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

[berkeman]

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...

 

[Bystander]

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.

 

[russ_watters]

I wonder if there is a producer/judge talking in their ear?

 

[Borg]

I'm guessing that it's an imperfect splice in the tape where she originally said "Sheldon, that's correct.".

 

[jack action]

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:

​

 

[Eclair_de_XII]

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.

 

[George Jones]

I wonder if they consciously use a pause as a dramatic effect.

 

[berkeman]

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...)

 

[JT Smith]

Can you recall Alex doing it?

 

[berkeman]

Never. It's only been a couple of guest hosts who've done it AFAIK.

 

[Fervent Freyja]

To prolong the suspense. It’s sort of sadistic.