"This man is the greatest Jeopardy player EVER"
*bzzt*
"Who is Ken Jennings?"
Jennings Meets the Media on Jeopardy! Day 10
Ken Jennings is learning how to offer familiar answers to questions from reporters around the U.S.
The recordbreaking nine-time Jeopardy! champion was offered for interviews via phone Tuesday morning.
The prolific champion, who has $291,158---an all-time series regular season high---plays his tenth game Tuesday.
"Im more surprised that anybody, Im sure," said Jennings of his history-making run. "You have my parents walking around with knowing smiles but for me, its just been amazing. I cannot account for it."
In a Saturday story in The Salt Lake Tribune, some of Jennings' opponents were described with the ability to be "champions, if they had been playing anybody but him."
"I feel a vague guilt about that because they were all so nice," said Jennings. "Speed on the buzzers is more important than most people know. You get into a rhythm and once I've had a few games under my belt, I've had more opportunities to do that than anybody else. Its sort of a feeling."
Jennings has demonstrated a wide variety of knowledge, particularly in academic subjects, though he also says he has found no categories which he fears.
"Ive always been interested in a lot of different things," said Jennings. "I think it was John Updike who said, 'Love breeds knowledge.' Some people go on the show and say, 'I hope I don't get such-and-such a category.' For me, I've always enjoyed books and movies. A lot of my interests come from having a good liberal arts education at BYU. I also played quiz bowl games in college, which have a much stronger academic focus than Jeopardy!. That trains you to know your scientists and authors."
Not born until the tail end of the original Art Fleming version, Jennings said he has been watching the syndicated Jeopardy! since season one. "I was overseas when it started in 1984 but Armed Forces Network shows Jeopardy! religiously," said Jennings. "Even before that, my grandparents have told me stories about me giving them the scoop on game shows, so I guess you can say I grew up on them."
Jennings' co-workers threw a viewing party last week to share in his record-breaking evening, a highlight to his success.
"People have been very nice, very complimentary," said Jennings. "They were excited to be able to see the show. That alone is very exciting and rewarding.
At this stage of his Jeopardy! life, Jennings said he is not feeling any pressure.
"Not because of the streak," he said. "I've felt more comfortable and more loose as time has gone on. Early on, you worry more about the lights and cameras. As you become more relaxed, you focus more on not overthinking your timing and just don't worry about other things. I've been surprised at how relaxed I've felt.
The nervous one of the Jenningses: Ken's wife. "She says so," he said with a laugh. "I couldn't believe she would want to keep coming back. She says she's on the edge of her seat all the time."
Jennings Nabs 2nd Player of the Week Honor
The first waves of mainline media publicity are beginning to break for Ken Jennings, now Jeopardy!'s biggest regular season money-winner and winning streak recordholder.
The Salt Lake City software specialist, who broke the show's all-time regular season money-winning record Thursday, captured his eighth consecutive non-tournament victory, eclipsing the seven-win streak of former Senate Finance Committee adviser Tom Walsh earlier in the season.
For the second consecutive week, Jennings---who now has $266,158 in his eight days on the show, an average of $33,269 and change per game---is TVgameshows.net's Player of the Week. Only two contestants, 2-Minute Drill's Willy Gibson and Jeopardy!'s Brad Rutter, have won the honor a third time since Player of the Week was established in early 2000.
*bzzt*
"Who is Ken Jennings?"
Jennings Meets the Media on Jeopardy! Day 10
Ken Jennings is learning how to offer familiar answers to questions from reporters around the U.S.
The recordbreaking nine-time Jeopardy! champion was offered for interviews via phone Tuesday morning.
The prolific champion, who has $291,158---an all-time series regular season high---plays his tenth game Tuesday.
"Im more surprised that anybody, Im sure," said Jennings of his history-making run. "You have my parents walking around with knowing smiles but for me, its just been amazing. I cannot account for it."
In a Saturday story in The Salt Lake Tribune, some of Jennings' opponents were described with the ability to be "champions, if they had been playing anybody but him."
"I feel a vague guilt about that because they were all so nice," said Jennings. "Speed on the buzzers is more important than most people know. You get into a rhythm and once I've had a few games under my belt, I've had more opportunities to do that than anybody else. Its sort of a feeling."
Jennings has demonstrated a wide variety of knowledge, particularly in academic subjects, though he also says he has found no categories which he fears.
"Ive always been interested in a lot of different things," said Jennings. "I think it was John Updike who said, 'Love breeds knowledge.' Some people go on the show and say, 'I hope I don't get such-and-such a category.' For me, I've always enjoyed books and movies. A lot of my interests come from having a good liberal arts education at BYU. I also played quiz bowl games in college, which have a much stronger academic focus than Jeopardy!. That trains you to know your scientists and authors."
Not born until the tail end of the original Art Fleming version, Jennings said he has been watching the syndicated Jeopardy! since season one. "I was overseas when it started in 1984 but Armed Forces Network shows Jeopardy! religiously," said Jennings. "Even before that, my grandparents have told me stories about me giving them the scoop on game shows, so I guess you can say I grew up on them."
Jennings' co-workers threw a viewing party last week to share in his record-breaking evening, a highlight to his success.
"People have been very nice, very complimentary," said Jennings. "They were excited to be able to see the show. That alone is very exciting and rewarding.
At this stage of his Jeopardy! life, Jennings said he is not feeling any pressure.
"Not because of the streak," he said. "I've felt more comfortable and more loose as time has gone on. Early on, you worry more about the lights and cameras. As you become more relaxed, you focus more on not overthinking your timing and just don't worry about other things. I've been surprised at how relaxed I've felt.
The nervous one of the Jenningses: Ken's wife. "She says so," he said with a laugh. "I couldn't believe she would want to keep coming back. She says she's on the edge of her seat all the time."
Jennings Nabs 2nd Player of the Week Honor
The first waves of mainline media publicity are beginning to break for Ken Jennings, now Jeopardy!'s biggest regular season money-winner and winning streak recordholder.
The Salt Lake City software specialist, who broke the show's all-time regular season money-winning record Thursday, captured his eighth consecutive non-tournament victory, eclipsing the seven-win streak of former Senate Finance Committee adviser Tom Walsh earlier in the season.
For the second consecutive week, Jennings---who now has $266,158 in his eight days on the show, an average of $33,269 and change per game---is TVgameshows.net's Player of the Week. Only two contestants, 2-Minute Drill's Willy Gibson and Jeopardy!'s Brad Rutter, have won the honor a third time since Player of the Week was established in early 2000.
