Ken Jennings supplied his apology on a “Jeopardy!” contestant this week for a “problematic” clue that was interpreted by some as sexist. However, others took difficulty with the host’s dealing with of the incident.
ON Monday’s episode of the quiz present, “Jeopardy!” host and sport present GOAT awkwardly offered a clue within the “Complete the Rhyming Sentence” class.
“‘Men hardly ever strive,’” Jennings stated, starting the irreverent Dorothy Parker quote.
“What are ‘women who put on glasses’?” contestant Will Wallace, a sport design director, chimed in.
“Yeah, somewhat problematic,” Jennings stated instantly after Wallace’s response.
The contestant agreed with Jennings’ evaluation of the well-known twentieth century poet’s comment, replying: “very a lot.” Wallace’s fellow contestant, well being program director Heather Ryan, who selected the $400 clue, was sporting glasses — a coincidence that prompted Jennings to say, “I’m sorry, Heather.”
Jennings and the opponents continued the match, with Wallace, who had gained 4 straight, in third place. Ryan completed the episode in second place, falling simply wanting meals gross sales consultant Ian Taylor.
Incidentally, this isn’t the primary time the adage has been considered a joke about Parker own romantic weaknesses – was used on the present. Parker’s quote has appeared in some type a minimum of a dozen instances since 1985, in accordance with fan-operators J! archivethough it had not been used for greater than a decade earlier than it was discovered on Monday.
The timing of the clue wasn’t splendid. The episode, which was seemingly taped weeks upfront, aired simply days after two former Sony Pictures Entertainment workers filed gender and racial discrimination lawsuits in opposition to “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune”. In response to the lawsuit, the sport reveals’ mum or dad firm stated that the reveals’ new management group was “devoted to fostering a tradition of inclusivity and respect” and that Sony “takes all allegations of discrimination very severely.”
Representatives of “Jeopardy!” didn’t instantly reply to The Times’ request for remark Wednesday.
Although the “troublesome” incident appeared short-lived within the episode, discourse about it lived on social media.
“The rhyming phrase class was horrible, particularly the sexist clue,” one viewer he wrote ON Reddit in a dialogue thread concerning the Oct. 28 episode.
“Frankly, I need not hear Ken learn an clearly outdated and inappropriate clue after which name it ‘problematic'” another Reddit user he replied. “Maybe he can use his place to alter it earlier than it goes on the air.”
“It was an odd selection. There are many different rhyming phrases to select from that will not make your opponents, your host, and your viewers visibly uncomfortable, “one other he said.
“It was a horrible lead and the writers ought to be ashamed of it. That entire class sucked,” a Reddit consumer he wrote in response to protection of Jennings’ apology.
However, reception to the inclusion of the quote was combined. Others praised its use and Parker’s historical past as a scathing author.
“That quote, a method or one other, has been mentioned 12 times on Jeopardy!in accordance with J! Archive. That contains final evening, which was the primary such point out since 2013,” stated one other Reddit consumer he underlined. “Considering the historical past and significance of Dorothy Parker as a literary determine, I’ve no downside utilizing that quote as a clue. What I do not like is Ken’s remark. If he actually thought this was problematic, the suitable place to lift that objection would have been the morning manufacturing assembly with the writers. If he had finished so and been rejected, he wouldn’t have needed to renew it on stage.
“Jeopardy viewers are offended by Dorothy Parker’s well-known quote: ‘Men hardly ever make advances to women who put on glasses’… It’s good to see that our pal Dot nonetheless has the ability to disturb the pleaser, in any case these years!” an X consumer he said.
“We *need* to remain on much less and preserve sporting our visible human repellent units, principally to have the ability to perform, but additionally for the bonus Creeper deterrents. #jeopardy #foureyes,” one other he wrote.
“Guys do not make advances on whiny ladies who suppose Jeopardy! the clues are ‘problematic’,” one more he wrote. “Glasses are the least of your issues.”
