And that is the gamble.

With his recall, the probability of the right question coming up at the right time is minuscule.

And he knows it. Today he was conservative with his FJ wager. He routinely goes all in for the DD but only if he hits early in the round. He’s been at zero more than once early in the game.

The whole shebang revolves around the odds of him answering wrong to the right question at the right time.

Irregardless* he can’t lose at this point. He’s up by $2.2M even if he doesn’t show up.

He is still so clearly better than his competition. Nate gave him a bit of a run last week but didn't have strategy skills.

Irregardless - my contractor used this "word" all the time. Drove me nuts.

Only way I see hem getting beat is, Someone else hits big on the daily doubles and is ahead for the final. It could happen.

To do that they’d also have to had studied the buzzer for a year and perfect his timing like James allegedly has.

I’m beginning to think the chance probability of James suddenly appearing just about simultaneously with Alex announcing his stage IV is very, very low. The producers not having an inkling about how well a particular contestant will perform is unlikely.

I bet there’s more to this story.

Maybe. I do not see how anyone could predict the run he has going.

That is a good point. But, it is fairly predictable who is going to do very well. Even if James had not run like he is, there would be another in the wings. It did not have to be James. Nate, for example. I’m sure the show has absolute discretion on who to put on or not.

No matter what, I’m sure the show is breaking all kinds of records as Alex begins to make his exit. I don’t think it is by pure coincidence.

This isn’t a criticism, by the way. Just an observation. The show has been one of the highlights of all of TV. It’s a game of brains and class.

I'm sure the producers are being VERY careful that no one changes anything to keep this guy on the show or to arrange for someone to beat him to get him off the show. The $64,000 Question show was a game (pun intended) changer in the '50's for TV shows.

I remember Jeopardy from back in the 60's...I hated "nap time" while that damn tune played in the other room....

Watched it for decades....just not much the last few years. The day James loses, I hope Alex calls it quits too....pure class.

That will be my last show....if I live that long :)

James is a freak....do "they" know
buzzer skilz before the real deal?

Cautiously optimistic!
Pancreatic cancer is a beech and can't be trusted, but it looks like Alex is going to get a little more time at least:

Sammy, thanks for that update. At 78 I could not blame him if he just retired anyway.

Pancreatic CA is very sneaky. You don’t know you have it. Then you find out and treat it with good results. Then boom: carcinomatosis.

Alex’s mind-boggling update is not unusual. In actual fact, it is pretty routine. However, what he does say about having the good wishes of millions of people as he fights this disease is unusual.

I'm not sure just how you'd practice using the buzzer without actually being in the studio. A former Jeopardy! contestant said that lights surrounding the game board will come on to signal that the buttons are active only after Alex finishes reading the clue. Then, and only then, can you buzz in. If you jump the gun and press the button before the lights come on, it adds some fraction of a second to the button's response time and puts you at a disadvantage. Watching on TV, we can't see those lights because the camera's always on the contestants as Alex reads the clue. Can't see how James (or anyone) could practice the buzzer timing at home. That being said, he does seem to have an uncanny ability to beat out the other contestants on that button. It was a big advantage in besting Nate last week.

My wife is sure that the 'fix' is in and that James is a ringer.

Glad to hear that Alex is responding well to treatment. Hope that it's more than just a momentary surge and that he continues to improve.

I wondered about that too. Just seems too coincidental that a contestant like this would come along consistent with Alex’s diagnosis and treatment. Which will last longer...a morbid consideration indeed.

I’m pulling for Alex.

Don't spoil it for anyone...but my dang phone rang and I missed most of tonight's show :(

Something like this could help improve resction time. James is not a car guy so I am sure it was not what he used.

https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/XMasTree.html

So what happened yesterday....a new champion I'm sure :)!

Well, for a brief spell, I thought they may have found someone who could compete with James...

Dang it....missed yesterday's show too....

So who's the new champ ;)?

Same as the old champ.

It's like a soap opera...miss a week or two....picks up where ya left off....I reckon ;)