On Thursday night’s Jeopardy!, in a category dedicated to Rhodes scholars, Taylor, Brendan, and Rhonda struck out when a picture of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow popped up on screen, along with the clue: “This cable TV newswoman received a doctorate in politics from Oxford” From a group that correctly identified Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark and J. William Fulbright within seconds, the question was followed with silence, the harsh Jeopardy! buzzer, and host Alex Trebek saying, “…and that is Rachel Maddow…”

Richard Cordray, the newly-appointed — and rather controversial — director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stopped by the set of Morning Joe Wednesday to discuss his new role, and found himself treated to a little trip down memory lane.

Jeopardy: Probably the naughtiest show on television, right? This is something that, just, you know. Pretty common knowledge. So it’s no surprise, of course, that contestant “Kara” would think “threesome,” as in, sexual intercourse consisting of three people and possibly a large vat of frosting, would be an answer to a question about three people pining for one another. We like this Kara; she knows what’s important.

Everyone remembers Ken Jennings, right? The Utah resident won 74 straight games of Jeopardy! in an unprecedented run seven years ago (has it been that long?). On his blog yesterday, Jennings posted a photo of him holding up a printout of his hardships, in the same manner that people have been holding them on the now-famous “We Are The 99%” Tumblr. It’s pure brilliance:

There are very few things Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek could add to his resume that would make him even more beloved in the eyes of Americans, and yet he has outdone himself– this weekend, Trebek embarked on some hardcore crime-fighting, and while he tore his Achilles tendon, the culprit who broke into his hotel room and stole some money and jewelry was nearly immediately caught.

When you’ve been hosting Jeopardy! for 26 years, as Alex Trebek has, you begin looking for new ways to amuse yourself. Back in 2001, for example, he shaved his mustache. In 2005, he decided not to wear pants. And as the AP reports, he’s got big plans for 2011, when contestants on the show will compete against an IBM computer that “can mimic human intelligence.”

MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on last night’s episode of Jeopardy, and despite a valiant comeback, he fell short, losing to Charles Shaughnessy of Mad Men.

Add Matthews to the list of cable news anchors who can’t pull out a victory on the long-running quiz show.

Since joining the White House beat on the eve of Barack Obama‘s inauguration, CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Chip Reid has distinguished himself as one of the toughest questioners in the Brady Briefing Room.

In this edition of Inside the White House Press Corps, Chip speaks frankly about the role of the Press Secretary, compares the Obama White House to the Bush administration, and much more.

It was a defining moment of the 2006 mid-term election, and arguably the strongest nail in the Republican Congressional majority’s coffin. Rising GOP star George Allen tossed off an obscure North African racial slur at one of his opponent’s campaign workers, solidifying for many the party’s status as “them” in the “us vs. them” equation. Three years later, Allen is trying to make a comeback, and that humble videographer, S.R. Sidarth, has popped up as a contestant on “Jeopardy!”

As the face of media evolves, it’s important to honor the figures who helped define, shape and set the standards in their industries. These are some of the most prominent members of the media who passed away over the past 10 years. Take a look back with some snippets from their respective New York Times obituaries.