Ken Jennings made a Friends reference that went over some viewers’ heads. The three contestants competing had names that reminded Ken of characters from the sitcom
Ken Jennings made a Friends reference
Jeopardy! viewers were confused over a Friends reference made by Ken Jennings.
On the Friday, Nov. 8 episode of the ABC trivia show, Ross Dickson, a research consultant from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Rachel Marcus, a writer and consultant from New York, New York, faced the one-day winner, Susan Stumme, a journalist from Arlington, Virginia.
When Ken, the host of the show, introduced the players to the audience and viewers at home, he made a reference about the contestants’ names that went over their heads. He said: “Susan is back today as our champion and hoping to keep it going over the weekend but look who’s here, Ross and Rachel looking for Jeopardy! glory.”
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He continued: “Wow! Ross, Rachel and Susan, classic love triangle,” and the crowd was heard laughing in the background.
The contestants’ names reminded Ken of Friends characters
Some were confused because Ross was married to Carol and he also had a crush on Rachel. What some do not remember, is that she left him for her girlfriend Susan.
Reddit users asked others if Ken’s joke was supposed to be a Friends reference. One person wrote: “Was Ken referring to Friends with the classic love triangle comment or something else? Because Ross, Rachel and Susan weren’t a love triangle…” A person replied: “I was wondering about that. I knew Susan was Carol’s (Ross’s first wife) partner. So she’s not really a part of the love triangle. Is there another show that had Ross and Rachel in it?” Another commented: “I assumed so. I don’t remember a Susan from Friends.”
X users also caught the joke. One person posted: “It didn’t occur to me that a Friends reference was in play until Ken said the names of Ross & Rachel #Jeopardy.” Another person posted: “Ross and Rachel, like ‘Friends’ lol #Jeopardy.” A third user wrote: “Susan, Ross, and Rachel??? What episode of FRIENDS is this? #jeopardy.” One fan was not amused and felt like the Friends references were getting “old.”
The NBC series ran from Sept. 1994 to May 2004 and aired for 10 seasons with a total of 236 episodes.
