'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings slams contestants for triple stump as vice-president category divides fans
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA: 'Jeopardy!' co-host Ken Jennings will always remain a unique personality in the world of trivia games as he has experienced life both behind and in front of the podium. So, it only makes sense when he gives frank reactions to contestants failing to correctly answer a clue.
Jennings recently did this again when a clue from a category about vice-presidents received a triple stump. Fans also shared their views on the particular clue and category, most of them divided over whether the contestants should be sympathized with or trashed.
Ken Jennings' subtle dig over 'Jeopardy!' triple stump
The clue was chosen by returning and current champ Taylor Clagett from the category of 'My Would-be VP' worth $800. It read, "Paul Ryan, who'd remain in the house." The contestants had to come up with the name of the presidential candidate through the name of their running mate. Contestant Ian Foutz, a teacher hailing from Caramillo, California, was quick to buzz in but could only stumble over his words and failed to say the correct answer aloud within the time limit.
Jennings then proceeded to ask the other contestants, Taylor Clagett and Simona Fine, if they wished to buzz in but neither of them did. In a tone that indicated surprise, Jennings revealed the answer to be Mitt Romney, who had campaigned against former president Barack Obama back in 2012. He then followed it up by saying, "How soon we forget."
Fans divided over whether the clue was easy
In a Reddit thread that is regularly posted after a new episode is broadcast, fans discussed whether it was difficult to answer this clue or not. One fan wrote, "Mitt Romney being a triple stumper is wild stuff." Another one responded in support of the contestants with, "Perhaps they would have gotten it if the clue had an additional hint, such as: "Paul Ryan, would-be veep for this candidate best known for coming after Big Bird in a debate." A viewer also pointed out that a similar clue was involved in the regular season back in 2019 as well as they wrote, "What is essentially this same clue was 600 in J! round in '19 and they got it."
Some other fans also shared possible reasons for the triple stump, with one saying, "I also think it's just that Romney and Ryan had a minimal presence in the public consciousness. I can recall tons of things from the McCain-Obama race and instantly got Palin"s clue but I had to actually search my head for the name of the "binders-full-of-women" guy because that's literally the only mark that campaign really left on the collective psyche." Another added along the same lines, "I think it has to do with the fact that people just don’t remember VP candidates. I remember a few years ago, when Biden was debating Trump, my family was momentarily confused as to why the moderator kept referring to Biden as “vice president Biden”. On top of that, Paul Ryan was never actually VP. So it’s even more likely that people forget about him." Another fan stated, "Contestants have to do a little bit of a walk down their memory lane in order to recall who could've become VP but didn't."
