>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": THE DIRECTOR OF THE C.D.C., MASSACHUSETTS' OWN DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, JOINS ME ON ALL THINGS COVID, WHETHER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LOSING THE MESSAGING GAME, THE TESTING SCRAMBLE, AND MORE.

THEN, LATER, BOSTON'S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS JUST RETURNED A PAINTING STOLEN DURING THE HOLOCAUST TO THE DESCENDENTS OF ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER, BUT ONLY AFTER YEARS OF SUSPICION FROM THE WOMAN CHARGED WITH TRACKING THE ORIGINS OF CERTAIN MASTER WORKS.

THAT WOMAN, THE MUSEUM'S CURATOR OF PROVENANCE, VICTORIA REED, JOINS ME AHEAD.

AND, FINALLY, A DAY AFTER AMY SCHNEIDER MADE JEOPARDY HISTORY, ANOTHER FORMER CHAMPION, TOM NICHOLS, JOINS ME TO DEFEND HIS BELIEF THAT STREAKS LIKE HERS ARE RUINING THE GAME.

♪♪ >> Braude: NEARLY TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON SCIENTISTS TO FIND THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINE REGIMENS AND TREATMENTS FOR THOSE INFECTED WITH COVID.

BUT THIS ALL PROCEEDS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE POPULATION LIVE ON THE EDGE AS OUTRIGHT SCIENCE DENIERS.

AND ON THE FRONTLINES OF IT ALL IS MY GUEST, DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, WHO SERVED AS CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL AND A PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL PRIOR TO THAT APPOINTMENT.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, JIM.

>> Braude: IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, DR. FAUCI SAID HE EXPECTS OMICRON TO PEAK IN MID-FEBRUARY.

IF HE IS RIGHT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR A RETURN TO EVEN SEMI NORMALCY IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> Doctor: A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IN PLACES LIKE BOSTON, LIKE THE NORTHEAST, WHERE PLACES REALLY SOARED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, IT IS COMING DOWN QUITE DRAMATICALLY AS WELL.

WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT CASES ARE CONTINUING TO RISE.

SO AREAS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, FOR EXAMPLE, CASES CONTINUE TO RISE.

SO AS A COUNTRY, WE'RE COMING DOWN, BUT WE'RE NOT FULLY DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS SURGE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.

EVERYBODY IS VERY INTERESTED IN HOW OMICRON WILL COME DOWN, AND EVENTUAL WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT.

WE'RE WATCHING THAT VERY CAREFULLY.

ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO LOOK TO OUR HOSPITALS AS A BAROMETER.

HOW ARE OUR HOSPITALS DOING?

HOW ARE OUR BEDS THERE?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE MEDICAL CENTERS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST WITH COVID, BUT WITH MEDICAL ISSUES AS WELL.

>> Braude: HOW DO WE GET TO THE PROMISED LAND WHEN THE FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED NUMBER IS SOMEWHERE NEAR 30%.

IF WE DON'T IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY, WE CAN'T GET THERE, CAN WE?

>> Doctor: I SAY THE SAFER WAY TO GET THROUGH IS THROUGH VACCINATION AND NOT THROUGH DISEASE.

BUT WE'RE SEEING THEY'RE GETTING THERE THROUGH DISEASE.

OUR BOOSTER RATES ARE BOUND 40%.

REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS DATA THAT JUST CAME OUST THE C.D.C.

ON FRIDAY THAT DEMONSTRATED THE REAL BENEFIT OF GETTING A BOOSTER SHOT IN THE CONTEXT OF OMICRON.

WE SAW IF YOU JUST HAD YOUR PRIMARY SERIES, TWO DOSES OF A VACCINE, YOU HAD 57% PARTICULARS% OF BEING HOSPITALIZED, BUT IF YOU WERE BOOSTED, IT WENT UP TO 90%.

>> Braude: EARLY IN YOUR TENURE, YOU PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT RACISM IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

IS IT ANY LESS OF A THREAT IN JANUARY OF 2022 THAN WHEN YOU MADE THAT STATEMENT?

>> Doctor: NO.

I MADE THAT STATEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID AND SO MANY OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS ACROSS THIS K.WETHISCOUNTRY.

WE CAN LOOK AT SICKEL-CELL AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND DIABETES, ALL OF THEM AFFECT THE BLACK POPULATION.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON COVID, BUT ALSO ON ALL AREAS OF HEALTH TO PROTECT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS SAFEST FROM HEALTH THREATS.

>> Braude: ULTIMATELY, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HEALTH AND ALL OF THE CONDITIONS YOU MENTIONED.

IT IS ABOUT YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY, YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE AF AFFORDABILITY AND DECENCY OF YOUR HOUSING -- ALL OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE HEALTH MIX, ARE THEY NOT?

FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> Doctor: ABSOLUTELY.

OUR HEALTH IS VERY MUCH RELATED TO WHERE WE EAT, WHERE WE WORK, WHERE WE PLAY, AND WHERE WE WORSHIP.

AND ALL OF THOSE COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF WHERE WE LIVE, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT IMPACT IF WE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH, AND IF WE CAN GET TREATED FOR THE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Braude: YOU RECENTLY TOOK HEAT FOR REDUCING THE ISOLATION PERIOD FROM 10 TO FIVE DAYS AND SUGGESTING THERE NOT BE A NEGATIVE TELEONNEGATIVE TEST ON THE WAY OUT OF THE DOOR.

I IMAGINE THE REASON FOR THE FORMER WAS SCIENCE AND THE LATTER, THE REASON WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TESTS.

WAS I RIGHT?

>> Doctor: WE HAVE TO PUT OUT CONTEXT FOUNDED ON THE SCIENCE THAT WE HAVE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT SCIENCE IS IMPERFECT, ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC.

BUT ALL OF THE SCIENCE THAT WE HAVE -- AND WE HAVE TWO YEARS OF SCIENCE IN COVID-19.

AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EPDEMIC PROFILE, AND THAT WHAT WAS COMING TO OUR PUBLIC AND HEALTH-FORCE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS IMPLEMENTABLE AND DOABLE.

WE WANT TO PUT OUT GUIDANCE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN USE AND TRUST.

ONE OF THE REAL QUESTIONS HERE WAS: HOW ARE THE TESTS AUTHORIZED BY THE F.D.A.

AND HOW ARE THEY BEST USED?

IT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION, SCIENCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, FEASIBILITY, AND WHAT THESE TESTS WERE USED FOR THAT WERE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DECISION.

>> Braude: REGARDLESS OF WHAT ONE SEES IS THE REASON FOR RAPID TESTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT YOU LEAD ON HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

ARE YOU CONTENT WITH THE STATE OF AFFAIRS?

I KNOW IT IS WELL-INTENDED, BUT FOUR TESTS TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD BY THE END OF THE MONTH DOESN'T SEEM TO CUT IT FOR ME IF RAPID TESTS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

DOES IT FOR YOU?

>> Doctor: WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT TESTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE CAN GET A TEST WHEN THEY WANT THEM.

I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE RAPID TESTS ARE NOT THE MECHANISM.

THE ONLY MECHANISM.

WE HAVE RAPID TESTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE, AND AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

AND WE ADDED FOUR TESTING SENT HOME TO HOUSE SHOULDERS.

BUTHOUSEHOLDS.AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU READ THE CONSTANT DRUM BEAT THAT THE MESSAGING ISN'T RIGHT AT THE C.D.C.

AND AT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION -- ARE THEY FAIR CHARGES?

>> Doctor: MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REVIEW THE SCIENCE IN REALTIME.

THE SCIENCE IS NOW COMING INTO US AT A PACE FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND THEN MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TAKE THAT SCIENCE, TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT CONTEXT, TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND TO COMMUNICATE THOSE DECISIONS WIT INCREDIBLE SUBJECT MATTER, WITH THE EXPERTS THAT I HAVE AT THE C.D.C., PROVIDING ME THE GUIDE TANS FOR THE ME WITH THE GUIDANCE FOR THE INFORMATION.

>> Braude: I'M ASSUMING YOU WERE NOT THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF PUBLIC CRITICISM -- HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT YOU GET IT VIRTUALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT?

HOW HARD IS THAT?

>> Doctor: UM, YOU FLOW, I THINKKNOW, I THINK I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRITICISM, AND I CAN DO BETTER, AND OUR AGENCY CAN DO BETTER.

BUT MY NORTH STAR IS MAKING SURE THAT THE SCIENCE AND THE INFORMATION WE HAVE LEAD US OUT OF UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

I'VE NEVER HAD MY MOTIVATIONS QUESTIONED WHEN I ENTERED A PATIENT'S ROOM.

MY MOTIVATIONS ARE STILL THE SAME, TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF PUBLIC CITIZENS.

>> Braude: HOW HARD IS THAT?

THA HAS TO BE MISERABLE -- I'M SERIOUS.

>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE A LOT OF PUBLIC SPLASHES ACROSS THE PAGES, BUT THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF QUIETER SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WHO MEAN A LOT TO ME, PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MY COLLEAGUES FOR YEARS.

AND THAT IS THE VOICES THAT I HAVE TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY'RE SCIENCE-BASED VOICES.

>> Braude: I'LL TAKE IT THAT IT IS MISERY.

YOUR COLLEAGUE, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, SAYS HE HAS NOT ONLY GOT CRITICISM, BUT DEATH THREATS.

HAVE YOU?

>> Doctor: THERE IS MORE AND MORE ATTENTION, AND I'M WORKING THROUGH IT.

>> Braude: IN ONE OF YOUR FIRST INTERVIEWS, SHORTLY AFTER YOU WERE PICKED BY THE PRESIDENT, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE SCIENCE WOULD BE HEARD AGAIN DURING YOUR TENURE.

IT SEEMS TO ME THANKS TO THE HOMICIDAL COVID BEHAVIOR OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT, PEOPLE LIKE R.F.K., JR. TODAY AND THE FAR RIGHT MEDIA, IT IS NOT SURPRISING WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GALLUP POLL FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SEE THAT FEWER THAN HALF OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN SCIENCE.

DOWN 30 POINTS FROM A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO.

I ASSUME, EVEN IF THAT IS NOT FORMALLY IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION, YOU FEEL IT A RESPONSIBILITY THAT ONE OF THE LEGACIES OF YOUR TIME IS NOT THE DEATH OF SCIENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT SCIENCE CHANGES BUT IT IS REAL AND IT IS CRITICAL TO BE BELIEVED IN?

>> Doctor: YEAH, WELL, FIRST I THINK ALL OF OUR DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MOTIVATED BY THAT SCIENCE.

AND ALL OF THOSE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT.

WE'RE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

WE HAVE PUT OUT MANY, MANY SCIENTIFIC BRIEFS.

WE HAVE HAD MEDIA CONVERSATIONS.

SO WE REALLY DO HAVE TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE COMPLEX, AND THEY'RE NOT SO EASY IN A TWO MINUTE SOUND BYTE.

THEY'RE VERY COMPLEX IN HOW WE UNPACK THAT SCIENCE.

IN TERMS OF HOW YOU CONVINCE SOMEBODY WHO NIGHTWHOMIGHT NOT BE VACCINATED TO GET VACCINATED, YOU DO MORE LISTENING THAN TALKING, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.

YOU CAN'T GROUP EVERYBODY AS SAYING THESE PEOPLE WANT A VACCINE AND THESE PEOPLE DON'T.

WE NEED TO TALK TO INDIVIDUALS AS INDIVIDUALS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND WHAT HAS MOTIVATED THEIR DECISIONS.

INTERESTINGLY, WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE ONE AT A TIME, OFTENTIMES YOU CAN UNDRSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN LIMITING THEM AND WHAT HAS INFLUENCED THEIR DECISIONS, AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION TO GET THEM VACCINATED.

>> Braude: YOU'RE A FAR KINDER PERSON THAN I. DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Doctor: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: ALMOST 80 YEARS AGO, A JEWISH INDUSTRIALIST AND AVOWED ANTI-NAZI, FERENC CHORIN, HID SEVERAL PAINTINGS AWAY IN A BANK VAULT BEFORE HE AND HIS FAMILY FLED HUNGARY DURING WORLD WAR II.

WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THAT VAULT WERE LOOTED BY SOVIET FORCES DURING THE SIEGE OF BUDAPEST, CHORIN AND HIS FAMILY SETTLED IN NEW YORK, THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD NEVER SEE THE PAINTINGS AGAIN.

BUT OVER THE YEARS, CHORIN'S DESCENDENTS HAVE MANAGED TO RECOVER A FEW.

MOST RECENTLY, ONE THAT LANDED AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN BOSTON 40 YEARS AGO VIA A LONDON ART DEALER.

IT'S A 17th CENTURY WORK BY SALOMON VAN RUYSADEL, CALLED "VIEW OF THE BEVERWIJK," WHICH HAS LONG BEEN AN ITEM OF SUSPICION FOR VICTORIA REED, WHO'S CHARGED WITH RESEARCHING WORKS OF QUESTIONABLE HISTORIES AS THE M.F.A.

'S CURATOR OF PROVENANCE.

SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON EVER TO HOLD SUCH A POSITION WHEN IT WAS FIRST CREATED BACK IN 2010, AND, CLEARLY, THE WORK CONTINUES.

VICTORIA REED JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: VICTORIA REED, CONGRATULATIONS, AND GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

NICE TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: WHEN I READ YOU WERE THE CURATOR OF PROVENANCE, I CANNOT TELL A LIE, I HAD TO LOOK IT UP FOR THE FEW PEOPLE -- WELL, FOR THE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO.

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY?

>> SO PROVENANCE IS THE HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP OF THE WORK OF ART.

IT IS BIOGRAPHY, FROM THE TIME IT WAS CREATED TO THE PRESENT.

SO MY JOB IS TO RESEARCH THE PROVENANCE OF THE WORKS OF ART THAT ARE IN THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, AS WELL AS WORKS OF ART WE'RE CONSIDERING BRINGING IN AND NOR NEW FOR NEW APPLICATIONS.

>> Braude: WOULD YOU BE OFFENDED IF I WERE TO REFER TO YOU AS A MUSEUM DETECTIVE OF SORTS?

>> I WOULD NOT BE OFFENDED.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT.

>> Braude: I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK: IN 60 OR 90 SECONDS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE INCREDIBLE STORY THAT LED YOU AND THE HEIRS OF CHORIN TO CORRECT AND ALLOWED YOU TO DO WHAT THE M.F.A.

IS DOING?

>> I WILL TRY.

SO, UM, WE HAVE HAD THE PAINTING SINCE 198 TO SEE YOU.

WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY WRONG WITH OUR CULTURE?

>> FIRST, LET ME SAY.

MATT AND AMY AND JAMES AND ALL OF THEM, SMART FOLKS, GREAT PLAYERS, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING, I THINK THAT JEOPARDY HAS LOST.

THERE WAS A KIND OF CHARM TO JEOPARDY, WHERE THE COOL THING WAS YOU SAW A LOT OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

YOU SAW, YOU KNOW, THE NEW YORK CITY COP, THE HOUSEWIFE FROM DEBUQUE, AND YOU SAW A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS COMING THROUGH AND COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER IN A PRETTY FAIR MATCH.

WHAT IS LOST NOW, AND I THINK WHAT IS WRONG, IS THE GAME IS INHERENTLY UNBALANCED.

I PLAYED A TOTAL OF EIGHT GAMES, INCLUDING TWO TOURNAMENTS.

ONCE YOU HAVE WON TWO OR THREE TIMES, YOU'RE DEVELOPING AN EDGE IN THE STUDIO THAT IT IS VERY HARD FOR NEW FOLKS TO OVERCOME.

I THINK THE THING THAT IS BAD ABOUT OUR CULTURE, WE'RE KIND OF ENJOYING THIS KIND OF HULK SMASH, GLADIATOR THROWING THESE HAPLESS NEW FOLKS INTO THE COLLISIUM AND WATCHING THEM TORN APART.

I'VE BEEN NOTICING OVER THE LAST PART OF MATT AND AMY'S RUNS, MOST OF THEIR OPPONENTS ARE MATHEMATICALLY ELIMINATED 18 TO 20 MINUTES INTO THE GAME.

>> Braude: THAT'S TRUE.

IN YOUR PIECE IN THE "ATLANTIC," YOU TALK ABOUT THE PRO VERSUS THE CASUAL.

YOU TELL A STORY ABOUT HOLTS, HOURHOLTSOUR, AND THE PERSON WHO BEAT HIM.

>> YEAH, JAMES IS A VEGAS ODDS GUY.

HE STUDIED THE GAME.

HE DEVELOPED ALGORITHMS ABOUT THIS.

HOW FAST YOU RACK UP THE MONEY AND FIND THE DAILY DOUBLES, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING THAT EXPERIENCED PLAYERS HAVE A MUCH GREATER THING OF DOING, AS THEY CAN CONTROL THE BOARD AND GET TO THE DAILY DOUBLES.

WHEN HE WAS FINALLY BEATEN, HE WAS BEATEN BY SOMEONE WHO HAD LITERALLY WRITTEN HER GRADUATE THESIS ON JEOPARDY QUESTIONS.

THAT IS NOT ORDINARY AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SHOWING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR TRIVIA SKILLS.

THAT IS A MONEY BALL.

THAT IS PROFESSIONALS GOING AT IN A WAY THAT LESS COMMITTED PEOPLE COULD NEVER DO.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF MONEY BALL, OBVIOUSLY YOU BELIEVE THAT TOM BRADY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAPPED AT FIVE SUPER BOWLS, AFTER WHICH HE HAD TO GO TO, WHAT, THE CFL?

WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR US?

>> JIM, ONE OF THE THINGS -- YOU MAY KNOW THIS ABOUT ME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, THAT I DON'T LIKE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS BECAUSE IT IS DOMINATED BY THIS ASSEMBLING OF HIGH PAID GLADIATORS.

IT IS LIKE ROLLER BALL -- A CALL BACK TO AN OLDER TIME.

MOST OF THESE GUYS DON'T LIVE IN THE CITIES, DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

THIS ISN'T LIKE TED WILLIAMS OR YAZ PLAYING FOR THE SOCS.

I DON'T WANT JEP WANT JEOPARDY TO BE THAT WAY.

IF SO, THEN MOVE IT TO VEGAS AND GET IT OVER WITH.

>> Braude: ARE YOU THE ONLY PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF JEOPARDY WHO TOOK SIX GAMES TO WIN, QUOTE, "FIVE IN A ROW?"

>> I'M ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF JEOPARDY GOT INVITED BE BACK TO THE SHOW BECAUSE I WAS RIGHT ABOUT A QUESTION THAT JEOPARDY WAS WRONG.

I LOST MY FIFTH GAME BECAUSE THEY RULED ME WRONG ON A QUESTION, AND IT TURNS OUT I WAS RIGHT.

AND JEOPARDY HAS WONDERFULLY DEVOTED FANS.

AFTER MY SHOW AIRED, THEY WERE DELUGED WITH FAXES AND E-MAILS SAYING THAT YOUNG PROFESSOR, YOU KNOW, HE WAS RIGHT.

AND SO JEOPARDY INVITED ME BACK.

SO TECHNICALLY I HAD TO WIN SIX GAMES TO WIN FIVE.

>> Braude: WHETHER YOU LIKED THEM OR NOT -- I KNOW YOU LIKED THEM A LOT -- WHETHER OR NOT E LIKEDYOULIKED THEM OR NOT, I WATCH AND SAY I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SMART THEY ARE.

AND THEN I READ WHAT YOU SAY, AND YOU SAY IT IS LESS ABOUT BRAINS BUT HAVING A BRAIN THAT IS -- WHAT DID YOU CALL IT, A LINT ROLLER?

>> YES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BRAIN LIKE A LINT ROLLER BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF FACTS THAT YOU PICKED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

IT HELPS TO BE WELL-READ.

I THINK THE BEST JEOPARDY PLAYERS ARE PEOPLE WHO READ A LOT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REMEMBER A LOT.

THE EXAMPLE I GIVE IS I LEARNED IN SIXTH GRADE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I REMEMBER I REMEMBERED IT IN SIXTH GRADE, BUT I LEARNED THAT THE HANDYMAN DIG, THAT WAS CALLED HOMOHAGALUS.

AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID, YOU MUST KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY.

AND I SAID I WAS PAYING ATTENTION IN SIXTH GRADE.

>> Braude: I SIT ON MY COUCH AND I WATCH.

I WAS NOT A HUGE FAN DURING ALEX TREBEK -- DON'T GET ANGRY AT ME, EVERYBODY -- MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC IS WHY I'VE BEEN WATCHING, AND MAYBE I'LL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ONES.

I'M NERVOUS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE CLOSE GAME YOU'RE STANDING ON THE STAGE FOR SIX GAMES, 20 FEET AWAY FROM ALEX TREBEK.

ARE YOUR KNEES KNOCKING?

HOW DO YOU CONCENTRATE AND NOT GET TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE MOMENT?

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

>> THE FIRST TIME YOU GO OUT THERE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING.

YOU THINK, MY GOSH, THAT REALLY IS ALEX TREBEK STANDING RIGHT THERE.

AND THE AUDIENCE IS THERE.

AND, MY GOSH, I COULD MAKE A COMPLETE FOOL OF MYSELF WITH ONE WRONG QUESTION IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

>> Braude: EXACTLY.

>> AND I THINK THE GOOD PLAYERS ARE THE ONES THAT CAN GET OVER THAT.

THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, I THINK THESE LONG, MULTIPLE RUNS -- BY THE TIME MATT OR AMY OR JAMES HAVE WON 10 GAMES, THEY'RE COMFORTABLE AND THEY'RE NOT NERVOUS.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE NEW FOLKS WHO ARE THROWN INTO THAT AND GET RATTLED IMMEDIATELY BY SOMEBODY KIND OF ROLLING OVER THEM.

IT IS SCARY.

>> Braude: YOU MAKE A VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT HERE IN THE ATLANTIC.

DESPITE THAT, I WILL BE WATCHING AMY SCHNEIDER GOING FOR 40 TONIGHT RIGHT AFTER THIS SHOW.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

BE WELL, TOM.

>> YOU, TOO, JIM.

>> Braude: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK TOMORROW WHEN CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON JOINS ME WITH THE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT RUSSIA INVADING UKRAINE.

AND WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON BY CHALLENGING ALL OF US TO WALK TWO MILES IN THEIR SHOES.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

PLEASE STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org