Featured J!Buzz

Among the many fresh initiatives that new EP – and noted soccer enthusiast – Michael Davies brings to his stewardship of Jeopardy! is a commitment to give more attention to the accomplishments of all our contestants. Daily totals and games won are fundamental metrics, but they only tell one fraction of what transpires in any given episode. So, if stats can tell the story of the highs and lows in the career of a professional athlete, can daily box scores provide the same kind of compelling narrative for Jeopardy! contestants? We hope so.

Following Michael’s directive and building on a format devised by Jeopardy! G.O.A.T. Ken Jennings as a starting point, the team went to work. Combining available resources scattered across the production’s contestant database, script notes, and scoring/electronic systems, the goal was to assemble numbers that would go beyond the mere information and speak directly to the essence of the game. Hat tip here to the many fan sites which have been compiling and presenting much of the same data for many years. Building on that, we add, for the first time, some proprietary data not previously available, and contextualized it in a way that hopefully gives fans and future champions a clearer picture of what happens in competition. Here are some explanations and tips on what to be looking for as you peruse the #Jeopardata:

ATTs – Simply put, it’s the number of clues a contestant attempts to “ring in” for. Fans have heard for years about the frustration some contestants have with the signaling button. This number will give you a clearer idea of how aggravating or exhilarating that experience can be. However, it only signifies intention; it does not reveal the number of times a contestant presses the button for each clue or whether their attempts are too early or too late.

Releasing this number for the first time in Jeopardy! history cracks open the door to a vast stockpile of available game data. Be on the lookout for more related information in the coming months! You can find out more about how the buzzer works here.

BUZ and BUZ% – These entries track the number of times a contestant successfully “locks in” for a clue, and that success rate in comparison to their number of attempts. The numbers speak not only to command over the button but to confidence in the material in each round of play.

COR/INC (Correct/Incorrect) – Pretty self-explanatory, but keep in mind that there are only 30 clues to be addressed by 3 contestants in each of the J! and DJ! Rounds. Any time that “COR” number starts to head into double digits, it’s worth paying attention to!

LS (Longest Streak) – In Jeopardy!, the contestant that gave the last correct response continues to maintain control of the game board and therefore drives the direction and rhythm of the game. That means momentum; a key element in any competition. You won’t see a lot of startling numbers posted here, but even streaks of 4 or 5 can mean increased likelihood of hitting Daily Doubles, and an intimidating surge ahead in score.

WAGERS (Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy!) – Having a sound wagering strategy is often overlooked in preparation, and is one of the most difficult decisions to make in the midst of play. The biggest champions always seem to know when to be aggressive and when to play it safe, and the numbers here tell you a lot more than just dollar amounts.

TRIPLE STUMPERS – Any clue (not counting Daily Doubles) for which the correct response must be provided by the host.

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We hope this gives you a little more insight into the daily box scores and how they illustrate the dynamics of Jeopardy! There’s even more information to share with you in the future so stay tuned for updates and possible new categories. Above all, this new feature is our way of honoring all our contestants. Win or lose, their brilliance and willingness to play is the heartbeat of our game and we’re grateful for them all.

All of which leaves us with one final question: Have you taken the Anytime Test yet?