Are Jeopardy contestants smarter or do they just have better memories?

I peg the average contestant as well read across broad range of topics, great memories, and fast memory recall. Obviously some of them are doctors or other "smart" professions in their day jobs.

I don't think you have to be smart to be good at Jeopardy. But I know it all depends on how each of us defines a smart person. Personally I think someone can be smart but also have a very shirty memory. Or they can have a great memory but not really understand the concepts.

In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie

Posted: 04/17/2019 at 9:44PM

Can you imagine finally realizing your dream to make Jeopardy ... -- OXVT 04/17/2019 7:47PM

The Ellen Degenerate Show is where the big bucks are for contestants.... -- BusLoadaBozos 04/18/2019 1:03PM

How many days has he broken Hokie Roger Craig's old record? ** -- 48zip 04/18/2019 10:58AM

Anti-shun -- EDGEMAN 04/18/2019 07:21AM

I suspect a scam. No one can have that kind of knowledge base -- vt_mughal 04/17/2019 10:10PM

He’s a machine. You’ve got to try to sabotage his clicker. ** -- BlufftonHoo 04/17/2019 8:20PM

I'll bet I can whip him. My Mom didn't bribe anyone to get me into VT ** -- DonHo-kieHi 04/17/2019 8:20PM

10 day - $697k - seriously might be the smartest dude ever ** -- OXVT 04/17/2019 7:57PM

I would love to see him go head to head with Ken Jennings ** -- VTHokie2000 04/17/2019 8:56PM

As knowledgeable as Ken was, this guy is absolutely incredible. -- AZHokie59 04/17/2019 11:57PM

I don't disagree that this guy would probably win the game -- VTHokie2000 04/18/2019 10:09AM

Not really. The secret to Jeopardy! is the clicker -- Tafkam Hokie 04/17/2019 8:33PM

He doesn't have to "fish" -- Pylons 04/17/2019 11:39PM

He missed on Jane Fonda in Final, category was Celebrities ** -- Brown Water 04/18/2019 07:21AM

The category was what Video Hall of Fame member sold X million videos -- Hokie in CT 04/18/2019 11:09AM

That was the question, not the category. I got it right fwiw. I kicked -- Brown Water 04/18/2019 11:11AM

Let me put this another way. Watson would absolutely punk him -- Tafkam Hokie 04/17/2019 11:51PM

Fair enough ** -- Pylons 04/18/2019 09:08AM

You haven't watched him yet you opine that he doesn't know that much more -- 81_Hokie 04/17/2019 8:43PM

Seriously, the dude knows everything -- Pylons 04/17/2019 11:24PM

True, but I know someone who was on Jeopardy! -- Tafkam Hokie 04/17/2019 9:22PM

Absolutely, clicker timing is important. But you often see very good player -- 81_Hokie 04/17/2019 10:07PM

Are Jeopardy contestants smarter or do they just have better memories? -- HokieAl 04/17/2019 9:44PM

I would categorize someone smart as being able to think -- VTENGR 04/18/2019 11:12AM

Depends on how we define "smart" -- Tafkam Hokie 04/17/2019 11:56PM

Able to play with Legos -- BTHokie 04/18/2019 10:22AM

Some people are 1 second smart and some people smarter who are -- DaveVT 04/17/2019 9:57PM

Are Jeopardy contestants smarter or do they just have better memories?

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