Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings shocked fans by blurting out a NSFW phrase for a private body part rather than the more conservative language the show typically uses. Viewers immediately took notice of the word being used and quipped the show is “finally progressing” with the lingo used in clues after 60 years on the air.
Returning champion Dave Bond was looking to extend his one-day winnings of $25,000 when he competed on Friday’s game. The retired grant writer from West Henrietta, New York went up against Zach DeBoer, a graduate student from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Erin Adams, a historian & educator from Springfield, Tennessee.
Dave played aggressively early on and his risk paid off when betting it all on a true Daily Double, the first of the game. Under the category Scientific Discoveries, host Ken, 50, read the clue: “Identified in the 1970s, these pain-relieving proteins in the brain were named to reflect their similarity to morphine.”
“What are endorphins?” Dave correctly responded – doubling his score to $8,000. Entering the Double Jeopardy! round, Dave was in the lead with $8,400 while Zach was in second with $6,000 and Erin had garnered $4,800.
Ken then introduced the second batch of categories: LITERARY LANDMARKS, IN THE KITCHEN, GENDERED LANGUAGE, “A” FOR ART, LAKES, 2024 DNC STATE ROLL CALL SONGS. It was in this round that viewers were surprised by the language the show, and Ken, used for one of the clues.
The clue was for $800 under the ‘A’ is for Art category: “For the forbidden fruit, he’s reaching for her boob,” the host read as his voice got higher pitched by the end of the sentence.
Zach correctly buzzed in with “What is Adam and Eve?” The word “boob” caught many viewers off guard, as in the past the show has used the more formal word, “breast.”
Many fans took to social media to express their surprise and amusement at the usage of the word. “Today I learned you can say boob on Jeopardy!,” one fan said. Another agreed, adding: “I was so distracted by Ken saying boob that I didn’t even hear the clue!”
“It’s taken about 50 years, but by using ‘boob’ in a clue in reference to a female breast, Jeopardy! has finally progressed to the level of language used by 1970s Match Game,” a third quipped.
Dave won the game, finishing with $26,400 while Erin ended with $20,000 and Zach stayed in third place with $10,000. If Dave wins one more game, he is likely to score a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
The prize for winning the ToC is $250,000 and a coveted slot in Jeopardy! Masters. Jeopardy.com notes: “All 4-time and over winning players starting from 04/10/24 will be eligible for a future Tournament of Champions.” “Presence on this list does NOT guarantee an invitation to compete. Other eligibility rules apply and final selection is up to the producers’ sole discretion.”
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What was the surprise phrase used in the Jeopardy! clue?
A: The surprise phrase was “boob,” which was used in reference to a female breast.
Q: Why was this phrase surprising?
A: The show typically uses more formal language, such as “breast,” rather than more informal language like “boob.”
Q: What does this mean for the future of Jeopardy!’s language?
A: It could indicate a shift towards using more informal language in clues, but it’s too early to tell.
Conclusion:
The episode was a surprise for viewers, but it also marked a milestone for the show’s language. Whether or not this is a permanent change remains to be seen, but for now, fans are enjoying the show’s new direction.
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