Dudes - please help me parse a bizarre Jeopardy answer/question

[Rabrrrrrr]

I was just watching Jeopardy, and had a clue that befuddles me:

The category is Archeology.

The answer is: "The Acheulian (Bless me!) tradition of Paleolithic times had as its main tool a "hand" one of these"

When Alex read the answer, he did a fake sneeze in the way he said Acheuilan (and pronounced it 'a-SOO-lee-un').



The question is "What is an ax?"


While of course "ax" makes sense in terms of a hand tool used by Paleolithic people, I don't get the (Bless me!) fake sneeze at all, and I don't see how that helps one determine the question. If Alex had pronounced it "ak-SOO-lee-un", I could see where the fake sneeze might be helpful, but that's not what he said.

I am befuddled by that clue, as every now and again I am.

Please offer your ideas and thoughts as to what the hell is going on in that clue.

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. A terribly weak pun that fell down on the job.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. And what is the pun?

[democracyindanger]

3. He's Canadian

Canadians pronounce 'axe' as 'ass'. Honest.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Very good - so he was supposed to say "ak-SOO-lee-un"

I thought that might be it, given the spelling of Acheulian, but wasn't sure.

Thanks! :yourock:

[skater314159]

11. Yeah, and it totally sucks as a pun/clue. nt

[auntAgonist]

13. I've never pronounced 'axe' as 'ass'

I am Canadian.


aA
kesha

[democracyindanger]

15. .

:evilgrin:

[skater314159]

4. Yeah, it's an archaeo pun...

which usually leaves non-archs scratching their heads and going :wtf:

The answer is totally obvious, as Hand Axes were as plentiful then as SUV's are under the Bush Administration... but I don't see how non-archaeo-paleo dorks would know that or get it from that (crappy) clue.

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Well, yes, clearly "ax" is the answer, given the timeframe.

My question, as I stated, is "What does the clue have to do with the answer?"

I'm glad you agree it's a crappy clue.

[DS1]

5. so he said 'achoo lean'

:shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. No, he said "a-SOO-lee-un"

[LeftyMom]

9. Ugh, that joke is painfully unfunny.

The answer/question was pretty easy, but phrased in a distractingly stilted way, bad joke notwithstanding.

[matcom]

10. I'll take Fresca for $500 Alex

[sasquatch]

16. Did you get my PM?

:D

[matcom]

17. I did

:rofl:

and then got busy x(

[sasquatch]

22. She still isn't speaking to me over that

:D

[MilesColtrane]

12. Trebek trying to be funny.

He's funniest when he's unintentionally funny.

I swear to god I saw him read an answer like this in the category of rock music.

"This trailblazing guitar player recorded such songs as Red House and Voodoo Chili."

The song that Jimmy Hendrix recorded on "Electric Ladyland" is Voodoo Chile, not Chili.

When the show came back from break he didn't even correct himself.

[Aristus]

14. Trebek has a poor ability to laugh at himself, and an almost non-existent

ability to admit when he's wrong. I know from personal experience...

[pokerfan]

18. I'll take anal bum cover for 7,000

[Bunny]

19. I'll take "Things Trebek Sucks" for $400.

[pokerfan]

20. Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo... twice.

Alex Trebek: That's Foreign Flicks, Mr. Connery. Foreign Flicks.



I loved those sketches.

[Bunny]

21. Dolly Parton!!!

That's famous titles, Mr. Connery. Famous titles, not famous titties.



I love them too - so funny!