, older players are absolutely at a disadvantage.
I imagine the real reason they scrapped the Senior Tournament is because of poor ratings.
Just because a lot of older people watch Jeopardy! doesn't necessarily mean they will watch more or less because other older people are on there.
- mfc248
- Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 8:08 pm
- Location: Royersford, PA
- Contact:
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
"The Hammer" seems to be a popular name for personal injury attorneys. Witness Jim "The Hammer" Shapiro from upstate New York:Bamaman wrote:There is a guy here who calls himself the Alabama Hammer. No, he is not a professional wrestler. He is an attorney.Kenny wrote:In Houston, they're all seeking plaintiffs poisoned by asbestos (if "poisoned" is the right word). They come right out and say, "Are you 50 or older?" so the demo they're aiming at is obvious: old J! fans like me.Bamaman wrote:Personal injury lawyers make up a lot of ads on my station.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5hn8bhEpMY
Or from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, Lowell "The Hammer" Stanley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vpJ_k3t6s4
- MarkBarrett
- Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
- Posts: 16471
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:37 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
The senior champ representative in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 TOCs each was eliminated in the quarter-finals, so that may have played a part in the decision as well.
- Winchell Factor
- Jeopardy! Champion
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 4:07 pm
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
And I can't say I remember the Seniors Tournaments themselves as very good Jeopardy!, either.
On the other hand, they do keep resurrecting Power Players, so maybe that's not a criterion.
On the other hand, they do keep resurrecting Power Players, so maybe that's not a criterion.
-
- Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
- Posts: 1270
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2016 12:26 am
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
From my understanding, Power Players get fantastic ratings.Winchell Factor wrote:And I can't say I remember the Seniors Tournaments themselves as very good Jeopardy!, either.
On the other hand, they do keep resurrecting Power Players, so maybe that's not a criterion.
- dhkendall
- Pursuing the Dream
- Posts: 8789
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:49 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Contact:
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
Boardies are not typical viewers. (Typical contestants, definitely, but not typical viewers)IronNeck wrote:From my understanding, Power Players get fantastic ratings.Winchell Factor wrote:And I can't say I remember the Seniors Tournaments themselves as very good Jeopardy!, either.
On the other hand, they do keep resurrecting Power Players, so maybe that's not a criterion.
"Jeopardy! is two parts luck and one part luck" - Me
"The way to win on Jeopardy is to be a rabidly curious, information-omnivorous person your entire life." - Ken Jennings
Follow my progress game by game since 2012
"The way to win on Jeopardy is to be a rabidly curious, information-omnivorous person your entire life." - Ken Jennings
Follow my progress game by game since 2012
-
- Contributor
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:57 am
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
I have decided the next time J! tapes in DC (2020 most likely) at my wife's employer, I am going to grab teen tournament shows if possible. Much more entertaining. I have seen six Power Player shows, it is like watching an Old-Timers Day game. The teens impress me more and more each year.Winchell Factor wrote:And I can't say I remember the Seniors Tournaments themselves as very good Jeopardy!, either.
On the other hand, they do keep resurrecting Power Players, so maybe that's not a criterion.
- lbligh
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:27 pm
- Location: Northern Virginia
- Contact:
Re: Whatever happened to the Seniors Tournament?
I do wish that ALL the Power Players would make themselves familiar with the game's format before coming on set.
Auditioned most recently via Zoom, June 2023
Strengths: Literature, History, Classical Music
Insurmountable weaknesses: Sports, Pop Music, Anagrams
"It's easy if you know it, it's hard if you don't."
Strengths: Literature, History, Classical Music
Insurmountable weaknesses: Sports, Pop Music, Anagrams
"It's easy if you know it, it's hard if you don't."