The other day I asked my Facebook friends which TV game show they prefer, Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune? Most of them prefer Jeopardy.
I don’t really care for either show, but I have watched both for years. Here in New York Jeopardy comes on at 7PM and my wife is a big fan. So we sit down to dinner at 7PM with Jeopardy on the television. Since Wheel of Fortune follows on the same channel we watch it as well.
I say “watch,” but I really don’t pay much attention to either. Anyone who knows me well knows that I don’t like games—or sports for that matter. So while most of America is getting ready for this evening’s Super Bowl I am sitting here writing this little essay. I know, I need to get a life. But as I promised my Facebook friends, here is my take on Jeopardy vs. Wheel of Fortune.
If I had to be locked in a room and forced to watch one of these two game shows I would choose WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
Full disclosure. One of the reasons I don’t like games and sports is that I was never very good at either when I was growing up. I eventually developed a strong dislike for both. I know this puts me in a tiny minority, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
While I can tolerate Wheel, I don’t like Jeopardy at all. My dislike of Jeopardy begins with its format—responding to a clue with a question. What’s that all about anyway? I find it gimmicky and pedantic.
There are other things that I don’t like about Jeopardy, but after reading my first draft of this missive I realized I was just being mean—and probably offensive to my many friends who love this show. So I’ve decided to delete those paragraphs and will now move on to Wheel.
But before moving on, I’ll just say one more thing about Jeopardy. (Sorry, I can’t help myself.) Contestants are always guessing at the answers—and getting them wrong and losing their money. Why do you ring in, you knuckleheads, if you don’t really know the answer? Don’t Guess! Honestly, are these the kinds of people you would want on your project team at work? How would you like to have one of them doing open-heart surgery on you? Like, I don’t know, I think this is the left ventricle here but I’m just guessing.
Wheel of Fortune. You can hit Bankrupt at any given moment and damn it, it’s just not fair. While Jeopardy has a slight element of chance (daily double, the categories themselves), with Wheel you are at risk on every spin.
But aside from the chance element, Wheel is pure show biz. Lights, camera, action! I find the show more entertaining. It’s big, it’s brassy and it’s shameless. From Vanna White and Pat Sajak’s matching dresses and ties, to that colorful spinning wheel, it appeals to my senses of sight and sound. Click, click, click, click, click, click . . .
So thanks, dear friends, for participating in my survey.
Enjoy the game!
(It’s basketball, right?)
I don’t really care for either show, but I have watched both for years. Here in New York Jeopardy comes on at 7PM and my wife is a big fan. So we sit down to dinner at 7PM with Jeopardy on the television. Since Wheel of Fortune follows on the same channel we watch it as well.
I say “watch,” but I really don’t pay much attention to either. Anyone who knows me well knows that I don’t like games—or sports for that matter. So while most of America is getting ready for this evening’s Super Bowl I am sitting here writing this little essay. I know, I need to get a life. But as I promised my Facebook friends, here is my take on Jeopardy vs. Wheel of Fortune.
If I had to be locked in a room and forced to watch one of these two game shows I would choose WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
Full disclosure. One of the reasons I don’t like games and sports is that I was never very good at either when I was growing up. I eventually developed a strong dislike for both. I know this puts me in a tiny minority, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
While I can tolerate Wheel, I don’t like Jeopardy at all. My dislike of Jeopardy begins with its format—responding to a clue with a question. What’s that all about anyway? I find it gimmicky and pedantic.
There are other things that I don’t like about Jeopardy, but after reading my first draft of this missive I realized I was just being mean—and probably offensive to my many friends who love this show. So I’ve decided to delete those paragraphs and will now move on to Wheel.
But before moving on, I’ll just say one more thing about Jeopardy. (Sorry, I can’t help myself.) Contestants are always guessing at the answers—and getting them wrong and losing their money. Why do you ring in, you knuckleheads, if you don’t really know the answer? Don’t Guess! Honestly, are these the kinds of people you would want on your project team at work? How would you like to have one of them doing open-heart surgery on you? Like, I don’t know, I think this is the left ventricle here but I’m just guessing.
Wheel of Fortune. You can hit Bankrupt at any given moment and damn it, it’s just not fair. While Jeopardy has a slight element of chance (daily double, the categories themselves), with Wheel you are at risk on every spin.
But aside from the chance element, Wheel is pure show biz. Lights, camera, action! I find the show more entertaining. It’s big, it’s brassy and it’s shameless. From Vanna White and Pat Sajak’s matching dresses and ties, to that colorful spinning wheel, it appeals to my senses of sight and sound. Click, click, click, click, click, click . . .
So thanks, dear friends, for participating in my survey.
Enjoy the game!
(It’s basketball, right?)
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