Jeopardy! fans were not happy following Monday night’s episode.
All three contestants correctly responded to a $1600 clue under The Quotable Alex category, but no one won the money. Why? None of the contestants were able to accurately pronounce the name of author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the correct response.
“This is a tricky one to pronounce,” host Mayim Bialik said.
After hearing the clue, “An author & former prisoner: ‘Socialism of any type and shade leads to a total destruction of the human spirit,’” all three contestants buzzed in and tried their hand at answering.
One by one the contestants were told they were wrong because they mispronounced the Russian author’s name.
And for that reason no one received the $1600.
That did not sit well with many including loyal Jeopardy! fans and previous contestants.
Pasha Paterson, a former contestant, expressed their displeasure on the show’s ruling tweeting, “If you’re not going to accept anyone’s attempt to pronounce Solzhenitsyn, don’t write a clue about him.”
Another fan pointed out that Russian is not an easy language to speak, especially if it’s not your native language.
“I think all three had the right person in mind, but none of them was a native speaker of Russian or related language.”
Many valid points were made, including one stating the show’s ruling could set “an awkward precedent for the future.”
A Jeopardy! fan in a Reddit thread suggested the show do away with “these types of clues.”
“It’s one thing with clues that ask about translation of common French or Spanish words or idioms, but Russian has several letters that are difficult for Americans.”
Was the right decision made or should they have allowed the slight mispronunciation?
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