Did This ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Just Tell Us How To Win the Game?
Winning Jeopardy! is a combination of many factors. Contestants have to have a deep wellspring of knowledge, since Jeopardy! clues cover a wide range of topics. And even if you’re quick enough and know the answer to the question, you’ll still have to deal with some irritating rulings from the judges (or host Ken Jennings).
But there is a trick to winning Jeopardy! and it boils down to two words, according to Stephen Fry. Fry hosts the British version of Jeopardy!, which recently returned for its second season; he said people who win Jeopardy! stay calm under pressure.
“It’s just that simple thing: stay calm. It’s easy to say because a lot of people haven’t been on television before,” Fry told the Daily Mail. Looking at Jeopardy!‘s past winners, there’s a bit of truth to his words.
Stephen Fry Makes a Great Point About Staying Calm While Playing ‘Jeopardy!’
Fry had another piece of advice for people seeking to play Jeopardy! or other game shows. “Even though there’s no audience, people are nervous because they’re on television, or worried about how they look and what they’re wearing and they’re nervous because they want to win. They’re very excited, and that slight tension and strain is inimical.”
It’s completely understandable why people might stress out: being on television and watched by thousands, if not millions of people, is a very scary concept. Not to mention your friends, family, or other loved ones might be watching, which only increases the pressure tenfold.
But looking at the history of Jeopardy!, champions are usually calm, collected, and confident — a winning trifecta in any area of life. The best example is Ken Jennings; not only did he stay calm under pressure, but he managed to keep his composure even as he transitioned from champion to show host.
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While Fry’s advice makes sense in context, he missed an important distinction between British Jeopardy! and American Jeopardy!. While British Jeopardy! might not have a live studio audience, the American version definitely does, which could add to the tension.
Again, there’s the friends and family factor, since part of being a contestant on Jeopardy! means you get to bring a few guests who are part of the audience. The idea of failing in front of your loved ones might explain why some contestants get nervous, but they should definitely take Fry’s words to heart and focus on the game, not the atmosphere.
A Zen State of Mind Is Needed To Win ‘Jeopardy!’
It turns out that Fry had one more piece of advice for contestants wanting to get on Jeopardy!: have quick reflexes. “Above and beyond, knowledge is obviously the most important. But on top of that is the speed of your reflexes. You need to be a bit Zen,” he said. “It’s like in sport. You know how to hit a ball, but if you try and concentrate on it, you’ll miss somehow. If you don’t know, don’t buzz.”
That last part is key: too often, contestants will buzz in so they can be the first to a clue…and blank on it. As a Jeopardy! fan, I feel that the best players tend to target the categories they know the answers to, which is a surefire way to rack up points.
Fry isn’t the only person who’s developed their own system for winning. Other contestants and champions have offered their thoughts on what it takes to win Jeopardy!, with Amy Schneider saying that the most important part of winning is preparation ahead of time: “You need to really think about what playing the game will feel like. What clothes are you going to wear? Will you be comfortable in them? And not just physically comfortable, but mentally comfortable, confident in your appearance?”
Schneider does make a good point: if you prepare for being on the Jeopardy! stage, it’s far more likely to get you in a Zen state of mind to start answering questions. Stephen Fry’s methods of winning Jeopardy! might be unorthodox, but they make sense. Whether you’re playing the American version, the British version or even Pop Culture Jeopardy!, it’s okay to slow down and take your time.
