Why do some Jeopardy hosts hesistate before saying "Correct"?

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The discussion centers on the hesitation exhibited by some guest hosts of Jeopardy, particularly Mayim Bialik, before confirming a contestant's response as "Correct!" This pause has been perceived as an intellectual glitch, as viewers expect immediate feedback in a high-stakes quiz environment. Participants speculate whether the hesitation is due to personal habits, uncertainty about the answers, or the influence of producers communicating in their ear. Some suggest that hosts may pause for dramatic effect, while others find this practice frustrating and even cruel, contrasting it with the quick responses of the show's late host, Alex Trebek. Overall, the conversation highlights concerns about the pacing and presentation of the game show, particularly during intense moments.
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Watching Jeopardy tonight, I'm reminded that a few guest hosts seemed to have a very annoying habit of hesitating almost a full second before telling a contestant that their question was "Correct!". The host tonight Mayim Bialik has done it several times in the Professor tournament, but I don't remember which other guest hosts in the recent host audition shows had the same habit.

Is it just a personal habit of these hosts of being a bit slow in their conversations, or are they unsure of some of the Jeopardy question responses that are offered up and need to look to the judges, or what? I personally find this a big intellectual glitch in the shows, since in intense intellectual situations I expect *immediate* feedback/response.

Or maybe I should just go see a doctor and check into Jeopardy therapy... :wink:
 
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berkeman said:
find this a big intellectual glitch in the shows, since in intense intellectual situations I expect *immediate* feedback/response.
Maybe the guest hosts are too vain to wear their reading glasses, or unprepared to pronounce the words, shades of Sean Connery.
 
I wonder if there is a producer/judge talking in their ear?
 
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I'm guessing that it's an imperfect splice in the tape where she originally said "Sheldon, that's correct.".
 
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berkeman said:
Or maybe I should just go see a doctor and check into Jeopardy therapy...
Yeah, that. In the following video, Mayim Bialik plays herself and you're Sheldon:

​
 
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Perhaps the host merely wished to silently confirm to herself that the contestant is indeed correct because she does not wish to erroneously declare him to be correct and make herself look like a fool on (inter)national television.
 
I wonder if they consciously use a pause as a dramatic effect.
 
George Jones said:
I wonder if they consciously use a pause as a dramatic effect.
Oh gawd, I hope not. That's just cruel, IMO...

(calling my doctor now...) o0)
 
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Can you recall Alex doing it?
 
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Never. It's only been a couple of guest hosts who've done it AFAIK.
 
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To prolong the suspense. It’s sort of sadistic.
 

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