Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> IN A GOOGLE AGE, A FACTOID
CAN BE JUST A CLICK AWAY.
FUN, BUT DOES THAT BODE WELL FOR
THE FUTURE OF CIVILIZATION?
WE'LL CONSIDER THE OPTIONS NEXT,
ON "GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES."
>> THIS IS
"GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES," WITH
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
COMMENTATOR JOHN BERSIA.
>> WELCOME TO
"GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES."
WHAT IS IT WITH OUR FASCINATION
WITH TRIVIA?
EXEMPLIFIED BY THE 1980s BOARD
GAME TRIVIAL PURSUIT, WHICH
CONTINUES TO BE POPULAR TODAY IN
AN ONLINE VERSION, TRIVIA
CHALLENGE HAS MORPHED INTO A
GROUP BLOOD SPORT.
>> WHO IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE
SEVEN DWARVES THAT WEARS
GLASSES?
>> WITNESS, FOR EXAMPLE, THESE
FOLKS AT SALAMANDERS SPORTS BAR
IN WINTER SPRINGS.
>> WHO SAID DOC? WHO SAID DOC?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
YEAH. I LOVE DOC.
>> THEN THERE'S THE BIG LEAGUES.
TRIVIA HAS BEEN PART OF EVERY
QUIZ SHOW SINCE THE EARLY DAYS
OF TELEVISION, AND IS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF POPULAR
CULTURE.
>> AND NOW HERE HE IS.
THE ONE, THE ONLY...
>> GROUCHO!
>> THAT'S ME -- GROUCHO MARX.
>> WITNESS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
EXCITEMENT IN 2004 WHEN
KEN JENNINGS HAD A SIX-MONTH
WINNING STREAK THAT NETTED HIM A
LOT MORE THAN BRAGGING RIGHTS.
>> ...$2,520,700.
>> IT ALSO EARNED HIM THE RIGHT
TO REPRESENT HUMANITY IN A 2011
"JEOPARDY!" MATCHUP WITH THE IBM
SUPERCOMPUTER, WATSON.
HE CAME IN SECOND.
>> "WHO IS STOKER?
I FOR ONE WELCOME OUR NEW
COMPUTER OVERLORDS."
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> JENNINGS JOINS US TODAY TO
TALK ABOUT LIFE AFTER
"JEOPARDY!" AND HIS BOOKS --
"MAPHEAD," HIS LIFELONG LOVE OF
GEOGRAPHY, AND
"BECAUSE I SAID SO!" HIS TAKE ON
THE MYTHS OF PARENTING.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW, KEN.
>> OH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
JOHN.
>> AND WE'RE GONNA START OUT BY
TRYING TO STUMP THE CHAMP.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
"WHAT 1951 FILM FEATURED
RONALD REAGAN RAISING A CHIMP?"
>> IT'S "BEDTIME FOR BONZO."
>> YOU ARE RIGHT.
>> GOOD TIMES.
>> AND I HAVE FAILED.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR
DISCUSSION.
>> WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA GO
THROUGH THE REST OF THE BOX?
>> NOPE. NOPE.
>> [ SIGHS ]
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUN.
>> WERE YOU ALWAYS INTERESTED IN
TRIVIA?
>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I WAS.
IF YOU WANTED TO ASK ME TO
PINPOINT WHEN IT STARTED, I FEEL
LIKE I CAN'T.
LIKE, EVEN AS FAR BACK AS I CAN
REMEMBER, I JUST HAD SOME KIND
OF WEIRD SPONGELIKE ABSORPTION
FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND ME.
YOU KNOW, IF I WAS EATING
BREAKFAST, AND THERE WAS A
CEREAL BOX IN FRONT OF ME, I
JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT READ THE
INGREDIENTS.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST
BORN WITH A WEIRD BRAIN THAT'S A
MAGNET FOR MINUTIAE.
>> NOW, DID THIS RUN IN YOUR
FAMILY, OR WAS IT UNIQUE TO YOU?
>> I THINK IT RAN IN MY FAMILY.
BOTH MY PARENTS ARE SMART.
I REMEMBER A FRIEND TELLING THEM
WHEN THEY GOT ENGAGED -- I DON'T
REMEMBER THIS, BUT I'M TOLD THAT
WHEN THEY GOT ENGAGED, A FRIEND
TOLD THEM NOT TO REPRODUCE, OR
THEY'D CREATE A MASTER RACE,
SOME KIND OF SUPERHUMAN RACE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAD
GAME-SHOW WINNINGS IN MIND, BUT
THAT'S AS CLOSE AS THE PROPHECY
CAME TO COMING TRUE, I GUESS.
>> AND YOU HAVE CHILDREN.
ARE YOU PASSING THIS IMPULSE ON
TO THE NEXT GENERATION?
>> I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD AND A
6-YEAR-OLD.
NOT ON PURPOSE, BUT I DO NOTICE
THEY ALWAYS WANT TO WATCH
"JEOPARDY!" EVERY NIGHT.
THEY BEG TO WATCH "JEOPARDY!"
AND I'M LIKE, "NO, NOT
'JEOPARDY!'" BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR
THE MUSIC AND I HEAR
ALEX TREBEK'S VOICE, I GET VERY
TENSE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE [GASPS] YOU KNOW.
THE ADRENALINE SPIKES JUST LIKE
I'M BACK IN NAM, YOU KNOW?
>> AND DO YOU START LISTENING TO
HIM WHEN HE TELLS PEOPLE THINGS
AND PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS ON TV?
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF --
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN A CROWD,
I WILL LISTEN TO MY WIFE'S
VOICE, BUT IF IT WAS TREBEK AND
MY WIFE, I'LL LISTEN TO TREBEK
EVERY TIME.
MY WIFE DOES NOT HAVE A
MILLION-DOLLAR CHECK FOR ME, AS
FAR AS I KNOW.
SO, YEAH, I DO, BUT THE KIDS ARE
VERY INTO "JEOPARDY!"
SO, YEAH, MAYBE THAT'LL BE ME
SON UP THERE SOMEDAY BREAKING MY
RECORD.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> NOW, HAVE THEY ACTUALLY BEEN
TO THE SET?
>> THEY HAVE NOT.
THEY ARE GONNA GO THIS FALL.
WE'RE GONNA BE IN L.A., AND I
FOUND OUT THAT "JEOPARDY!" IS
TAPING THAT DAY, AND THEY'VE
BEEN BEGGING, "CAN WE GO TO A
TAPING?"
SO THEY'RE GONNA GO SEE HOW THE
SAUSAGES ARE MADE -- WHAT PAID
FOR THE HOUSE, I GUESS.
>> THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT
YOU HAD INTENDED.
YOU DIDN'T GO INTO THE GAME
THINKING YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE
A WINNING STREAK.
DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GONNA WIN
AT ALL?
>> NOT AT ALL.
I MEAN, IT WAS A LIFELONG DREAM,
FOR SURE.
LIKE, I USED TO RUN HOME FROM
SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND WATCH
"JEOPARDY!"
WE WERE LIVING OVERSEAS.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHANNEL OF
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TV.
YOU KNOW, ARMY TV.
THAT'S WHAT YOU COULD WATCH IN
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, IN 1984.
AND SO, ME AND MY FRIENDS ALL
WATCHED THE SAME THING, AND THAT
WAS "JEOPARDY!" AND "WHEEL"
AFTER SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
AND AT THAT AGE, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE VERY IMPRESSIONABLE, AND
I JUST REMEMBER THINKING, "LOOK
AT THESE SMART PEOPLE," YOU
KNOW?
"THESE ARE THE WORLD'S SMARTEST
PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY."
AND I LOOK TODAY, AND IT'S JUST
GUYS IN ILL-FITTING SUITS AND,
YOU KNOW, ADJUNCT PROFESSORS
TRYING TO EARN A LITTLE EXTRA
SCRATCH OR, YOU KNOW, NICE CAT
LADIES WHO LOVE GAME SHOWS.
BUT AT THE TIME, THEY WERE LIKE
SUPERHEROES TO ME.
BUT, NO.
I NEVER ACTUALLY THOUGHT I COULD
WIN.
MY GOAL WAS TO NOT BE THE PERSON
WHO HAS, LIKE, THE NEGATIVE
DOLLAR AMOUNT AT THE END OF
DOUBLE JEOPARDY! SO ALEX VERY
SADLY SENDS THEM HOME, AND THEY
DON'T EVEN GET TO PLAY
FINAL JEOPARDY!
THEY GET EXILED TO SOME
OFFSCREEN LIMBO.
AS LONG AS I WAS NOT THAT GUY, I
WAS GONNA BE HAPPY.
>> BUT YOU WENT ON TO HAVE AN
INCREDIBLE WINNING STREAK, AND I
THINK THE POPULAR PERCEPTION WAS
THAT, AT THAT STAGE, AFTER 60,
70 CONSECUTIVE WINS, YOU WERE
PROBABLY BEING TREATED LIKE
ROYALTY -- FLOWN IN ON A PRIVATE
PLANE AND PUT UP IN THE NICEST
HOTELS.
WAS THAT THE REALITY?
>> NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM
THE TRUTH, ACTUALLY.
I MEAN, FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE -- "JEOPARDY!" NEVER WOULD
SHOW THAT KIND OF FAVORITISM TO
ANY CONTESTANT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL A FELONY IN
AMERICA TO RIG A GAME SHOW.
SO I GOT THE SAME, YOU KNOW,
NO-FRILLS TREATMENT THAT EVERY
CONTESTANT DOES, WHICH MEANS
THEY DON'T PUT YOU UP IN A
HOTEL.
THEY DON'T PAY FOR YOUR AIRLINE
TICKET.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GO ON
"JEOPARDY!" BECAUSE IT'S THE
DREAM.
AND SECONDLY, I THINK EVEN
"JEOPARDY!" HAD NO IDEA IF THIS
WAS GONNA BE GOOD FOR THE SHOW
OR NOT.
I HAD WON 40 OR SO TIMES BEFORE
ANY OF THOSE STARTED TO AIR,
'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT LIKE A
THREE-MONTH LAG.
AND I THINK -- MY GUESS IS,
BEHIND THE SCENES ON
"JEOPARDY!" THERE WAS A LOT OF
WORRY ABOUT, "WHAT HAVE WE DONE
TO OUR SHOW WITH THIS, YOU
KNOW -- THIS WEIRD OPIE-LOOKING
KID IN THE LEFT-HAND PODIUM
EVERY DAY?
LIKE, IS THIS GONNA KILL
"JEOPARDY!"?
IS THIS GONNA BE THE THING THAT
KILLS "JEOPARDY!" AFTER
20 YEARS?"
MY GUESS IS, THERE WERE SOME
NERVES.
>> AND IF IT HADN'T ENDED AT
GAME 75, WHAT IF YOU HAD KEPT
WINNING?
WERE THEY PREPARED FOR THAT?
AND WAS THERE CONCERN?
>> IS THERE, LIKE, A SEALED
ENVELOPE WITH PLANS FOR MY
DEATH?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE --
[ LAUGHS ]
"OPEN THIS AT GAME 100."
I ACTUALLY ASKED THAT ONCE ON A
CONFERENCE CALL.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DIDN'T GET TO
TALK TO ANYBODY WHO HAD ANY
POWER WHATSOEVER.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE VERY
TIGHT SECURITY, YOU DON'T GET TO
MEET ANYBODY WHO KNOWS THE
ANSWERS TO THE SHOW.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE CONTESTANTS
ARE SEQUESTERED LIKE A JURY, AND
THEY'RE TROUPED AROUND TOGETHER
LIKE THE CHAIN GANG.
YOU KNOW, IF ONE OF YOU HAS TO
GO TO THE BATHROOM, EVERYBODY
TAKES A POTTY BREAK.
AND SO, YOU DON'T EVER GET TO
MEET THE PRODUCERS, YOU NEVER
GET TO MEET ALEX, EXCEPT
ONSTAGE.
BUT, LIKE, ONE OF THE FEW TIMES
I GOT TO TALK TO THE PRODUCERS
ON A CONFERENCE CALL, I ASKED,
"ARE YOU EVER GONNA KICK ME
OFF?"
AND THEY SAID, "WE HAVE NO
PLANS.
OUR RULES PROVIDE FOR YOU TO
PLAY UNTIL YOU LOSE."
I THINK MAYBE I WOULD HAVE
STEPPED DOWN, LIKE, ON THE 100th
SHOW OR SOMETHING, JUST TO GET
MY LIFE BACK, BUT IT'S REALLY
THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE
STANDING UP.
I MEAN, "JEOPARDY!" IS A GREAT
TIME.
IT'S A SUPER-FAST-PACED GAME
AGAINST THE SMARTEST PEOPLE THEY
COULD FIND.
I WAS GETTING ADDICTED.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS
WONDERING.
AND THEN IT STOPPED SUDDENLY.
IF YOU WERE GETTING ADDICTED,
WASN'T IT PAINFUL?
>> I DIDN'T CHECK INTO
BETTY FORD OR ANYTHING, BUT
YEAH.
I REMEMBER LOSING THAT LAST
GAME.
YOU KNOW, FINALLY, THE LAW OF
AVERAGES CATCHES UP.
YOU GET A FEW YOU DON'T KNOW IN
THE WRONG PLACES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN EARLIER, BUT IT FINALLY
HAPPENED IN THAT NOVEMBER, AND I
REMEMBER BEING VERY RELIEVED AT
THE END OF THE SHOW.
YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING, "THANK
GOODNESS.
THIS IS HOW IT ENDS.
I CAN GO HOME TO MY WIFE AND
KIDS."
YOU KNOW, "THAT WEIRD
'JEOPARDY!' SUMMER IS NOW IN THE
BOOKS.
IT WASN'T TILL THE NEXT DAY THAT
I SORT OF WOKE UP IN BED IN MY
HOTEL, AND I REALIZED, "I DON'T
GET TO PLAY 'JEOPARDY!' TODAY
OR ANY DAY."
IT'S SORT OF ONE TO A CUSTOMER,
YOU KNOW?
I HAD MY CHANCE.
I GOT MY ONE LOSS, WHICH IS ALL
ANYBODY GETS AT "JEOPARDY!"
I STRETCHED IT OUT AS LONG AS I
COULD, BUT I'M DONE, YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT EVEN 30 YET, AND THE
MOST FUN I'LL EVER HAVE IS
PROBABLY OVER.
I DON'T GET TO GO HANG OUT WITH
MY FRIENDS ON "JEOPARDY!"
ANYMORE.
WHAT THE HECK? $7.800, ALEX.
>> $7,800?
>> $7,800.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU'RE
WAGERING $7,800?
>> IT'LL BE $25,000 IF AND ONLY
IF I GET IT RIGHT.
>> OKAY, BUT WHY A LARGE WAGER
AT THIS TIME AND NOT LAST TIME?
>> IT'S VERY HIGH UP IN THE
CATEGORIES.
>> AH.
>> MAYBE IT'S EASIER.
>> AH, OKAY. GOOD THINKING.
MINUTE TO GO.
HERE IS THE CLUE IN
AQUATIC LIFE...
>> WHAT'S AN ELEPHANT SEAL?
>> YOU GOT IT.
>> WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE
"JEOPARDY!" AND THEN HOW DID IT
CHANGE AFTER "JEOPARDY!"?
>> AT THE TIME I WENT ON THE
SHOW, I WAS A COMPUTER
PROGRAMMER, WORKING AT A LITTLE
HEALTHCARE-STAFFING COMPANY IN
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST BOUGHT
OUR FIRST LITTLE HOUSE, AND WE
HAD A 2-YEAR-OLD BOY.
WE WERE HAPPY.
YOU KNOW, SUBURBAN DAD.
I WASN'T A VERY GOOD PROGRAMMER.
I'D TRY OUT FOR "JEOPARDY!" ON A
WHIM, AND SUDDENLY, AT WORK, I
GET THIS PHONE CALL.
LIKE, "WE WANT YOU TO BE ON THE
SHOW IN THREE WEEKS."
AND IT WAS A CRAZY SUMMER, BUT
IT REALLY DID CHANGE MORE THAN I
EXPECTED ABOUT MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, I NOW -- I DON'T
PROGRAM ANYMORE FOR A LIVING,
WHICH IS PROBABLY GOOD FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND
USE MY CODE.
I'M A WRITER NOW FULL-TIME,
WHICH IS WHAT I ACTUALLY WANTED
TO DO IN COLLEGE.
I WAS AN ENGLISH MAJOR WHO JUST
SORT OF GOT INTO --
>> INTO PROGRAMMING.
>> YEAH, WELL, JUST TO PAY THE
BILLS, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS 2000.
EVERYBODY HAD A FRIEND RUNNING
AN INTERNET COMPANY.
I JOINED MY FRIEND'S INTERNET
COMPANY, AND, YOU KNOW, THEN THE
BUBBLE POPPED.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO
WAS MAYBE TEACH OR WRITE OR
SOMETHING, AND NOW I ACTUALLY
GET TO DO THAT FOR A LIVING.
I GET TO WORK AT HOME, SO I CAN,
YOU KNOW, DO THE KIDS' CARPOOL
OR, YOU KNOW, TAKE THEM TO
LITTLE-LEAGUE GAMES.
IT'S A GOOD LIFE.
>> WELL, TELL US ABOUT THE
CURIOUS SITUATION THAT EMERGED
AT WORK BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TAKE
DAYS OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS ONCE
YOU STARTED WINNING.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL
ANYBODY.
THAT WAS MY GOAL.
FOR ONE THING, "JEOPARDY!" MAKES
YOU SIGN A THING SAYING, "I WILL
TELL NO ONE OR FORFEIT ALL MY
WINNINGS."
BUT I THOUGHT IT'D BE MORE FUN
IF I KEPT IT A SECRET.
SO REALLY NOBODY KNEW.
MY WIFE KNEW, BECAUSE DIDN'T
WANT TO GET DIVORCED.
AND MY BOSS NEW BECAUSE I DIDN'T
WANT TO GET FIRED.
THOSE WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE.
AND SO, I WOULD FLY DOWN TO L.A.
WHILE MY BOSS MADE SOME EXCUSE
FOR ME AT WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT
48 HOURS, I WOULD ACTUALLY WIN
10 GAMES OF "JEOPARDY!"
THEY SHOOT FIVE IN A DAY.
LIKE, THEY TAPE A FULL WEEK'S
WORTH OF SHOWS IN ONE AFTERNOON.
AND SO, I'D WIN SOME INSANE
AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THEN I'D
HAVE TO FLY HOME AND GO TO WORK
THE NEXT DAY, AND YOU KNOW, GO
TO THE MORNING STAFF MEETING AND
PRETEND LIKE I CARED ANYMORE,
YOU KNOW?
AND IT WAS WEIRD.
YOU START TO REALIZE WHY IT'S
HARD TO HAVE A DOUBLE LIFE LIKE
THAT, YOU KNOW?
YOU REALIZE WHY SPIDER-MAN IS
SUCH A MESS EMOTIONALLY, YOU
KNOW?
IT'S VERY HARD TO TELL ALL THESE
SMALL LIES AND TO FIGURE OUT THE
LOGISTICS AND, "WHY, SUPPOSEDLY,
DID I MISS WORK YESTERDAY, AND
WHERE AM I GONNA GET ENOUGH
NECKTIES TO WEAR ON THE SHOW
THIS WEEK WITHOUT TELLING
PEOPLE WHY I'M BORROWING THEIR
TIES?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH IN THE
CHECKING ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR A
MOTEL IN CULVER CITY.
CAN WE FIND A SITTER FOR THE
KIDS WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT I'VE
ALREADY BEEN DOWN TO 'JEOPARDY!'
THREE TIMES THIS MONTH?"
YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY TRICKY
BEING A SECRET AGENT FOR GAME
SHOWS.
>> YOUR WIFE KNEW YOU WERE
WINNING AND YOUR BOSS KNEW YOU
WERE WINNING, BECAUSE YOU KEPT
GOING BACK.
BUT DID YOUR BOSS AT ANY POINT
START TO IMAGINE THAT IF YOU
KEPT ON WINNING, YOU MIGHT NOT
RETURN TO YOUR JOB?
>> THAT WAS SORT OF THE
CONVERSATION.
AT THE END OF EVERY TAPE DAY
THAT I HAD WON, I'D HAVE TO CALL
MY BOSS AND TELL HER, "I'M NOT
GONNA BE IN TOMORROW.
I SORT OF WON AGAIN."
AND SHE SAY, "ARE YOU QUITTING?
ARE YOU CALLING ME TO TELL ME
YOU'RE QUITTING?"
AND I'D SAY, "NO, NO, NO.
I'M NOT QUITTING.
IT'S A GREAT JOB.
I JUST HAVE TO PLAY A GAME SHOW
TOMORROW INSTEAD OF WORK."
AND I KEPT THE JOB ALL THE WAY
THROUGH, YOU KNOW.
I KEPT THE OFFICE JOB, AND IT
WAS ONLY WHEN I GOT THE DEAL TO
WRITE MY FIRST BOOK THAT I
REALIZED, "WHOA.
I ACTUALLY CAN'T DO BOTH THINGS
ANYMORE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT MY
COMPUTER JOB ON HOLD," WHICH I
HAVE CONTINUED TO DO, I GUESS.
>> NOW, SO MUCH OF THIS IS TAPED
IN ADVANCE, AS YOU SAID.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOUR
CO-WORKERS LEARN THAT YOU WERE
ACTUALLY ON THE SHOW AND
WINNING?
>> I REMEMBER WE HAD A BIG PARTY
AT THE OFFICE TO WATCH THE FIRST
SHOW, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE
VERY EXCITED.
INTEREST SORT OF GRADUALLY
DROPPED OFF AFTER THAT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, THEY PUT UP A
WALL WHERE THEY'D PRINT OUT
PICTURES OF ALL MY COMPETITORS
FROM THAT WEEK, AND THEY'D X
THEM OUT AS I WON SO THIS WALL
BEGAN TO GROW.
AND WHEN "JEOPARDY!" CAME BACK
FROM THEIR SUMMER HIATUS AND I
HAD TO START FLYING OUT TO L.A.
AGAIN, THEN, AT THAT POINT, THEY
STARTED TO REALIZE WHY I WAS
MISSING, YOU KNOW, FOUR DAYS OF
WORK EVERY MONTH.
>> WHAT ABOUT OTHERS ON THE SHOW
ITSELF?
WHEN YOU KEPT COMING BACK AND
COMING BACK, DID THE OTHER
CONTESTANTS START TO WORRY?
>> IT WAS A VERY SOCIALLY
AWKWARD GREENROOM.
I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS A ZERO-SUM
GAME.
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AWARE
THAT THE MORE LIKELY SHE IS TO
WIN, THE LESS LIKELY I AM TO
WIN.
SO IT'S A WEIRD SOCIAL VIBE
ANYWAY.
BUT THEN THE GUY COMES IN WHO
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN ON THE SHOW FOR
MONTHS, AND EVERY -- YOU COULD
SEE PEOPLE JUST MENTALLY CHECK
OUT.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE LEAST-FAIR
THING ABOUT THAT WAS THAT PEOPLE
WOULD JUST SEE ME COMING, AND
THEY'D BE LIKE, "OH, I CAN'T
WIN."
AND I THINK I WON A LOT OF GAMES
RIGHT THERE WITH PEOPLE JUST
DECIDING...
>> THEY DEFEATED THEMSELVES.
>> ..."GAME OVER."
YEAH, THEY TOOK THEMSELVES OUT
OF IT.
'CAUSE IT WAS JUST THE UN-LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD OF SOMEBODY COMING
IN WITH WEEKS OF EXPERIENCE ON
THE BUZZER AND DOESN'T HAVE
STAGE FRIGHT ANYMORE, AND THEN
THEY'RE JUST BRINGING IN THIS
TRUCK OF FRESH MEAT FROM
PASADENA WITH ALL THESE NEW
CONTESTANTS.
THEN WHEN I FINALLY LOST, IT WAS
TO A WOMAN WHO DIDN'T TAKE
HERSELF OUT OF IT.
SHE WAS CHEERY AND UPBEAT AND
THOUGHT SHE COULD STILL WIN, AND
SURE ENOUGH, SHE COULD.
>> DID YOU EVER WISH THAT THE
SHOW HAD NEVER HAPPENED?
>> NO.
I MEAN, "JEOPARDY!" IS BY FAR
THE BEST THING THAT EVER
HAPPENED TO ME.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
WERE OBSESSED WITH AS AN
8-YEAR-OLD, BUT I GOT TO DO
MINE.
YOU KNOW, MINE WAS NOT ASTRONAUT
OR COWBOY.
MINE WAS "JEOPARDY!" CONTESTANT,
AND I GOT TO, LIKE, DO IT FOR
SIX MONTHS UNTIL EVERYONE HATED
ME.
AND THAT'S GREAT.
I NEVER SECOND-GUESSED THAT.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I'M AT THE
MALL AND SOMEBODY WHISTLES THE
"JEOPARDY!" THEME AT ME OR
SOMEBODY WANTS ME TO, YOU KNOW,
TALK TO THEIR GRANDMA ON THEIR
SMARTPHONE OR ANSWER IN THE FORM
OF A QUESTION OR SOMETHING, I
THINK, "THIS IS A LITTLE BIT
ANNOYING," BUT THAT IS NOTHING
COMPARED TO THE THRILL RIDE OF
GETTING TO BE ON "JEOPARDY!" FOR
SIX MONTHS.
>> AND "JEOPARDY!" ENDED UP
BEING THE VEHICLE THAT LANDED
YOU DOING WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED
TO DO, WHICH IS WRITING.
>> I DO MY DREAM JOB NOW.
LIKE, YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO
GET A BOOK DEAL IN AMERICA
TODAY?
I MEAN, WINNING FOR SIX MONTHS
ON A GAME SHOW MIGHT BE THE
EASIEST WAY TO DO IT.
I LUCKED OUT.
>> SO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR
BOOK SUBJECTS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A FASCINATION
FOR MAPS.
WHERE DID THAT EMERGE?
AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY MAPS
AND SUCH ARE NOT ONLY
INTERESTING BUT ESSENTIAL.
>> I REMEMBER, AS A KID, MY
FASCINATION WITH MAPS BEING THE
FIRST TIME I REALLY WAS AWARE OF
JUST HOW MUCH INFORMATION THERE
WAS IN THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, HOW WHAT AN
INTERESTING PLACE THE WORLD WAS,
AND HOW MUCH THERE WAS TO LEARN,
YOU KNOW?
SO I THINK THE WHOLE PROCESS OF
ME WINDING UP ON "JEOPARDY!"
STARTED WITH ME FINDING A
RAND McNALLY ATLAS IN MY PUBLIC
LIBRARY WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD,
YOU KNOW?
AND I WAS A WEIRD KID.
I WOULD READ ATLASES FOR FUN
INSTEAD OF HARDY BOYS BOOKS.
THERE'S MORE DETAIL, YOU KNOW?
THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON A
SINGLE PAGE OF AN ATLAS THAN ON
ANY ENCYCLOPEDIA OR ALMANAC.
AND I THINK SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
DENSITY AND JUST THAT -- YOU
KNOW, THE AUTHORITY THAT COMES
WITH SEEING THE WORLD FROM THAT
GOD'S-EYE VIEW.
IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE TO A
CERTAIN KIND OF NERDY
5-YEAR-OLD.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE MORE I READ
ABOUT THE SUBJECT, I SORT OF
REALIZED, YOU KNOW, "THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT THING, AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S IN TROUBLE."
YOU KNOW, AMERICANS CAN -- YOU
CAN GET A PhD TODAY, AND IN THAT
WHATEVER 15, 18 YEARS OF
EDUCATION NEVER TAKE A SINGLE
GEOGRAPHY CLASS IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND THAT WORRIES ME A LITTLE
BIT.
>> WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM TO YOU?
>> [ SIGHS ]
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE -- I THINK
IT'S A SYMPTOM OF SORT OF THE
SHRINKING WORLD WE HEAR A LOT
ABOUT.
IN THE RENAISSANCE, YOU HAD ALL
THESE GREAT RENAISSANCE MEN WHO
KNEW EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, THOMAS JEFFERSON AND
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
OF COURSE, BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH
LESS FOR THEM TO KNOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU PUT JEFFERSON ON A
GAME SHOW TODAY, AND HE DOESN'T
KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT
PARTICLE PHYSICS OR '70s
SITCOMS, YOU KNOW?
THE GUY'S IN TROUBLE.
AND IT'S THE SAME FOR GEOGRAPHY.
AND A FEW CENTURIES AGO, PEOPLE
WOULD BE BORN AND LIVE AND WORK
AND DIE AND NEVER GO 10 MILES
FROM THEIR BIRTHPLACE, PROBABLY.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE
HISTORY OF THE WORLD, WE LIVE IN
AN ERA WHERE THINGS HAPPENING
HALF A WORLD AWAY CAN TOTALLY
AFFECT ME EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW?
LIKE, THE GREEK ECONOMY CAN
AFFECT MY 401(k).
OR, YOU KNOW, A VOLCANO ERUPTS
IN ICELAND AND, SUDDENLY, MY
VACATION PLANS ARE ON HOLD.
OR, YOU KNOW, THE ACTIVITIES OF
A TERROR CELL IN PAKISTAN AFFECT
HOW SAFE I FEEL WHEN I'M IN
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, YOU KNOW?
THESE THINGS CAN AFFECT MY LIFE
IN VERY HANDS-ON WAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS FEAR
THAT MOST PEOPLE IN AMERICA, YOU
KNOW, RECENTLY, ARE THINKING A
LOT ABOUT SYRIA.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF THESE
PEOPLE COULD FIND SYRIA ON A
MAP?
HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN
CONGRESS VOTING ON THIS COULD
FIND SYRIA ON A MAP?
YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE LEVEL OF
GEOGRAPHICAL FAMILIARITY
REQUIRED TO EVEN POINT SOMETHING
OUT ON A MAP MAY BE BEYOND US
NOW.
THAT WORRIES ME.
>> SO IF YOU HAD YOUR WISH, WHAT
WOULD YOU DO IN TERMS OF
GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION?
>> [ SIGHS ]
I MEAN, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
THE REASON GEOGRAPHY WENT OUT OF
FAVOR IN SCHOOLS IS BEC-- WELL,
FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE -- YOU KNOW, THE WORLD GOT
PRETTY WELL EXPLORED, AND
SUDDENLY, GEOGRAPHY'S NOT AT THE
FRONTIER OF EVERYTHING -- OF
ANYTHING, YOU KNOW?
CARTOGRAPHY'S SORT OF DONE.
AND SECOND -- THERE WAS THIS
SOCIAL-STUDIES REVOLUTION IN THE
'70s WHERE THE IDEA WAS TO FOLD
MORE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN SO THAT
KIDS WERE GETTING A LITTLE TASTE
OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND, YOU KNOW, A
TON OF OTHER THINGS BESIDES JUST
FINDING STUFF ON A MAP.
WHICH IS GREAT.
I'M NOT AGAINST ANY OF THAT.
MY HOPE IS THAT SOME OF THESE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE HAVE
NOW CAN BE LEVERAGED SO THAT
KIDS WILL ACTUALLY WANT TO PLAY
WITH GEOGRAPHY.
YOU KNOW, GOOGLE EARTH OR, YOU
KNOW, THE HANDHELD-MAPPING STUFF
ON A SMARTPHONE IS SO AWESOME
THAT KIDS ARE JUST GONNA WANT TO
DO WHAT I DO SOMETIMES AND SPEND
A GOOD PART OF A WEEKEND JUST ON
GOOGLE EARTH, YOU KNOW, FINDING
WEIRD STUFF, FLYING 3-D THROUGH
THE GRAND CANYON, WATCHING
WEATHER AND TRAFFIC MOVE IN REAL
TIME ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND AS A PARENT, I ALSO THINK WE
NEED TO LET KIDS EXPLORE THEIR
OWN GEOGRAPHIES MORE.
YOU KNOW, I'M VERY AWARE THAT
I'M A MORE PROTECTIVE PARENT NOW
THAN ANYBODY WAS 30 YEARS AGO,
EVEN THOUGH THE WORLD HAS GOTTEN
MORE DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW?
CRIME RATES ARE NOT UP, AND YET
I FEEL NERVOUS LETTING MY KIDS
WALK TO SCHOOL OR BIKE TO SCHOOL
LIKE I DID AT THEIR AGE.
I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO LET GO A
LITTLE, HELICOPTER A LITTLE
LESS, LET KIDS EXPLORE A LITTLE
MORE.
>> SO, WHAT'S THE INSPIRATION
FOR YOUR BOOKS?
ARE THESE IDEAS THAT JUST COME
TO YOU, OR ARE THEY SPECIFICALLY
SUGGESTED BY AN EDITOR, OR...?
>> IT'S MOSTLY WHATEVER I'M
OBSESSED WITH AT THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF WAYS, I'M
STILL LIKE A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY
WHO'S INTERESTED IN DINOSAURS
ONE WEEK AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
TRAINS THE NEXT WEEK, AND THEN,
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
BUT A LOT OF IT AS JUST, YOU
KNOW, AS A LIFELONG TRIVIA NERD,
I FIND MYSELF SORT OF VAGUELY
INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT TRIVIA
IS YOU MAY NOT HAVE VERY DEEP
KNOWLEDGE, BUT YOU HAVE A VERY
SHALLOW LEVEL OF FAMILIARITY
WITH -- ABOUT ANYTHING.
IT'S GREAT FOR STARTING A
CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY NEW.
IT'S GREAT FOR JUST GETTING A
FOOTHOLD ON SOME SUBJECT THAT
YOU WANT TO DIG INTO.
AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, IF
THERE'S AN UNANSWERED QUESTION
THAT'S BUGGING ME THAT I'M, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING ON GOOGLE A LOT TO
FIND ANSWERS TO, I SORT OF
WONDER, YOU KNOW, "MAYBE THERE'S
A BOOK HERE."
>> HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE
SHOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE
DEALING WITH TOPICS THAT MAYBE
WEREN'T FAMILIAR TO YOU -- THAT
YOU JUST WENT BACK AND STUDIED
AND CRAMMED AND MEMORIZED AND --
>> YEAH, "JEOPARDY!" IS VERY
HARD TO CRAM FOR, YOU KNOW?
IT'S NOT LIKE A SIXTH-GRADE
BIOLOGY QUIZ.
YOU KNOW, TREBEK COULD ASK YOU
LITERALLY ANYTHING FROM THE
ENTIRE CANON OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE.
BUT THAT SAID, THERE ARE THINGS
THAT COME UP TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO KNOW YOUR
PRESIDENTS.
YOU GOT TO KNOW YOUR WORLD AND
STATE CAPITALS.
IN MY CASE, THERE'S A
POTENT POTABLES CATEGORY WHICH
IS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, MIXED
DRINKS.
I DON'T DRINK.
SO I MADE FLASH CARDS FOR ALL
THESE THINGS.
YOU KNOW, PRESIDENTS AND WORLD
CAPITALS, CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS, THE U.S. CABINET AT
THE TIME.
I REMEMBER I THINK I LEARNED ALL
MY SENATORS FOR THE FIRST TIME
EVER.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS POTENT
POTABLES.
YOU KNOW, ON THE FRONT, IT WOULD
SAY, "HARVEY WALLBANGER," AND ON
THE BACK, IT WOULD SAY "***,
ORANGE JUICE, GALLIANO."
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THESE
THINGS ARE, BUT I NOW KNOW HOW
TO MIX THEM, I GUESS.
I'LL BE THE WORLD'S ONLY MORMON
BARTENDER IF I LOSE ALL THE
"JEOPARDY!" MONEY.
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN GAME SHOWS
OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM, OR ARE YOU
EAGER TO GO BACK ON ONE AGAIN?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY A
BOOM TIME FOR THE AMERICAN GAME
SHOW RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF
SHOWS OUT THERE.
I'M NOT, LIKE, DYING TO BE ON
"THE PRICE IS RIGHT" OR
ANYTHING, EVEN THOUGH I LOVED
THAT SHOW AS A KID.
THAT SAID, WHEN I GET A PHONE
CALL FROM A GAME SHOW, I ALWAYS
GET A LITTLE BIT OF THE BUZZ
BACK.
AND I USUALLY END UP SAYING YES.
I WAS ON "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A
5th GRADER?" WITH JEFF FOXWORTHY
AND, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GONNA
SAY NO TO THAT?
>> TELL US ABOUT THE COMPUTER
MATCHUP THAT YOU HAD.
>> OH, RIGHT.
>> WAS THAT DAUNTING?
>> IT WAS EXCITING, YOU KNOW?
LIKE, I WAS A COMPUTER -- YOU
KNOW, I HAD STUDIED COMPUTERS.
I HAD TAKEN SOME A.I. CLASSES IN
COLLEGE.
I KNEW THAT THIS WAS A VERY HARD
TASK THAT IBM HAD TAKEN ON -- TO
BUILD A COMPUTER THAT COULD
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND NOT JUST QUESTIONS, BUT,
LIKE, A "JEOPARDY!" CLUE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER
STUDIED A "JEOPARDY!" CLUE, BUT
IT'S A VERY SHORT BUT VERY
DIFFICULT, SOPHISTICATED
ART FORM, YOU KNOW?
LIKE A HAIKU OR A VILLANELLE OR
SOMETHING.
IT'S GOT RED HERRINGS, IT'S GOT
DOUBLE MEANINGS, IT'S GOT LITTLE
JOKES -- HARD TO PARSE EVEN FOR
A HUMAN, MUCH LESS A COMPUTER.
SO, I FELT VERY CONFIDENT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE
THIS YET.
IF THIS THING WON, THIS IS THE
FUTURE AND I WANTED TO BE THERE
WHEN IT HAPPENED.
AND SURE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT
WAS THE FUTURE AND IT KICKED MY
BUTT.
>> DID THAT HURT?
>> IT HURT A LITTLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS FEELING
OF OBSOLESCENCE THAT I WASN'T
EXPECTING, YOU KNOW?
SUDDENLY -- THERE WAS THIS ONE
THING THAT MADE ME A SPECIAL,
LITTLE SNOWFLAKE, WHICH WAS
BEING ABLE TO ANSWER A LOT OF
CLUES ON "JEOPARDY!"
AND SUDDENLY, ALL IT TOOK WAS
IBM THROWING 3,000 PROCESSOR
CORES AND, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF DEVELOPMENT MONEY AT
THE PROBLEM, AND THEY CAN
REPLACE ME, YOU KNOW?
THE ONE THING I WAS GOOD AT.
WELL, NOT ANYMORE.
"WE'VE GOT A FEW TERABYTES WORTH
OF BIG DATA THAT CAN REPLACE YOU
NOW."
AND I ASSUME I'M NOT GONNA BE
THE LAST PERSON THAT HAPPENS TO
IN THIS NEW-INFORMATION ECONOMY.
SO, I THINK A LOT ABOUT THAT
FEELING OF OBSOLESCENCE.
THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO OTHER
PEOPLE BESIDES GAME-SHOW
CONTESTANTS.
>> AND A TWO-DAY TOTAL OF
$77,147.
AND THAT MEANS, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THAT WORLD VISION AND
THE WORLD COMMUNITY GRID -- TWO
VERY WORTHWHILE CHARITIES -- ARE
EACH GONNA BENEFIT WITH
$500,000 THANKS TO WATSON.
>> I HAVEN'T WRITTEN THAT MUCH
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
IN THE MAP BOOK, YOU KNOW, THE
LAST CHAPTER IS THESE NEW MAP
TECHNOLOGIES -- GPS,
GOOGLE EARTH, YOU KNOW,
GEOLOCATION -- WHAT'S THIS GONNA
DO TO OUR BRAINS?
SOMEBODY ELSE WAS ALREADY
WRITING A VERY GOOD BOOK ABOUT
THE WATSON "JEOPARDY!" THING, SO
I DIDN'T GET TO DO THAT.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING I'M
INTERESTED IN.
>> WHAT'S THE SUBJECT MATTER FOR
SOME OF YOUR UPCOMING BOOKS, IF
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THEM?
>> I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON A
SERIES OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS NOW,
WHICH IS PERFECT 'CAUSE MY KIDS
ARE THE RIGHT AGE.
AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE KIND
OF BOOKS THAT I LOVED AS A KID,
THESE SORT OF "TELL ME WHY,"
"1,000 AMAZING FACTS" KIND OF
BOOKS FOR THE, YOU KNOW -- THE
INFORMATION SPONGE LIKE I WAS.
SO, I'M WRITING ONE ABOUT
GEOGRAPHY.
THERE'S ONE ABOUT GREEK
MYTHOLOGY, PRESIDENTS, SPACE,
YOU KNOW, AMAZING FACTS -- ALL
THE STUFF THAT I LIKED AS A KID.
SO, REALLY, I GUESS I'M A
40-YEAR-OLD WHO NEVER GOT OUT OF
CHILDHOOD.
>> YOU HAVE DREAMS OF DOING
OTHER THINGS IN YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO
MUCH AT A YOUNG AGE.
>> I GUESS I NEVER REALLY
THOUGHT, "OKAY, I'VE BEEN ON A
GAME SHOW.
WHAT IS THIS THE STEPPING STOOL,
YOU KNOW, TOWARD?
NOW I CAN -- WHAT? -- GET
ELECTED TO THE SENATE."
I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE SOME, YOU
KNOW, PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINATION
LIKE THAT.
AS FAR AS MY IMAGINATION COULD
GO, YOU KNOW, WRITING SEEMED
LIKE A DREAM JOB.
AND I'M DOING IT NOW.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY, KEN JENNINGS.
>> IT WAS A PLEASURE, JOHN.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND THANK YOU.
FROM "GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES", I'M
JOHN BERSIA.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.