It would have been easy for Claire McNear to have written a half-ass book about "Jeopardy." Plenty has been written about the long-running TV quiz show in magazines, newspapers and books, and there have been multiple "behind the scenes" short documentaries and videos.
McNear could have easily taken pieces from all these sources, cobbled together something resembling a book and sent it off to the publisher without breaking a sweat.
Fortunately for all of us, McNear is not a half-ass journalist. For "Answers in the Form of Questions," she went all out — interviewing every significant person involved in the making of the show, as well as notable and not-so-notable contestants and devoted fans. She goes back stage to watch tapings, spends a night playing bar trivia alongside some of the show's past champions, and visits quiz competitions to see "Jeopardy" wannabes in training.
"Many fans are surprised to learn just how sportlike 'Jeopardy' can be," McNear writes. "It has many of the hallmarks that we associate with sports: a prospect pipeline, rigorous physical (and, yes, mental) preparation, a hall of fame, and strategic innovators revered decades later for their additions to the game, who sometimes go on to assume the role of coaches."
"Answers in the Form of Questions" is a terrific book that both serious and casual "Jeopardy" fans will enjoy. McNear details the history of the show, the background of host Alex Trebek, the testing and audition process for would-be contestants, the mysteries of the writers room, and the curious subculture of "Jeopardy" fanatics.
Even if you think you know a lot about the show you'll learn something in this book. Did you know that John McCain, the future senator and presidential candidate, was a one-day winner in 1965? That you can't wager $69 or $666 on the show? That Alex Trebek actually hosted "Wheel of Fortune" before "Jeopardy"?
I learned that before the Final Jeopardy portion, show staff have players write "Who is" or "What is" on their video screen so they don't forget during the critical 30-second countdown. I didn't know that there's a "Jeopardy" bar scene the evening after taping, since many contestants stay in the same hotel. I had never heard of notorious contestant Barbara Lowe, who appeared on "Jeopardy" and other shows using fake names.
"Answers in the Form of Questions" digs into game strategy tips shared by former players, including wagering tactics, and the importance of knowing how to use the buzzer (or "signaling device," as the show calls it). You may never have heard about the "enable light," but after you read this book you'll know there is a raging debate in the "Jeopardy" community about whether or not to use if for buzzer timing.
One thing the book is not about is the Alex Trebek's battle with pancreatic cancer, which led to his death in November 2020. McNear only spends a few paragraphs on it, including noting that original "Jeopardy" host Art Fleming also died of pancreatic cancer. If you want more about Trebek, consider reading the book he released before hid death, "The Answer is..."
No comments:
Post a Comment