← All Of It with Alison Stewart
All Of It with Alison Stewart
Live Trivia with Ken Jennings!
00:51:12
Ken Jennings, host of "Jeopardy!" joins the show for an hour to discuss his role on the show and his new book of trivia.
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- [00:08]
Alison Stewart
This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thank you for spending part of your day with us. I'm really grateful that you're here on today's show. It's biography week on all of it. And in today's conversation, we'll learn about the life of LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson. Author Tourmaline joins us to discuss and director Amy Berg will be here to talk about her new documentary about the life of the late singer Jeff Buckley. Both great conversations are on the way and I want to take this moment to mention conversations like these are only possible because of your support. As you may have heard, Congress has voted to end federal funding for public broadcasting. It means WNYC and WQXR will lose nearly $6 million over the next two years. Your support is critical. Please stand with us or increase your monthly sustaining donation now@wnyc.org and thanks. Now let's get this show started with a question. Who holds the longest winning streak on Jeopardy? In 2003, when Jeopardy. Eliminated the rule that a person could only win five times in a row, it was game on. A year later, Ken Jennings appeared on the show. June 2, 2004. He began what was the most consecutive Jeopardy. Wins of all time with a streak of 74 games. And he also holds the record for the highest winnings in regular season play, taking home over $2.5 million. Twenty some years later, Ken is on the other side of the podium as the beloved full time host of Jeopardy. And for more than a decade, Ken has shared his love of trivia with with the world with his trivia puzzle game Connections. That's with a K. Connections has been running in various outlets since 2012. But starting today, you can find all those puzzles in one place here because today is pub day for the complete connections. 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles. In order to celebrate the release of the new book of puzzles, Ken has agreed to join us for the full hour of today's show and in just a bit, host some live trivia from his new book right here on the air. So that is exciting. But first we're going to talk to Ken a bit about what it means to be the host of Jeopardy. Ken, welcome to the show and very happy Pub Day.
- [02:46]
Ken Jennings
Hi, Alison. Thanks for having me.
- [02:48]
Alison Stewart
Listeners, do you have a question for Ken Jennings about Jeopardy. Maybe you want to know how the questions are written or what happens if something goes wrong. Ken is taking your behind the scenes questions about Jeopardy. Jeopardy. Give us a call at 212-433-WNYC 212-433-9692. And remember, don't call us if you're driving. I wanna ask you about the op ed in the New York Times. It was something that you wrote and the title was Trivia and Jeopardy. Could save our Republic. Why did you wanna write this piece?
- [03:22]
Ken Jennings
I've always been a genuine believer in trivia. Not just because as a nerdy kid, trivia was important to me, although it was. You know, every day you turn on Alex Trebek and he created some safe space where the things you knew actually were celebrated. Whereas in real life it seemed like people were put down for being a know it all. You know, it kind of. It made you odd or geeky in the 1980s to know, you know, to be able to name every track on the White Album in order or whatever it was or name the entire lineup of the 27 Yankees. Today we celebrate trivia. But it was a little different back then. You know, geekdom was different. And so trivia was important to me growing up. But I also think I never liked the name. I never liked that we were kind of giving away, that it was trivial to know things. You know, we might as well just say general knowledge or cultural literacy because this is the kind of stuff that used to bring us together as a culture like society worked because we knew the same references, we watched the same shows, we read some of the same books. And I think that's going away as generalists get siloed into specialists nowadays.
- [04:32]
Alison Stewart
In the piece she wrote in a Dark Time, my secret optimism is that our viewers love for quiz games is a sign of what can eventually save us. A practical belief in fact and error that is more fundamentally American than the toxic blend of proud ignorance and smarter than thou skepticism that has brought us to this point. How has your job changed in this era of skepticism by experts?
- [05:00]
Ken Jennings
I mean, the great thing about Jeopardy. Is that it has this. You know, it's got 60 years of goodwill basically going back to art Fleming in 1964. And it's got this vast national audience. Nobody dislikes Jeopardy. You know, I never get heckled in airports because everyone loves Jeopardy. They remember watching it with dad or grandma or in the dorm at college or whatever it is. People have these fond memories, old people, young people, red states, blue states. Everybody kind of likes Jeopardy. And so it's got this nationwide legacy where it might be kind of the last place where everyone kind of universally acknowledges that questions do have factual answers that you on Jeopardy. You can't just buzz in to a question about the moon landing and say, what is the moon landing? Never happened, Ken. You know, because we're the space where we say no. In fact, it did. And there's no wiggle room for do your own research about vaccines or climate or whatever the conspiracy theory of the day is. And I feel like I have hope that, like, there is an America out there that, like, prefers to return to that world of expertise and actual fact. Fact versus error.
- [06:08]
Alison Stewart
It's also monoculture.
- [06:10]
Ken Jennings
It's kind of the end of the monoculture. Maybe Jeopardy. And SNL are the last titans standing when it comes to a show that everybody watches at a certain time.
- [06:21]
Alison Stewart
As you decided to become the host of the show, you had to think about developing your own voice. How did you go about developing your own voice? How did you want to separate yourself from Alec's legacy?
- [06:34]
Ken Jennings
It's really tricky because, you know, he had hosted the show for over 37 years. You know, people, most people did not remember another host. And the really tricky thing is he was so great at it. Like, if you were to watch, I got to watch him up close host Jeopardy. Live, and it was such a treat because he was an old school gentleman and a broadcaster and he could just do anything. It was like he had been built in a lab somewhere in Ontario to host Jeopardy. Amazing. Just perfection and grace watching him host. And he made it look so easy that I think everyone thinks that that's an easy lift. Hosting Jeopardy. They give you the questions on a piece of paper. You just have to read the responses. In fact, it is a tricky, fast paced job with a lot of balls in the air. But what I learned from Alex was the host of Jeopardy. Is not the star of the show. Like, I think he intentionally asked the announcer not to introduce him as the star of Jeopardy. Which had been the standard in the 60s. Alex wanted to be the host of Jeopardy. Because he thought the star should be the game board and the contestants. Like, he knew he was right. That's why people tune in. And now that I've been on the job for a few years, I see that's absolutely right. That if you're, if you're noticing what the host of Jeopardy. Is doing, maybe something has gone wrong with the game that the host should recede a bit. If there's anything that I can bring to the table that Alex can't. And that's a pretty big if. It's that I was a contestant once and I remember what it was like. It's stressful.
- [07:56]
Alison Stewart
For the players. Does that help you having been a contestant?
- [07:59]
Ken Jennings
I think so, because I'm playing along in my head as I'm. And I knew Alex. I know Alex must have been doing this too. But when I'm playing, I kind of feel like I'm the fourth podium. I don't have a buzzer, so I don't get any points. But I'm playing along in real time with the contestants, and it gets me excited. And I have empathy for them too, because I know what they're going through. I remember those big feelings of just, you know, every day we have three kind of nice inside kids who were putting on national TV because they're good at facts. And that. That can be a intense, scary moment. And I. I remember that, and I try to settle them down.
- [08:31]
Alison Stewart
What makes someone a good contestant for Jeopardy?
- [08:37]
Ken Jennings
I think it's. It's not what you might imagine. You might imagine some kind of Rain man style savant who just sits at home memorizing the almanac or something. And in fact, Jeopardy. People, they. They're like everybody else. But maybe. Whereas most people specialize, you know, we. We say, oh, yeah, I like. I like rock, but I don't like jazz, or I like baseball, but I don't follow football or whatever it is. Jeopardy. People tend to be curious about everything.
- [09:04]
Alison Stewart
Yep. Mm.
- [09:05]
Ken Jennings
It's. They're just omnivorous. They don't. For whatever weird chromosomal reason, we don't distinguish between our thing and other things, and so we're omnivorous. And then when you like something, the facts just stick in your head. You know, you don't have to try to study the words of a song you like. It just sticks. And if you were to be like that with everything, almost everything could stick. And that's what makes a Jeopardy. Player.
- [09:27]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Peter, calling in from Jersey City. Hey, Peter, you are on the air with Ken Jennings.
- [09:34]
Caller
Hi. Thanks for taking my call. Ken, could I take you back before your Jeopardy. Hosting gig to the show Masterminds?
- [09:44]
Ken Jennings
Yeah, I was on a GSN game show called Masterminds. It was like a GSN daytime trivia show that was fun.
- [09:51]
Caller
And now it's being broadcast on something called Game Show Central, and I've been following it all summer. And your two most frequent co. Masterminds were Muffy and Jonathan, and they both emerged from the Chase, which was a British import with a guy called the Beast.
- [10:12]
Ken Jennings
Yeah, I love that format.
- [10:13]
Alison Stewart
Guy's gone down a rabbit hole.
- [10:15]
Ken Jennings
I was very. Yeah. These are deep game show cuts. I Love this. Game show fans are like that. You know, they're. You know, there are people who watch Jeopardy. Every night, but then people have fond memories of Tic Tac Dough or whatever their formative game show was. I think it reminds us of being homesick from school.
- [10:31]
Alison Stewart
Oh, for sure.
- [10:31]
Ken Jennings
That's my theory. You could stay home and watch game shows.
- [10:35]
Alison Stewart
One of my producers over at NPR years ago was a three time Jeopardy. Champion. Wow. And I asked her for a little bit of intel, and she said there wasn't a lot of intel, but she wondered in his new role if he's even allowed to interact with the contest coordinators anymore.
- [10:53]
Ken Jennings
Oh, with the contestant coordinators, yeah. It's true. So we have this bright line. You know, the game shows were all rigged back in the 50s, right. They made a movie of it. And those laws are still. There were congressional hearings and those laws are still on the books. Like game and reality shows are still regulated. We have outside auditors present to make sure everything's fair and above board. Because if Jeopardy. Were or looked rigged, there could be congressional hearings. Again. You know, we take this seriously. And what that means is the side of the show where we develop the clues and the boards, the answers, which includes the host, is totally separate from the contestant side. You know, who's gonna be on the show, which day. These, these things are totally separate and independent and randomized so that there's no way that a player could know or guess what the material is going to be. And so, yeah, I have friends on the contestant side that I don't really chat much unless I'm on stage. I can kind of wave and say, hey, John, how are you guys doing? But except for that, it's kind of a bright line.
- [11:47]
Alison Stewart
What goes through your mind when you see a contestant struggling?
- [11:52]
Ken Jennings
I have been there. You know, it's. We see, we see, you know, not full blown panic attacks, but we see nerves. I have seen tears, and my heart goes out to them because it's their favorite show and this is all they wanted, but they knew it was gonna be scary. And I admire that. You know, in my mind, just getting on the show is the tough climb because we get maybe a hundred thousand people trying out for Jeopardy. Many years.
- [12:19]
Alison Stewart
Oh, wow.
- [12:19]
Ken Jennings
And we only have room for a few hundred. So just getting that call to be on the show, you're already a winner. Not everybody will take home the first place prize. But to my mind, if you've been on Jeopardy, Whether you finished first, second, or third, you and I are in the same very Very special little club.
- [12:34]
Alison Stewart
My guest this hour is Jeopardy. Champion and host Ken Jennings. We're talking about his career and his new book the complete 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles. It's out today. Listeners, we want to hear you participate with Ken. Right now we're taking call about his job as host. Our Phone number is 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. This is kind of a cool text. A little weird, but it's, it's interesting. It says, Jeopardy. Is my favorite tool of resistance to the anti intellectualist movement that is running rampant. Doesn't feel like schooling. You just want to win. And it involves understanding the clue and a hard truth answer.
- [13:18]
Ken Jennings
I think that's right that if Jeopardy. Were invented today, a game where the facts are coming at you that fast and it's about opera and science as well as sports and pop culture, it would be a hard sell for audiences. But in fact, it's got this massive audience just because of the years of goodwill we have. And I think that's true that playing being a good Jeopardy. Player requires more than just factual recall. There's all kinds of analysis and meta knowledge. You're thinking about the clue, why it was written a certain way. Jeopardy. Clues are, they're very good at narrative. It's not just here's a fact, but it's like, here's why. This is something that might be fun or important to know. You might want to have this fact in your pocket at your next cocktail party. It's at its best. Trivia kind of sparkles and makes us into better conversationalists and better people.
- [14:05]
Alison Stewart
This says, when I am at my 92 year old mom's house these days we watch Jeopardy. Every night. Ken, you have really blossomed as a host. Congratulations. There's two parts to that. One is that you have blossomed as a host. What was it like the first couple of weeks?
- [14:24]
Ken Jennings
Oh, it was nerve wracking. It was having to step into Alex's shoes. We were all still mourning him. You know, everybody there missed him very much as much or more than the viewers did. And I knew I was not like Alex. You know, he was a lifelong broadcaster and I literally have no background in that. It was a very unusual move for the show to try out a former contestant in the host role. It's an odd idea that if you win enough jeopardies, they will let you host Jeopardy. For some reason.
- [14:52]
Alison Stewart
Good conversationalist I get.
- [14:54]
Ken Jennings
I mean, I enjoy it. Like my love for the game Is genuine. And I love talking to the contestants and it's, you know, I have a passion for it, but that doesn't mean I have aptitude. But it turned out you could take a broadcaster and try to teach them Jeopardy. Or you could take a Jeopardy. Person and try to teach them how to be a broadcaster. And the second one, I'm glad they took a shot at it. I feel very lucky.
- [15:17]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Nick. Hey, Nick is calling in from Rosslyn Heights, Long Island. Nick, you're on the air with Ken Jennings.
- [15:25]
Caller
Excellent. Thank you so much. Ken, it is an honor to speak to you. I am an old dude. I go back to the Art Fleming days. I was like a kid coming home from school and watching Jeopardy. Okay, I know. I want to ask you about the writers, the people who formulate the questions.
- [15:40]
Ken Jennings
Yeah.
- [15:41]
Caller
How many are there? And are you, do you contribute to writing the questions, to creating questions or answer. I'm sorry, answers if I should.
- [15:49]
Ken Jennings
We say clues and responses to avoid just that syntactic problem. Yeah. There's an amazing staff of like I think eight to 10 writers currently and then almost as many researchers who are, who are double checking every single fact. And that's really the engine that makes Jeopardy. Work. Like when you watch Jeopardy. It's because it's gotta be the most text heavy show on tv. You know, an episode of, you know, people say the West Wing or Gilmore Girls were wordy and, and they are silence filled Pinter plays compared to Jeopardy. Which is just words and facts. Like a shotgun, like a, it's a fire hose of words. And our writers are amazing at this. They have to ask things that people know 60 odd times a night, but yet they have to keep it fresh. You don't want to have the same stuff. You don't want to have a sense of recycling. And they are just brilliant at it. Alex would occasionally get ideas for a category or a clue. You know, if he was on and he saw something and he thought, oh, we should ask about this painting or this memorial and I do the same thing. So I have a little list on my phone where I'll, I'll tell the writers, hey, you know, would this work as a, as a daily double or a final Jeopardy? And sometimes they will humor me and, and drop it in the show, but they do not need my input. They are Emmy winning and great at what they do.
- [17:01]
Alison Stewart
Question for Ken. This text says, as a child, were you reading a lot of encyclopedias? What did you do to broaden your interest in trivia?
- [17:11]
Ken Jennings
I was Definitely the kid who thought it was fun to just sit in the library and read the World Book Encyclopedia.
- [17:17]
Alison Stewart
Totally.
- [17:17]
Ken Jennings
Me too. I'm sure the public radio world is full of us.
- [17:20]
Alison Stewart
Totally. All the time.
- [17:22]
Ken Jennings
Do you remember there was the pages with the flags and then the one with the transparencies of the human body.
- [17:27]
Alison Stewart
So good.
- [17:28]
Ken Jennings
It was good stuff. I just piped that into my veins, but it was never really a hard sell for me. Some people are just come into the world as sponges for information, I guess. But I do think you can train yourself to be that kind of person. You know, there are ways to choose rabbit holes. You know, like if you hear about. If somebody tells you their job or their hometown and you've never heard of it, one response would be to tune out. Or you can dig down and be like, oh, that's funny. I don't know what that is. Tell me more. If you see hear a reference in a podcast you don't know, like, I compulsively will pull out my phone and look it up. You could spend an hour down a Wikipedia rabbit hole just based on a. On a side reference on a podcast. It's just a way to choose to live your life more active about learning, more curious.
- [18:13]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Linda, who is calling us from New Brunswick. Hi, Linda, you're on the air with Ken Jennings.
- [18:22]
Caller
Hi, it's actually East Brunswick, but I wanted to ask Ken if you have the responses to the questions in advance and if you also have background information about the questions, because you always seem to have a comment regarding maybe the wrong answer, as if you knew a lot about the topic.
- [18:41]
Ken Jennings
First of all, yes, they do give the host the correct responses. It would be a very weird show if they didn't. And I would. I don't know, is it the place to see. And I. Hold on, hold on. I need to Google this. Um, so, yes, the host of Jeopardy. Looks very smart because they give you the correct responses, which is nice. I wish I'd known that all those years I was struggling as a contestant. Uh, but yeah, as far as follow up stuff, there's not a lot of that. And it's usually because it's. It has to be dynamic. It has to be based on gameplay. And Alex was a genius at this and he really knew the stuff too. You know, if somebody were to say, who is Henry vii? He would be like, oh, no, you were a little. You were thinking of Henry vii, but this is Henry vi. Or, you know, he kind of knew the stuff well enough that he could do that and I do the same thing. Mostly because I feel like it's a comfort to the contestants to say, like, I know what you were thinking. Good job. You were close, but not quite. I hope that. Hope that comforts them and gets them. Gets them into the next clue.
- [19:35]
Alison Stewart
We just had a local jeopardy. Streak. New Jersey resident Scott Riccardi won 16 straight games before finally ending his run on Friday. First of all, do you notice a difference in contestants from where they're. By where they're from?
- [19:51]
Ken Jennings
Oh, that's an interesting question. I don't know. Like, we definitely see more people from certain places. You know, tri state area here is, I don't want to say overrepresented, but disproportionately good at jeopardy. I think. Uh, and there are other such places in the U. S. A lot of D.C. a lot of. I like, I like to think Seattle, my hometown, does okay. Um, so there are places that do seem to be jeopardy. Coded for whatever reason, and New York is one of them.
- [20:16]
Alison Stewart
What has changed the most since you've been there?
- [20:19]
Ken Jennings
Since I've been there, I'm. The host is less nervous. We've had like a nice run of super champs, unusually long running players since I've been there. Scott is the most recent. And that always gets me very excited because I remember that crazy experience of being there for weeks and months on end and just wondering, this is so surreal. How does this end? What's happening in my life right now? And I want to see someone take a shot at the record. I want to be on that stage when somebody is, you know, the way Roger Maris widow kept getting trotted out when Bonds and Sosa were going for that record, the home run record. I want to be there when somebody breaks the 74 game winning streak on jeopardy.
- [20:59]
Alison Stewart
All right, phone operators, clear the lines. We're gonna get ready to do jeopardy. With Ken Jennings. Coming up, we're gonna start talking about the complete connections. 5,000 questions and 1,000 puzzles. We're going to be doing call in jeopardy. It's happening next.
- [21:25]
Caller
Foreign.
- [21:28]
Alison Stewart
You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest this hour is jeopardy. Host Ken Jennings. We are talking about his new book of puzzles and trivia titled the Complete 5000 Questions in 1000 Puzzles. It is out today. Listeners, pay close attention to the segment because we're going to explain how connections work. And very soon you will have a chance to call in and play. First of all, when and why did you start writing connections?
- [21:59]
Ken Jennings
I got an email from almost 15 years ago from Parade magazine. This is how long ago it was. Remember the Sunday supplement, Parade magazine? Yes. Yeah. They had an idea that I would write a trivia column for them, but all they had was the title. They were like, it's gonna be called Connections. And the format they had had in mind didn't actually fit page wise. And so I pitched this. I didn't like the name, the Sound of Connections. It's not great on the earth. But I loved that it would make me hard to replace, I think, as their quizmaster.
- [22:30]
Alison Stewart
Smart, right?
- [22:31]
Ken Jennings
Like, Ken Burns would have to hit a real career downturn, I think, to oust me from that. And so I pitched a much simpler idea. What if you just had to answer, say, five trivia questions and then once you did, all the answers had something in common. So while you're playing along and racking your brain for these answers, you're also trying to do this lateral, outside the box kind of a thinking, what. What do these five answers have in common? And I've always really liked that kind of puzzle solving aspect and meta puzzles. And it's now run in Parade and now in mental floss, mentalfloss.com for over a dozen years. But a lot of them are lost in the bowels of the Internet. So now there's a complete book connection out, a book collection out.
- [23:10]
Alison Stewart
All right, so we're going to explain this to listeners. We're going to go through a set of five trivia questions, one question per caller. If you don't get it right, we're going to go on to the next caller. Once we have the answers to all five questions, we'll read out the answers and try to find out what the connection is between all five. Some of you will be answering a trivia question. Some of you will be trying to guess connections between all five. So for example, one set of these has five answers. This is from your book. And the answers were Lightning, Magic, Jaguars, Heat, Dolphins. Okay, what's the connection there? Florida sports team. All right, okay, so you'll have one chance to guess and then we're gonna move on to the next callers. So listeners, if you're good at trivia and you want a crack to answer a trivia question from Ken Jennings, you have a script over there?
- [23:58]
Ken Jennings
I got my questions right here.
- [24:00]
Alison Stewart
Our numbers, 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. Before we get into the connections, what do you like about the format of this puzzle?
- [24:13]
Ken Jennings
You know, I like that you're doing both things at once, like factual recall. Playing trivia is fun just because something in your head actually paid off in real life. Like, I remember a fact from fourth grade and now it's 30 years later and I'm using it for the first time. It's a good feeling, right? Like, it's validating a little bit. But at the same time, you're trying to crack this riddle, you know, like there's a different kind of thinking that goes into finding a novel solution or connection to a problem. And it's probably closer to actual real life problem solving, figuring out the overall connection, as it were. So maybe it's a little more valuable.
- [24:52]
Alison Stewart
All right, the first one we're going to read, you're going to read, I should say we picked it because it has some New York questions. Are you ready?
- [25:01]
Ken Jennings
I'm ready.
- [25:02]
Alison Stewart
All right, for round one. This is number 259 in the book. Go.
- [25:07]
Ken Jennings
So here's the first question. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick were all Oscar nominated for their roles in what? 2009 recession. Comedy. Comedy movie from 2009 with Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick.
- [25:25]
Alison Stewart
All right, let us go to Angie in Brooklyn. Angie, hi.
- [25:34]
Caller
I believe this is up in the air.
- [25:36]
Ken Jennings
That is correct. Oh, we got a bell.
- [25:39]
Alison Stewart
I got a bell, everybody. All right, thanks so much. What is our next question?
- [25:44]
Ken Jennings
Well done, angie. Here's question 2. Google's Lync NYC project converted what obsolete New York City features into thousands of free WI fi hotspots. Obsolete parts of the New York landscape that are now WI fi hotspots.
- [25:59]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Ben in Tarrytown. Ben, you're up.
- [26:05]
Caller
Pay phones.
- [26:06]
Ken Jennings
That is correct. Phone booths. Well done, Ben.
- [26:10]
Alison Stewart
All right, next.
- [26:12]
Ken Jennings
Here's the third question. What Jonathan Letham bestseller has a lonely title that refers to Dean street in Brooklyn where its protagonists grew up.
- [26:23]
Alison Stewart
All right, this is Bernie calling in from Patterson.
- [26:27]
Ken Jennings
Bernie, do you remember this Jonathan book?
- [26:30]
Caller
No. I thought I was ready to play, but I don't. But I am enjoying the game. Thank you.
- [26:37]
Alison Stewart
Thanks, Bernie.
- [26:38]
Ken Jennings
That's what's important, right?
- [26:39]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Courtney in Weehawken. Courtney, do you remember the Jonathan Lethan book?
- [26:46]
Caller
Courtney, Is it Motherless Brooklyn?
- [26:49]
Ken Jennings
I'm sorry, it is not.
- [26:52]
Alison Stewart
But that's a good book, by the.
- [26:53]
Ken Jennings
Way, and a good guess.
- [26:54]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Kevin in the Bronx. Kevin, what do you think?
- [26:59]
Caller
Oh, ouch. No clue.
- [27:03]
Ken Jennings
I'm glad Jonathan Letham is not the guest.
- [27:04]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Tom in the East. He might call in. You never know. Tom in the East Village.
- [27:11]
Caller
Yeah, sorry. I'm striking out as well.
- [27:14]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Jesse in Manhattan.
- [27:20]
Caller
I have no idea. I would say Sunnyside Gardens, but that's probably not it.
- [27:23]
Ken Jennings
I feel like by this point somebody should have Googled.
- [27:26]
Alison Stewart
I know. It's a four word title.
- [27:27]
Ken Jennings
Four word title. A lonely sounding place that refers to Brooklyn.
- [27:31]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's check in with Brian in Windsor Terrace.
- [27:37]
Caller
I know the book, and I think I know the connection, too. The book is Fortress of Solitude.
- [27:42]
Ken Jennings
Don't give away the connection, Brian. No, you're premature.
- [27:46]
Alison Stewart
You know what, Brian? You can hang up and you can call back in for the connection. All right, let's go to question 4.
- [27:55]
Ken Jennings
What chemical element named from the Greek word for hidden, is the noble gas that's heavier than argon but lighter than xenon?
- [28:05]
Alison Stewart
Ooh, and this is seven letters. I'm gonna tell people.
- [28:08]
Ken Jennings
That's helpful.
- [28:09]
Alison Stewart
Molly in Westfield. What do you think, Molly?
- [28:12]
Caller
Oh, gosh, I don't know. Helium. No, that's not seven.
- [28:16]
Ken Jennings
It is not helium. That's a little higher up.
- [28:19]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Brian in Montclair. Brian, do you have an answer for question four?
- [28:25]
Caller
Krypton. And I know I know it. Also, I know what it is.
- [28:29]
Alison Stewart
Hang on. You can call back in.
- [28:31]
Ken Jennings
See, this is good, because once you figure out the connection, sometimes you can work backwards and it makes the questions easier.
- [28:36]
Alison Stewart
Really? It's true. All right, question five.
- [28:38]
Ken Jennings
Here's the final question. The most valuable movie poster of all time, which sold at auction for 690,000 bucks, was from what? Fritz Lang sci fi epic of the silent era.
- [28:50]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Matt from Belmar, New Jersey. Matt, go for it.
- [28:56]
Ken Jennings
What's the Fritz Lang sci fi classic from the silent era?
- [29:01]
Caller
Silent running. I don't know.
- [29:02]
Ken Jennings
No, sorry.
- [29:04]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's go on to Darren, who's calling in from Rye. Darren, do you know the answer?
- [29:09]
Caller
I think I do. I think it's Metropolis.
- [29:12]
Ken Jennings
Correct. Well done.
- [29:13]
Alison Stewart
All right, so now we are going. So we have the answers are up in the air phone booths, the Fortress of Solitude, Krypton and Metropolis. Listeners, we want to know the connection.
- [29:30]
Ken Jennings
What do they all have in common?
- [29:31]
Alison Stewart
Do you have somebody online who knows what the connection is? I don't know. Should we check with Eric and Valley Stream? Eric, do you know the connection?
- [29:42]
Caller
I believe those are Superman settings.
- [29:45]
Ken Jennings
That's correct. Places you might find Superman. Well done, Eric.
- [29:50]
Alison Stewart
Excellent. Congratulations, Eric. You have no prize.
- [29:55]
Ken Jennings
I do Feel like everyone else did the hard work, and then Eric kind of scooped it up at the end.
- [29:59]
Alison Stewart
When it first comes to you, the connection, or is it a trivia question? Which one, Ken?
- [30:04]
Ken Jennings
I feel like there's a very rewarding feeling if you get it kind of early. Like, I was playing this with a friend the other night, and the two answers were surf and the 1920s, and he figured out what they had in common, and the room just went bonkers because nobody believed there are things that roar. The roaring surf, the roaring twenties. But we were all very impressed at the early pull.
- [30:24]
Alison Stewart
Where do you find your inspiration for the trivia questions?
- [30:27]
Ken Jennings
I mean, the great thing about trivia is the world is full of it if you're paying attention. Like, if I'm at the gym, I'm thinking, let's see, are there exercises that would work for one of these? Like. Cause everything has to be two things to work as a connection. So a crunch could be a candy bar. There's exercise called a Superman. It's like a plank on a pirate ship. You know, you're trying to think, are there five of these? If I'm ordering bagels, I'm like, okay, everything sesame plain. Like, what are the five answers that make this work?
- [30:53]
Alison Stewart
That has gotta be both exhausting and fun.
- [30:56]
Ken Jennings
It's pretty fun. If you're a nerdy guy, it's pretty fun.
- [30:59]
Alison Stewart
All right, listeners, we're gonna ask you to hold on. We gave you an easy one for our first trip around the trivia bank.
- [31:07]
Ken Jennings
Ooh, that was the easy, huh?
- [31:08]
Alison Stewart
Yeah, that was the E1. After the break, we'll be back with more trivia and Ken Jennings. You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest this hour is Jeopardy. Host Ken Jennings. We've been discussing his new book of trivia puzzles. It's called the complete connections. But 5,000 questions and 1,000 puzzles, it is out today. It has kept team all of it quite busy ever since we got the book. I'm glad it is now time for you to play on the air. I'm going to explain this one more time. Ken will go through a set of five trivia questions, one question per caller. If you don't get it right, we'll go on to the next caller. And once we have the answer to all five questions, we will read out the answers, and a caller will try to find the connection and between all five. Okay, are you ready for round two?
- [32:08]
Ken Jennings
I'm ready. All right, here's the first question. Whose billion selling 1964 book included sayings like political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
- [32:20]
Alison Stewart
Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
- [32:24]
Ken Jennings
Who said it? In his billion selling book.
- [32:27]
Alison Stewart
Let's go to Demetra in midtown. Hi, Demetra.
- [32:31]
Caller
Hi, Alison. Hi, Ken.
- [32:32]
Ken Jennings
Do you know this Juan?
- [32:33]
Caller
Demetra, you know what? No. It's thrilling just the same to be on with you both, but I don't know the answer.
- [32:40]
Ken Jennings
This would be rough if you.
- [32:43]
Caller
It's a tough one. I mean. Yeah. Best selling books from 19. From that billion selling book. Did you say billion?
- [32:48]
Ken Jennings
Can you think about that? How would you sell a billion copies? Where would you have to publish it in 1960?
- [32:53]
Caller
Oh, where would you. Oh.
- [32:56]
Ken Jennings
Makes you think that's a good one.
- [32:58]
Caller
It does. I'll leave it for the next caller.
- [33:02]
Alison Stewart
All right, well, thank you for calling in. Demetra, Cindy in West Village. What do you think? Cindy?
- [33:09]
Caller
Hi. This is a total guess. I don't know. But Andrew Carnegie.
- [33:15]
Ken Jennings
It is not Andrew Carnegie. In fact, maybe couldn't be more different in some ways.
- [33:21]
Alison Stewart
Oh, he's giving good hints. Let's talk to Ben in Brooklyn. Ben, whose billion selling 1964 book included sayings like political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
- [33:36]
Caller
How about Chairman Mao?
- [33:38]
Ken Jennings
Chairman Mao is correct. Very nice.
- [33:41]
Alison Stewart
Oh, wait, hold on.
- [33:42]
Ken Jennings
Where's the bell, Allison? There we go.
- [33:43]
Alison Stewart
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me.
- [33:44]
Ken Jennings
I love the idea that Andrew Carnegie might have said, political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Like he becomes a young radical. He's got a Che poster in his dorm room.
- [33:53]
Alison Stewart
All right, question two. What is it?
- [33:55]
Ken Jennings
What product's famous formula is based on a secret flavor ingredient called Merchandise 7X?
- [34:03]
Alison Stewart
What product's famous formula is based on a secret flavor ingredient called merchandise 7x? Let's go to James, who is calling us from Brooklyn. What say you, James?
- [34:18]
Caller
Hey, is it KFC chicken?
- [34:20]
Ken Jennings
Ooh, that's a good guess. It is not kfc.
- [34:23]
Alison Stewart
Let's go to.
- [34:24]
Ken Jennings
It's a different secret recipe.
- [34:25]
Alison Stewart
Let's go to Devin in Jersey City. Devin, what do you think?
- [34:30]
Caller
Oh, goodness. I actually work in the flavor industry, and I'm just gonna have to take a guess on this one. Is it Dr. Pepper?
- [34:37]
Ken Jennings
Oh, so close. But it is not Dr. Pepper.
- [34:41]
Alison Stewart
Matthew, calling in from Brooklyn. What do you think?
- [34:46]
Caller
Is it Coke?
- [34:47]
Ken Jennings
Yes. Coca Cola. Merchandise 7X is the secret blend of flavorings in Coke.
- [34:53]
Alison Stewart
All right, question three.
- [34:55]
Ken Jennings
What music superstar had the number one country hit in America? A song called Way down the week of his death on August 16, 1977.
- [35:06]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Christina in Glendale. Christina, what do you think? Christina is flummoxed. She doesn't know. Let's. Oh, you're there. Hey, Christina.
- [35:20]
Caller
Sorry, I'm not from Glendale, so I was a little confused. I do not know. I'm gonna guess. Johnny Cash.
- [35:28]
Ken Jennings
No. Musician that died in 77. And the tricky part here is we don't think of him as a country star even though he had a lot of country hits.
- [35:36]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Liz in Glencoe. Ver. Maybe. I think that's it.
- [35:42]
Caller
Yes, Glen Cove. And it's Elvis Presley.
- [35:44]
Ken Jennings
That's right, it is Elvis.
- [35:46]
Caller
Yay.
- [35:47]
Alison Stewart
Yay. Everybody likes to get a little ding in their life. Let's talk about question four.
- [35:51]
Ken Jennings
Who converted to Judaism in 1965 to marry playwright Arthur Miller?
- [35:57]
Alison Stewart
Oh, I know this one. Hey, Roland. Roland was calling from Washington, DC.
- [36:02]
Caller
How you doing? I would have got. I would have missed all the ones in between, but this one I know. It's Merlin Monroe.
- [36:08]
Ken Jennings
That's right. You called it the right time.
- [36:10]
Alison Stewart
Roland, let's talk about number five. What's question number five?
- [36:15]
Ken Jennings
What food brand has used the slogan M M good in its ads for over 80 years?
- [36:23]
Alison Stewart
Nora from White Plains.
- [36:27]
Caller
Oh, my adult post middle aged brain. I know that if you're Campbell's Soup.
- [36:32]
Ken Jennings
That's right. Campbell soup is mm, mm Good.
- [36:35]
Alison Stewart
All right, so our answers are Mao Zedong, Coca Cola, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell Soup. Our number is 212433. WNYC. 212433. WNYC. If you'd like to figure out what the connection is between those five or you'd like to play our next round Again, the number 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. While those calls are starting to come in, Ken, we should point out you began writing this puzzle before the New York Times released their Connections game puzzle.
- [37:13]
Ken Jennings
Which starts with a C. That's right. Connections predates connections by about a decade. But I have to admit, I am addicted to connections. And I play it. My wife and I play it over dinner pretty much every night.
- [37:26]
Alison Stewart
How do you decide it if a puzzle is going to be an easy puzzle or a hard puzzle?
- [37:30]
Ken Jennings
You know, sometimes it's forced upon me by like. For the five answers to work, it has to be, you know, maybe a little bit hard. Do you remember the name of the group? The Outfield. Well, I need you to remember that band for this baseball theme to work. You know. So sometimes I'm strong, armed into it. Generally, the trivia rule of thumb is they're always harder than you think, and you should probably dial back a little.
- [37:49]
Alison Stewart
All right, so would you give us our five answers to the trivia question, and then we'll look for the connection one more time.
- [37:55]
Ken Jennings
We have Chairman Mao, Coca Cola. And this is what's fun, by the way, because what do Chairman Mao and Coca Cola have in common? Then Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell Soup.
- [38:05]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to John from the Upper west side. John, what's the connection?
- [38:10]
Caller
Hey, Alison. I love you, Ken. Thank you for having me. I rarely finish a connection, but I think that today's is that they are all related to Andy Warhol's subject matter.
- [38:22]
Ken Jennings
That's it. They are all subjects painted by Andy Warhol. Very nice.
- [38:27]
Alison Stewart
Well done.
- [38:28]
Ken Jennings
You did it.
- [38:29]
Alison Stewart
You don't get a prize, but yay.
- [38:31]
Ken Jennings
The sound of the bell is its own prize. It's a Pavlovian thing.
- [38:34]
Alison Stewart
You get another one. There you go. All right. Do you want to try another one?
- [38:39]
Ken Jennings
Let's do one more. Why not?
- [38:41]
Alison Stewart
All right, what's the first question?
- [38:43]
Ken Jennings
Here's the first question. Round three. What novel introduced Newspeak, the official language of Oceania?
- [38:51]
Alison Stewart
Ooh.
- [38:52]
Ken Jennings
What novel does Newspeak come from? Interesting.
- [38:54]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Carol in Summit. Hi, Carol. Thanks for calling, all of it.
- [39:00]
Caller
Hi.
- [39:00]
Alison Stewart
Gotta tell you, I love you and.
- [39:01]
Caller
I never get to write it to you. I can't find your email. You're great. Anyway, is it 1984?
- [39:08]
Ken Jennings
Yes.
- [39:08]
Alison Stewart
There you go. Perfect. Let's go to question two.
- [39:14]
Ken Jennings
In what Oscar winning 1980 song did Irene Cara promise I'm gonna live forever? Do you remember the Irene Cara hit?
- [39:23]
Alison Stewart
Oh, yes.
- [39:24]
Ken Jennings
And maybe the movie and or TV show of the same name.
- [39:27]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Courtney from Weehawken. Hi, Courtney. What do you think?
- [39:32]
Caller
Hi. I came to redeem myself. Fame.
- [39:35]
Ken Jennings
Fame is right.
- [39:37]
Alison Stewart
Oh, right.
- [39:37]
Caller
I wanna live forever.
- [39:39]
Ken Jennings
I love that. Courtney got a second act.
- [39:41]
Alison Stewart
Courtney got a second act. Way to hang in there, Courtney. All right, question three.
- [39:46]
Ken Jennings
In 1928, Joseph Stalin ordered the first of many Soviet economic development plans, each designed to last how long? How long did those Soviet economic development plans last?
- [39:59]
Alison Stewart
Let's ask Kevin, who's calling in from Colorado. Hi, Kevin.
- [40:05]
Caller
You know I got the last three questions right. I'll say 100 years.
- [40:14]
Ken Jennings
No, not 100 year plans. A little bit shorter than that.
- [40:16]
Alison Stewart
All right, Kevin, thanks for calling in. Let's talk to Joe in East Harlem. Joe, do you have an answer to this? Question.
- [40:26]
Caller
10 years.
- [40:27]
Ken Jennings
Ooh, much closer.
- [40:29]
Alison Stewart
Much closer.
- [40:30]
Ken Jennings
Still a little bit long, I'm afraid.
- [40:32]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Sally from Long Beach. Hey, Sally, do you have an answer to the question?
- [40:37]
Caller
It's a five year plan. How young are these people?
- [40:41]
Ken Jennings
Wow.
- [40:42]
Alison Stewart
Wow.
- [40:43]
Ken Jennings
Sally's talking smack on all of it.
- [40:46]
Alison Stewart
Threw out a couple elbows there.
- [40:48]
Ken Jennings
Five years, Sally. That is correct.
- [40:50]
Alison Stewart
Let's. Let's talk about question number four.
- [40:53]
Ken Jennings
Next question. What TV series launched with the cryptic tagline, save the cheerleader, save the world? Who remembers that show? Hmm.
- [41:02]
Alison Stewart
Cat in Linden. Do you remember?
- [41:06]
Caller
No, I don't.
- [41:07]
Ken Jennings
You?
- [41:08]
Caller
All the other ones. Sorry.
- [41:11]
Alison Stewart
All right, keep listening. How about Yang in Brooklyn? Yang, what do you think?
- [41:18]
Caller
Is it Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
- [41:20]
Ken Jennings
Ooh, close. But it is not Buffy. That's the right. It is a genre show. Had a great first season and then went downhill a little bit.
- [41:27]
Alison Stewart
Let me give the number again. It's 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. It's the way you can get in on this trivia game with Ken Jennings. All right, next up is Martin, who's calling from West Windsor, and I don't.
- [41:44]
Caller
Know that one, but I want to say I was an editor at parade magazine for 34 years, and I worked with Marilyn Voc savant. But I retired two years before Ken came on.
- [41:53]
Ken Jennings
I was always the second smartest person at Parade, thanks to Marilyn. It was a real honor.
- [41:58]
Caller
Yeah. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to this one. I knew most of the other ones.
- [42:02]
Alison Stewart
It was nice of you to call in anyway, Artie in South Huntington. Artie, what TV series launched the cryptic tagline, save the cheerleader, save the world?
- [42:13]
Caller
Hi. It's a pleasure being on with Ken and you, Alex. I love both your shows. The last call took my wrong answer. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I do not know, but I would say Buffy the Vampire Slayer to get it wrong again.
- [42:29]
Ken Jennings
It is still. Let me check. Nope. It is still not Buffy the Vampire.
- [42:33]
Caller
It's still wrong. All right, it's been a pleasure. Thank you.
- [42:35]
Alison Stewart
Thanks, Artie. Let's talk to Kevin in Dumont. Okay. Kevin, do you have the answer?
- [42:42]
Caller
Well, I thought I did also, but seeing that that was wrong, I would definitely go with the Warrior Princess.
- [42:50]
Ken Jennings
Ooh, not Xena either.
- [42:52]
Alison Stewart
It's sort of in the right.
- [42:54]
Ken Jennings
It is a super powered group.
- [42:56]
Alison Stewart
Yeah.
- [42:57]
Ken Jennings
Not unlike Buffy or Xena. That's right.
- [42:59]
Alison Stewart
Think about superpowers, John in Larchmont. John, do you have the answer?
- [43:06]
Caller
No, I don't. I wish I Did, but I don't. Superpowers. Could you just tell me the question again?
- [43:15]
Ken Jennings
The tagline for this show was save the cheerleader, save the world.
- [43:18]
Alison Stewart
It's one word, one word.
- [43:20]
Ken Jennings
Early 21st century TV show.
- [43:24]
Caller
Oh, gosh. No, don't. Got it. Sorry.
- [43:26]
Alison Stewart
I love our listeners because no one has checked Google.
- [43:29]
Ken Jennings
That's what I love about this. Everybody's on the honor system, and nobody's, like, pretending they knew it. Cause they just checked Wikipedia.
- [43:36]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Josh from Brooklyn. All right, Josh, save us.
- [43:40]
Ken Jennings
Josh.
- [43:41]
Caller
I'm gonna give it a. I only heard the question during your last repeat, but is it Smallville?
- [43:48]
Ken Jennings
It is not Smallville. That would have worked for the first connection, but not this one.
- [43:54]
Alison Stewart
All right, Kirby calling in from Toronto. Kirby, do you know the answer?
- [43:59]
Caller
Wow. You know, I have old brain syndrome, so I don't know how to check Wikipedia or Google while I'm trying to hold this call. So that's my problem. I do not have a clue.
- [44:14]
Alison Stewart
Wow.
- [44:14]
Ken Jennings
So now we know that people just can't figure out how to Google on their phones while they're on hold.
- [44:18]
Alison Stewart
All right, well, you hang up, Google. You can call us back. Let's talk to Katie from Ridgefield, Connecticut. Katie, do you know the answer?
- [44:29]
Caller
Yes, it's heroes.
- [44:31]
Ken Jennings
Yeah, there it is. Katie, you're the hero today. Well done.
- [44:35]
Alison Stewart
Well done. And question five, final question.
- [44:39]
Ken Jennings
Maybe a little easier. It's kind of generational. We'll see. Jeff Bridges studied the behavior of birds in order to play the alien title character of what 1984 film?
- [44:50]
Alison Stewart
It's one word, seven letters.
- [44:53]
Ken Jennings
What's that movie where Jeff Bridges is an alien?
- [44:55]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to dawn in Brooklyn. Hi, Dawn. Do you have an answer for this question?
- [45:00]
Caller
Oh, I don't. I'm so sorry.
- [45:03]
Alison Stewart
That's okay. Let's talk to Nikki from Philadelphia. Hi, Nikki. Thanks for calling, all of it. Do you have an answer to the question?
- [45:11]
Caller
Well, I had the last one, but I'm gonna guess this one is predator.
- [45:14]
Ken Jennings
It's not Predator, I'm afraid.
- [45:17]
Alison Stewart
Good guess, though. Eric in New Jersey. What say you, Eric? Eric's not. Let's go to Sam. Let's go to Sam. Sam's calling in from Brooklyn. Hey, Sam.
- [45:31]
Caller
Hi.
- [45:39]
Ken Jennings
Jeff Bridges is an alien 1984 movie where Jeff Bridges plays an alien title character.
- [45:46]
Caller
Alien title character.
- [45:49]
Alison Stewart
Sam, you don't know.
- [45:49]
Ken Jennings
Sam's googling for sure.
- [45:50]
Alison Stewart
Sam doesn't know. Let's go to Don in Jackson Heights. Hey, Don, thanks for calling, all of it.
- [45:57]
Caller
Yeah, I knew Heroes, but yeah, this.
- [45:59]
Ken Jennings
One, I don't know. Now we get all the Heroes fans. All the Heroes fans calling. Too late.
- [46:05]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's talk to Matthew in Brooklyn. Matthew, what do you say for question number five?
- [46:11]
Caller
Hey, I'm a big fan. Really excited, Ken. I'd like to solve the puzzle. Yes, I think that's the right show. Yeah. This would be Starman.
- [46:19]
Ken Jennings
Yeah, Starman's the movie Oscar nominated for.
- [46:22]
Alison Stewart
Starman for the win. All right, so the.
- [46:26]
Ken Jennings
Just to recap.
- [46:27]
Alison Stewart
Yes. Please catch the 5 answers. What are they?
- [46:30]
Ken Jennings
1984, fame, 5 years, heroes and Starman.
- [46:36]
Alison Stewart
What is the connection? Let's ask Stephanie from Morris Plain.
- [46:42]
Ken Jennings
Stephanie, do you have it?
- [46:44]
Caller
I think I do. Is it David Bowie? Yes.
- [46:48]
Ken Jennings
Well done, David Bowie songs. Very nice.
- [46:51]
Alison Stewart
Welcome, welcome. Okay, we're gonna try to slide in one more.
- [46:53]
Caller
Do we have time?
- [46:54]
Ken Jennings
I don't know. Do you wanna try it?
- [46:55]
Alison Stewart
We're gonna try it.
- [46:56]
Ken Jennings
They're waving you off in the booth. I don't know, Alice, no more.
- [46:59]
Caller
Oh, come on.
- [47:01]
Ken Jennings
I like that you're hooked. You're into this.
- [47:03]
Alison Stewart
Well, let's try it anyway. And if we get there, we get there. Okay, question one.
- [47:07]
Ken Jennings
The inaccessible island rail which lives in the South Atlantic, is the world's smallest bird that can't do what?
- [47:14]
Alison Stewart
Oh, boy. This is only three letters.
- [47:15]
Ken Jennings
It's a bird that can't.
- [47:18]
Alison Stewart
Philip in Tribeca, are you there? No Edge in Brooklyn.
- [47:24]
Ken Jennings
Fly can't fly.
- [47:25]
Alison Stewart
That's right. All right, number two. What's the next one?
- [47:27]
Ken Jennings
In which Steven Spielberg film did Julia Roberts play Tinkerbell?
- [47:31]
Alison Stewart
Andrea and Brooklyn go hook. All right, great.
- [47:35]
Ken Jennings
We have fly and hook. Question 3. According to sportswriter Paul Zimmerman, the highest scoring players on The Wonderlic, the NFL's intelligence test play what offensive line position.
- [47:47]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's go to angel in Regal Park.
- [47:51]
Caller
Oh, man. I knew the previous answer, but no, sorry, don't have this one.
- [47:56]
Ken Jennings
All right, smartest position on the O line.
- [47:58]
Alison Stewart
Daniel and Queens. Go for it.
- [48:02]
Caller
I'm going to guess center.
- [48:04]
Ken Jennings
It's not center.
- [48:06]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's go to. Carl is calling in from Miami.
- [48:13]
Caller
Quarterback.
- [48:14]
Ken Jennings
No, not right.
- [48:16]
Alison Stewart
He's gonna go through all the team members. Let's go talk to Bruce and Hackensack.
- [48:21]
Caller
Left tackle.
- [48:22]
Ken Jennings
It is tackle.
- [48:23]
Alison Stewart
We'll take it.
- [48:24]
Ken Jennings
That's correct.
- [48:24]
Alison Stewart
We'll take it. All right, question four.
- [48:27]
Ken Jennings
In 1521, Martin Luther was denounced by an edict of the Imperial Diet of. What? German city.
- [48:34]
Alison Stewart
Oh, this is gonna take a long one.
- [48:35]
Ken Jennings
Martin Luther and the diet of. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe it's all right.
- [48:38]
Alison Stewart
Maybe me, Matt from Monmouth County. Do you know?
- [48:40]
Ken Jennings
Do you believe in Matt?
- [48:43]
Caller
I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question.
- [48:44]
Ken Jennings
Martin Luther was denounced by the diet of what German city.
- [48:50]
Caller
Oh, does it begin with the letter N?
- [48:53]
Ken Jennings
I'm afraid not.
- [48:54]
Alison Stewart
Afraid not.
- [48:57]
Caller
Thanks.
- [48:58]
Alison Stewart
It happened in 1521. Let's go to Paul in Brooklyn.
- [49:03]
Caller
Oh, no, I was calling about the last one. The Bowie connection.
- [49:08]
Alison Stewart
Sorry, Jules. And Ridgewood, Queens.
- [49:10]
Caller
Sorry, Jules.
- [49:12]
Alison Stewart
What do you think?
- [49:13]
Caller
I was also in here for the David Bowie connection. Nothing about the 15th or 14th century, but thank you.
- [49:21]
Alison Stewart
All right, I'm going to give the answer this one.
- [49:23]
Ken Jennings
Well, hold on. We have fly, hook and tackle. Is that enough?
- [49:25]
Alison Stewart
Fly hook?
- [49:26]
Ken Jennings
Can anybody figure out what fly, hook, tackle, tackle have in common?
- [49:30]
Alison Stewart
Daniel and Queen.
- [49:31]
Ken Jennings
What's the connection here?
- [49:36]
Alison Stewart
No. All right, well, we're going to tell people that that connect answer to number. Question four was worms.
- [49:40]
Ken Jennings
The diet of worms. That's even easier. Fly, hook, tackle and worms.
- [49:45]
Alison Stewart
And the answer to number five. I'm just gonna read the question and the answer.
- [49:47]
Ken Jennings
Oh, you wanna do it again?
- [49:48]
Alison Stewart
What kind of photoceptor cell in the human eye is longer than a cone but can't perceive color? The answer is rod, rods and cones. All right, so in our last minute, fly hook, tackle, worms, rods, what's the connection?
- [50:04]
Ken Jennings
What do they all have in common? Does anybody know?
- [50:06]
Alison Stewart
All right, let's go to Asha, who's calling in. Oh, it says, sorry, Asha. Let's. Sorry, Asha. Okay, Asha in D.C. do you have the answer?
- [50:18]
Caller
Fishing?
- [50:19]
Ken Jennings
Yes, fishing equipment. Very nice.
- [50:22]
Alison Stewart
That was very, very exciting. Thanks to everybody who called in. We really appreciate it. Can. When you think about your book, what do you want people to think about when they're playing these games and they're playing these games with their friends?
- [50:39]
Ken Jennings
I mean, honestly, we play these word kind of games, puzzle games. We play them for fun, just to pass the time. But I think you also feel like you might learn something. You know, you might have a story later. It's a conversation with your friends. You feel a little smarter about yourself, easier to make connections with other people. That's the real connection. Alison, the friends we made along the.
- [50:57]
Alison Stewart
Way, it was a lot of fun. Ken Jennings, you were a lot of fun. Thank you so much.
- [51:01]
Ken Jennings
Thanks for having me.
- [51:01]
Alison Stewart
Yeah. Thanks for spending an hour. It was really, really fun. The book is called the complete 5,000 questions and 1,000 puzzles. Ken, we wish you well.
- [51:12]
Ken Jennings
Thank you, Alison. I'm Ira Flato, host of Science Friday for over 30 years. Our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine, news you won't get anywhere else.
- [51:25]
Alison Stewart
And now that political news is 24.
- [51:27]
Ken Jennings
7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives. Cancer, climate change, genetic engineering, childhood diseases. Our sponsors know the value of science and health news. For more sponsorship information, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.