Photo credit: www.tvinsider.com
[This article contains significant spoilers for the episode of Jeopardy! aired on March 24.]
Recent discussions among Jeopardy! enthusiasts highlight a pivotal moment that may have influenced the outcome of a recent episode, centering on an incorrect Daily Double response that some believe cost a contestant the game.
In this episode, Josh Weikert from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, aimed to secure a second consecutive victory, having amassed a total of $23,601 from his previous appearance. He faced off against two competitors: Geraldine Rodriguez from Boca Raton, Florida, and Mustafa Hameed from Los Angeles, California.
The game commenced with challenging questions in the category “The late 1940s,” leaving all contestants stumped initially. Weikert seized the opportunity when he encountered the first Daily Double, wagering the maximum amount of $1,000. The clue posed was, “The Vatican said Pope Pius XII was guarding the newly found bones of this man, Pius’ predecessor minus 259 other guys.” Weikert accurately identified the answer as “Who is Peter?” thereby claiming the lead and continuing to perform strongly throughout the initial round.
During the interview segment, Rodriguez, serving as an interlibrary loan assistant coordinator, shared her experience of riding the Goodyear blimp, much to host Ken Jennings’ envy. Hameed, a passionate attorney and cricket advocate, expressed his ongoing efforts to popularize the sport in the United States. Weikert, adding a unique twist to his profile, mentioned his hobby as a beer judge.
As the first round concluded, Hameed caught up significantly, achieving a perfect answer rate with five correct responses, leading to a tie in overall correct answers with Weikert. However, Weikert’s earlier Daily Double allowed him to maintain a financial edge, finishing with $6,800 compared to Hameed’s $5,200. Rodriguez, who answered four questions correctly, ended this round at $2,200.
In the Double Jeopardy round, Rodriguez made strides to increase her total but found herself facing the first Daily Double. Going all-in with her $4,200, she answered incorrectly to the clue about a historical event in 1664 and 1665, betting on “What is fire?” Jennings corrected her, revealing the answer to be “The Plague,” which left her with zero.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Weikert discovered the second Daily Double later in the round. He wagered $3,000 on the clue referring to a genus of succulents, correctly responding with “What is Yucca?” This lifted his total to $16,600.
A significant moment occurred when Hameed, awarded $4,000 after a ruling by the judges concerning a question about AEDs, was later confirmed correct by Jennings for his phrasing of “automated electronic defibrillator.” This clarification brought his score up to $17,200, while Weikert retained his lead with $21,800, and Rodriguez remained at $3,200.
The category for Final Jeopardy was “Acting Families.” The clue prompted Rodriguez to respond accurately with “What is Phoenix?” after wagering $3,200, bringing her final total to $6,400. Hameed’s response of “What is Barrymore?” along with a $10,000 wager concluded his score at $7,200. Weikert, however, faltered with his answer of “What is Newman?” losing a significant portion of his wager of $12,601, resulting in a final total of $9,199, but still securing him a two-day championship.
With a cumulative two-day total of $32,800, Weikert is set to compete against two new contestants in the next episode on March 25.
Engagement from fans on online platforms, such as Reddit, has sparked speculation that had Rodriguez answered her Daily Double correctly, she might have triumphed in the game. One viewer expressed sympathy for her, stating, “Actually a really solid game from all three players… I felt quite bad for Geraldine after her DD2 miss.” Rodriguez herself acknowledged the sentiment, remarking, “Haunted by this tbh,” and reflected humorously on her performance.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings
Source
www.tvinsider.com