Jeopardy! is a fairly serious show. It’s a quiz show, not a game show. There is a big difference between the two. And so as a host, you want to inject it with some levity once in a while. Not so much that you interfere with the flow. I might have already said this, and I’ll probably say it again before this book is through, but it should never be about the host. Every moment you focus on yourself is a moment that you’re taking away from the contestants. A few seconds in which you turn the attention on yourself might take away the time for two or three more clues, and that might change the outcome of the game. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with humorous tidbits from time to time. It’s a delicate balancing act.
Over the last decade or so, people have said to me that I’ve softened a little compared to the show’s early days. They give the credit to Jean. They say, “After you got married, you seemed more friendly.” I don’t disagree with them. Jean has absolutely made me a better person. I’ve always had the reputation of appearing aloof. I don’t know why. I think part of it is that when contestants miss a response, my job is to tell the world the correct answer, so I may come off as a know-it-all. I’m reserved to a certain extent, but I’m also silly. I think more people should include silliness as part of their daily routines.