If you’ve ever watched Jeopardy!, you may have noticed some contestants look visibly frustrated with their buzzer as they frantically mash the plunger button like there’s no tomorrow. Like this contestant:

 

 

But here’s the secret…they’re purposely unresponsive!

 

Originally published from the game show’s official site jeopardy.com, here’s how it actually works:

 


Here’s how it all goes down:

The first thing to know is that Alex Trebek must finish reading the clue before the signaling devices are activated. In the early days of the show, contestants could ring in at any time and that led to a lot of quick guesses, negative scores and general confusion. Now, as soon as Alex has finished reading the last syllable in the last word, a staff member sitting offstage presses a button that serves two functions:

First, it illuminates a series of lights on both sides of the gameboard to let the contestants know that their devices are now armed and that they can ring in. For viewers at home, the text of the clue is still on screen. So unless you’ve been to a taping of the show, you’ve never seen these indicator lights. Here’s what they look like:

Simultaneously, the system that controls the signaling devices is engaged. The system works by detecting the first signal it receives after the system is armed and ignoring subsequent signals. Then, it shows who has rung in first by lighting up that contestant’s podium.

If a contestant attempts to ring in before the gameboard lights activate, the system locks out their signal for a quarter of a second. This quarter-second lockout works like a “digital policeman” that keeps the game flowing.

 


Why do I see some contestants hitting the buzzer, but not getting in?

With such critical timing and so much at stake, there’s always a chance that all three contestants may attempt to ring in before the system is armed. That’s why we instruct contestants to keep hitting the buzzer until they see the confirmation light on their podium or until Alex calls on one of them.

With the precise engineering of the signaling devices, we’ve taken great care to ensure that the game runs smoothly and that every contestant gets an equal chance to respond. Hopefully, it helps them to relax a bit, knowing that lightning reflexes and flexible thumbs are just as important to the game as having staggering amounts of knowledge about a vast array of subjects.

 


 

 

-Kevin and Sonia

KiSS RADiO MORNiNGS

www.facebook.com/KevinAndSonia

 

Filed under: alex trebek, game shows, jeopardy, Kevin and Sonia