'They are Reporters, Not Trivia Experts. And the Buzzer is Complicated'

A CNN "insider" lamely tries to spin away the abysmal showing on Jeopardy of Wolf Blitzer and Soledad O'Brien.

CNN should consider banning its anchors from appearing on "Celebrity Jeopardy" after the humiliating defeats of Wolf Blitzer and Soledad O'Brien. Wolf was blitzed last month, coming in last with minus-$4,600, behind comic Andy Richter, a past winner who racked up $68,000 for charity. "Desperate Housewives" star Dana Delany came in second. This month, it was O'Brien's turn against NBA legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Michael McKean, of "Spinal Tap," "Laverne & Shirley" and "Saturday Night Live." McKean, a previous winner, ended with $24,800, followed by Abdul Jabbar with $8,800 and O'Brien with $6,200. A CNN insider defended the journalists: "They are reporters, not trivia experts. And the buzzer is complicated. It's not activated until Alex [Trebek] finishes the last syllable of the question. If you hit the button too soon, nothing happens."

So I guess we're to believe Blitzer getting blitzed by Andy Richter is a result of faulty buttons.

Please.

Here's Blitzer moment of ignominy.



I can't locate any video of O'Brien in particular, and she at least won some money so it seems she didn't humiliate herself like Blitzer did. Meanwhile, here's a clip of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar botching a UCLA question.