Post by jeopardyfan939 on Jun 8, 2019 11:31:16 GMT -5
With Season 35 less than two months away from wrapping up, let's recap on the memorable events that have happened up to this point. Before the season premiere aired on September 10, 2018, Alex and the producers promised something big other than his beard (which he shaved off on September 21, 2018). At first some of us thought it would be the music package getting refreshed, but that didn't happen (in fact the 2008 theme & think music may remain until the end of Season 38 assuming Alex can live at least a few more years and he retires in 2022). That "something big" turned out to the be the All-Star games, which were held February to March, and where team captains drafted other former contestants back in September. But wait, that's not all. There was another "something big" after that, and in fact it was "something bigger". Between October 2018 and March 2019, there was the four-game curse where several contestants like Lindsey Schultz won four games but lost their fifth. But then Steven Grade finally broke the curse when he won his fifth game. But lurking around the corner is "something bigger". And that "something bigger" was (drum roll please)............
James Holzhauer. He became the second Jeopardy! super-champion after Ken Jennings and almost accumulated the exact amount that Ken won in less than half the time. James was known for his gameplay strategies of going for the highest-value clues first while using the "Forrest Bounce" and his aggressive wagering on Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy! clues. Because of this, he became the record-holder for the sixteen highest single-day regular-game winnings, and is the first and only contestant to win $100,000 or more in a single game, having accomplished this six times. Twice, he set the new one-day record. First time was on April 9 where he won $110,914, breaking the previous record of $77,000 set by Roger Craig back in 2010. Second time, he broke his own record with $131,127. He also used important dates in his life as wagers, and the first time he broke the one-day record, he wagered $38,314 in FJ! so that the total winnings matched the date his daughter was born.
Emma Boettcher, a librarian from Chicago, dethroned Holzhauer as Jeopardy! champ, but unlike previous giant killers like Nancy Zerg or Victoria Groce, Emma went on to win 3 games, but lost her fourth match. Now let's see if Brendan Roach becomes the next 5-time champion. There's another Teen Tournament that will air the last two weeks of June, and this will be the first time since Season 23 that there are two Teen Tournaments held the same season.
Now let's get to Season 36. Taping for the new season begins July 23, just three days before Season 35 wraps up. The definite change will be the opening title graphics. But will we see other changes like a new set and/or a new music package? Maybe, or they'll both remain the same. Who knows? One possibility that may happen next season is a second Ultimate Tournament of Champions is held. But unlike the UToC from Season 21, this one lasts only three weeks, and airs May 4-22, 2020. James Holzhauer receives a bye to the finals, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter both receive byes to the semifinals, and twenty-one former contestants who were on the show between Ken's run and the 2017 ToC are invited back. The contestants include: David Madden, Seth Wilson, Buzzy Cohen, Matt Jackson, Larissa Kelly, Roger Craig, Julia Collins, Austin Rogers, Tom Nissley, Dan Pawson, Jason Keller, Arthur Chu, Joon Pahk, Kristin Sausville, Joel Pool, Colby Burnett, Ben Ingram, Alex Jacob, Justin Sausville, Jason Zollinger, Stefan Goodreau. There are seven first-round matches, with five wild card spots for non-winners. But in the four-match quarterfinals, only four contestants advance to the semifinals to take on Brad and Ken in their respective matches. Now should the two-day final match come down to the three Jeopardy! giants, Brad Rutter vs. Ken Jennings vs. James Holzhauer, this should be one for the ages. If James' gameplay strategies throw off Ken and Brad, then he himself is a giant killer, becoming the first human opponent to defeat Brad Rutter. The grand prize is $1,000,000; second place receives $200,000; and third place gets $100,000. But despite James' victory, he still remains the third-highest overall money-winner behind Brad and Ken, regardless of what place either one finish in. And should there be a few more five-game winners the rest of Season 35 and the first two months of Season 36, the regular ToC is held in November. Then we have the College Championship in February and the Teachers tournament in April.
Oh, and one thing I forgot. Because there's a presidential election in 2020, Power Players Week airs May 25-29, right after the Ultimate Tournament of Champions; and both events are taped at DAR Constitution Hall.
These are only my ideas for next season.
James Holzhauer. He became the second Jeopardy! super-champion after Ken Jennings and almost accumulated the exact amount that Ken won in less than half the time. James was known for his gameplay strategies of going for the highest-value clues first while using the "Forrest Bounce" and his aggressive wagering on Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy! clues. Because of this, he became the record-holder for the sixteen highest single-day regular-game winnings, and is the first and only contestant to win $100,000 or more in a single game, having accomplished this six times. Twice, he set the new one-day record. First time was on April 9 where he won $110,914, breaking the previous record of $77,000 set by Roger Craig back in 2010. Second time, he broke his own record with $131,127. He also used important dates in his life as wagers, and the first time he broke the one-day record, he wagered $38,314 in FJ! so that the total winnings matched the date his daughter was born.
Emma Boettcher, a librarian from Chicago, dethroned Holzhauer as Jeopardy! champ, but unlike previous giant killers like Nancy Zerg or Victoria Groce, Emma went on to win 3 games, but lost her fourth match. Now let's see if Brendan Roach becomes the next 5-time champion. There's another Teen Tournament that will air the last two weeks of June, and this will be the first time since Season 23 that there are two Teen Tournaments held the same season.
Now let's get to Season 36. Taping for the new season begins July 23, just three days before Season 35 wraps up. The definite change will be the opening title graphics. But will we see other changes like a new set and/or a new music package? Maybe, or they'll both remain the same. Who knows? One possibility that may happen next season is a second Ultimate Tournament of Champions is held. But unlike the UToC from Season 21, this one lasts only three weeks, and airs May 4-22, 2020. James Holzhauer receives a bye to the finals, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter both receive byes to the semifinals, and twenty-one former contestants who were on the show between Ken's run and the 2017 ToC are invited back. The contestants include: David Madden, Seth Wilson, Buzzy Cohen, Matt Jackson, Larissa Kelly, Roger Craig, Julia Collins, Austin Rogers, Tom Nissley, Dan Pawson, Jason Keller, Arthur Chu, Joon Pahk, Kristin Sausville, Joel Pool, Colby Burnett, Ben Ingram, Alex Jacob, Justin Sausville, Jason Zollinger, Stefan Goodreau. There are seven first-round matches, with five wild card spots for non-winners. But in the four-match quarterfinals, only four contestants advance to the semifinals to take on Brad and Ken in their respective matches. Now should the two-day final match come down to the three Jeopardy! giants, Brad Rutter vs. Ken Jennings vs. James Holzhauer, this should be one for the ages. If James' gameplay strategies throw off Ken and Brad, then he himself is a giant killer, becoming the first human opponent to defeat Brad Rutter. The grand prize is $1,000,000; second place receives $200,000; and third place gets $100,000. But despite James' victory, he still remains the third-highest overall money-winner behind Brad and Ken, regardless of what place either one finish in. And should there be a few more five-game winners the rest of Season 35 and the first two months of Season 36, the regular ToC is held in November. Then we have the College Championship in February and the Teachers tournament in April.
Oh, and one thing I forgot. Because there's a presidential election in 2020, Power Players Week airs May 25-29, right after the Ultimate Tournament of Champions; and both events are taped at DAR Constitution Hall.
These are only my ideas for next season.
