Jeopardy with Watson

[Kinokima]

Surely someone besides myself watched this?

I haven't been this excited about a recent game show in awhile.

Anyways I enjoyed the actual game play. It first seemed like Watson was too 'smart' to make it an interesting game but Watson gets things wrong too. He/It mixes things up at times.

My only complaint is too much talk about the computer and not enough game play. One episode only covered 1 round.

As for the questions I loved the Beatles one. I got all those!

[CaseyAbell]

From the blog with a SPOILER warning...

Watson and Beth

This entry's title sounds like a sitcom. Watson is a computer and Beth is a cab driver and they're in love. Okay, scratch that last part. They're not even on the same show, yet.

By now everybody who's interested in game shows at all has probably seen the first episode of super gadget Watson vs. Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings on Jeopardy. My first reaction to the show wasn't gloom over the coming of our cybernetic masters. I just thought, wow, this episode is padded. The show labored through one (1) round of clues and endless filler about the computer system, not to mention ninety-seven product placement plugs for IBM.

When they did get around to playing the game, it first looked like a runaway for Watson. But Brad eventually learned how to beat the machine on the buzzer, and ended up tying the gadget at five grand. Ken had a surprisingly bad day and only racked up a couple thousand. Watson's most embarrassing moment saw it give exactly the same wrong response that Jennings had just given. Otherwise, the computer would have won the round.

Jeopardy is clearly stretching the suspense over three episodes for the ratings. Understandable, of course, but it makes for a funereal pace.

Meanwhile, Cash Cab debuted new episodes from Ben Bailey and a new Chicago host in Beth Melewski. Ben was as jolly as ever and Beth was, well, as loud as ever. At least she avoided obvious imitations of her New York counterpart. She didn't mug at the camera or sing out red light challennnnnnnge.

But she did dial up the volume pretty high. I don't want to turn nasty towards Beth. She showed a lot of enthusiasm and related to the contestants well. But she might want to go just a tad softer on the voice.

[Kinokima]

I was also disappointed in Ken Jennings performance. He is my favorite out of the human contestants. But then I do remember he didn't always do so great in the first round and made up for it in Double Jeopardy during his initial run. We will see. He has much stiffer competition this time from both Watson and Brad.

Ken has a lot of luck because despite what he knows he is a good guesser but that might not be enough for him this time.

[phimat37]

I enjoyed this!! This is fun to watch.

[espnews26]

Damn, I forgot this was on. At least there are 2 more episodes left.

[DialgaChampion]

I laughed when Watson gave the same wrong answer that Ken just gave for that one question which I've already forgotten about...

Goes to show even a computer isn't perfect.

[M2nFarisFan]

I'm not cheering for Watson regardless....didn't we figure out after four Terminator movies that self-intelligent machines were not such a good idea?

[Kinokima]

Watson completely dominated the game even missing final jeopardy did not faze it because it already had so much money above the human contestants.

I noticed though Watson seems to have an advantage with buzzing in first.

[CardSharks8689]

I'm watching Final Jeopardy right now as I post this.

Watson has won Final Jeopardy so far, and the challenge continues into tomorrow.

BTW, one question: If Watson wins the IBM Challenge, will Watson's winnings go to charity or something? What will happen to Watson's winnings?

[gameshowmaniac27330]

I laughed when Watson gave the same wrong answer that Ken just gave for that one question which I've already forgotten about...

Goes to show even a computer isn't perfect.

I was afraid Watson might pull a Cliff, and Toronto was a US City eh. I also enjoyed his random wagerness.

[CaseyAbell]

If Watson wins all the money goes to charity. If one of the carbon based life forms somehow comes from way behind to win, they'll donate half to charity.

[GSNAngel]

Have you seen this Q&A with Ken Jennings where he answers questions in the Washington Post? I remember when we did the live chat with Ken a year and a half or so ago. He's quite a nice person!

[espnews26]

Watson giving the money to charity? I thought it was gonna keep it all to itself: Spending it on Cheap Ram (Booze).

[sshuffield70]

Q. Did Watson's voice throw you off your game at all?
– February 15, 2011 10:30 AM Permalink
A.Ken Jennings :
Yes, because I wanted him to sound like Darrell Hammon doing Sean Connery on SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy instead. "That'sh not what your mother shaid lasht night, Trebek!"

[Kinokima]

My favorite part is when Ken said "Welcome to our new computer overlord" (paraphrasing)

Although Watson won by far, Ken did much better the second night and was in 2nd place overall.