We’ll take “Spilling the tea” for $1,000.
A former “Jeopardy!” hotshot is sharing secrets from one in every of the longest-running TV game shows in a brand recent podcast.
Buzzy Cohen, the champion best known by his nickname “Mr. Personality,” which was handed down by late host Alex Trebek, revealed that his famous nine-day winning streak actually only took place over the course of two days.
The music executive told Insider that “Jeopardy!” tapes five shows — every week’s value — in a single day with breaks long enough to permit winners to vary outfits between tapings.
Cohen, who took home over $164,600 after playing 10 games in 2016, said the method was “exhausting.”
“That’s actually something that I believe persons are surprised by,” he said. “It really makes the undeniable fact that people can go on these long runs much more impressive since it’s endurance in addition to mental and physical stamina.”
The key is just one in every of five Cohen shared with the outlet and plans to reveal in his recent podcast, “This Is Jeopardy! The Story of America’s Favorite Quiz Show,” a Sony production that was launched Wednesday.
Cohen — who returned to win the 2017 Tournament of Champions for the $250,000 jackpot before guest-hosting this system 4 years later within the wake of Trebek’s death — said the show explores how “Jeopardy!” became an American institution and has enjoyed 59 years of success.
The podcast goals to take fans behind the scenes, including from Cohen’s own experience playing on and hosting this system.
When he guest-hosted the Tournament of Champions in 2021, Cohen was surprised to seek out how busy the host is despite not getting much airtime.
“What’s kind of unusual is how little you’re perhaps on-screen, but you might be reading the clue, calling a contestant, making a ruling, asking them to pick,” Cohen told the outlet. “Whereas when you’re a contestant and another person has a each day double, you’re type of like, ‘OK, take a breath, I’m going to regroup here.’ But when you’re the host, you’re in all of those moments.”
Striking the appropriate balance of enthusiasm during gameplay is an important, but difficult job, Cohen noted, but one Trebek mastered.
Thirdly, Cohen revealed that a person named Michael Harris, who also serves as a researcher for the show, manually controls the buzzer.
If a contestant buzzes in before the host finishes reading the clue, the player is locked out for 1 / 4 of a second.
Cohen said he dedicated a complete podcast episode to the buzzer.
Though an episode of “Jeopardy!” has a runtime of roughly 20 minutes, Cohen also divulged that there are sometimes long pauses to permit judges to deliberate a contestant’s answer.
“There’s plenty of traffic control stuff that good hosts make look easy,” Cohen said. “I practiced quite a bit to make it as easy as possible, but you don’t really give it some thought if you’re just watching the show.”
Lastly, Cohen revealed to Insider that the “Jeopardy!” alumni have formed a close-knit community, a vital relationship within the face of inevitable social media harassment.
Cohen himself was trolled for his tongue-in-cheek attitude that some viewers found boastful.
The 2018 Teen Tournament Champion Clair Sattler revealed last 12 months that she was harassed after appearing on the show and 40-game Amy Schneider spoke out about anti-transgender messages she received during her run.
“The parents at ‘Jeopardy!’ really need the fans to respect the contestants,” Cohen said. “I’m glad this show is taking more of a forward approach, and I also love when my fellow contestants can jump in and type of assemble the ‘Jeopardy!’ alum avengers to support our fellow contestants.”
