‘Jeopardy!’ Researcher Admits Celebrity Questions Are Easier, but Not Because Celebrities Aren’t Smart Enough

By Sydney Barrett On Dec 4, 2022

Celebrity Danger! has become such a joke that Saturday Night Live has a recurring sketch where famous people can’t answer the simplest of questions. The people who answer the questions for Jeopardy! are aware of this stigma. They admit that there is a difference between Celebrity Jeopardy! and the game for regular participants, but that’s not because celebrities aren’t smart.

LR: John Michael Higgins, Wil Wheaton and Joel Kim Booster | Tyler Golden/ABC via Getty Images

Danger! Lead researcher Suzanne Stone appeared on the Hollywood and Levine podcast on June 29 to talk about her 38 years on the show. When it came to Celebrity Jeopardy! went, Stone explained why they need to soften the questions for special episodes.

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ don’t want to surprise the candidates

Danger! wants the contestants to win, but they don’t want to take it easy on themselves. When it comes to Celebrity Jeopardy! You definitely want to make the special guests look their best. But they also want to donate big prizes to charity.

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“A lot of the candidates who are celebrities are well educated and they’re keeping up,” Stone told Hollywood and Levine. “They could probably do very well in the regular games. But because the shows are celebrities, they play for charities, their favorite charities. We want everyone to look good. And we also want the audience to be mesmerized by the reactions they have, so there’s a mix in the material. You’re going to have nuclear physics, which Jason Alexander picked, and you’re going to have Oscar fashion and stuff like that, classic television. I think that’s good, a good balance for the celebrities.

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ also has more showbiz themes

Stone also acknowledged that by the time celebrities Jeopardy! to play. So they emphasize more celebrity issues.

“Especially when it comes to Celebrity Jeopardy! shows you’ll always have that celebrity angle,” Stone said. “So you have to keep up with your People magazine, your Page Six, your gossip columns, TMZ, whatever, to see what names are out there.”

Cher remains a popular subject for both regular and Celebrity Jeopardy!

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“But Cher is eternal,” Stone said. “She’s a goddess, so we can always give Cher a hint.”

Suzanne Stone forgives underperforming celebrities

Ken Levine spoke to CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who was on Celebrity Jeopardy! However, Stone provided context for the hardships Blitzer was under. That might explain it, and unfortunately it’s common for celebrities to only star for Jeopardy! when they’re not at their best.

“He didn’t do well at all, and I think people are still asking about it today,” Stone said. “I don’t know if he was exhausted from the flight from the east or whatever. Usually the celebrity shows were taped on weekends when people had free time, especially if they were on a current TV show. I don’t know, but yes, the name Wolf Blitzer comes up.”

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‘Jeopardy!’ Researcher Admits Celebrity Questions Are Easier, but Not Because Celebrities Aren’t Smart Enough

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ don’t want to surprise the candidates

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ also has more showbiz themes

Suzanne Stone forgives underperforming celebrities

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‘Jeopardy!’ Researcher Admits Celebrity Questions Are Easier, but Not Because Celebrities Aren’t Smart Enough

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ don’t want to surprise the candidates

Celebrity ‘Danger!’ also has more showbiz themes

Suzanne Stone forgives underperforming celebrities

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