Clash of the Titans

So tonight is game 2 of the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions.  As I said, with the exception of a couple Food Network shows, I don't keep up with current television.  Except for Jeopardy.  That's as close to a family ritual as we have, at least in terms of television.

I'll admit, it's not always exciting TV.  Unlike its following show, Wheel of Fortune, the contestants usually are of a more 'dry' variety. No problem with that, it's just not usually that colorful. 

Except this year.  This is perhaps one of the most talented, and dynamic, group of champs I've ever seen.  Earlier, there was a brainy lass who captured my boys' imaginations.  She wasn't bad, but only made it four nights.  Then there was Buzzy Cohen, who was certainly an exception to the rule.  Looking like a stand in for Harold Lloyd, he was colorful and upbeat and charismatic.  And smart.

Then there was Austin.  A champion of champions, and not anything like I've ever seen on all the years I've watched the show.  A bartender from New York (who also does theater and stand up), he showed up his first day, hair unkempt, a disheveled beard, and dressed like a person with a sense of fashion who nonetheless shops at Goodwill. 

His behavior became the stuff of legend, and a pain in the rump to the producers (and some say, Alex).  He's not smart like most champions, who seem to have an encyclopedic knowledge of everything.  He just knows a lot about a variety of subjects.  When he doesn't know the answer, he doesn't try.  But when he does, or thinks he does, he wades in with a sense of derring do and bravado towards his bets that helped him break three records in the show's entire history: fastest to 100,000.00, most winnings in a single day (80,000), and fastest to reach 300,000.00.  He's the fourth biggest winner of all time.

And yet he's trailing to the boy wonder, Alan Lin.  A nice, personable contestant, Alan has reflexes like lightning, and it's his ability to punch in faster than the others that sets him apart.  He's smart, knows a bit about everything, and is fast as anyone I've seen.

Whoever wins, it will be one to watch.  They are also wearing black ribbons in memory of Cindy Stowell, the jeopardy champ who died shortly after her time on the show.  It was her dream to be on Jeopardy, and she made it with gusto.  Sadly, she passed away before her episodes aired. 

So that's where we'll be at 7:00 PM.  It's anyone's game.