Jeopardy Contestant Heather Ryan

Dear Commons Community,

My wife, Elaine, and I are loyal watchers of the game show, Jeopardy.  About a week ago, we were a bit surprised at a clue that appeared sexist.

Heather Ryan, who competed on the Oct. 28 episode of the quiz  show, spoke to Binghamton University’s student-run newspaper Pipe Dreamon Nov. 6 to address the sexist clue that drew attention to the show.

After reading the hint, “Men seldom make passes at…,” to which the answer was, “Girls who wear glasses,” host Ken Jennings realized Ryan was wearing glasses and apologized.

“It is definitely an odd choice,” Ryan told the paper. “I think it made everybody in the audience and on stage, and Ken Jennings too, a little uncomfortable. It was like, ‘Oh, that was unexpected.’”

Ryan’s suggestion? “Maybe we choose better rhyming phrases in 2024,” she said.

“Unfortunately, there are still girls who are [in] middle school and they don’t want to wear their glasses and they’re losing out on their education,” she continued. “So, I think it’s much better to be able to see than anything else.”

As for the rest of her experience participating in the show, Ryan, who lost by just $1,  said “it was very fun” to be a part of.

“I had a great time,” she said. “Everybody there was very welcoming. It’s such a part of American culture that I definitely wanted to go on when I got the call for it.”

“It’s just a very special thing to play a small role in this big part,” she added. “It’s been running for 40 years, and so I got to play my part in it.”

On the episode, Jennings admitted that the line was “a little problematic,” and said, “Sorry, Heather” immediately after reading it. Contestant Will Wallace, who gave the answer, emphasized that was “very” problematic.

My wife, Elaine, wears glasses.

Tony

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