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Memorable Jeopardy! Episode Leaves Contestants Stumped
Jeopardy! enthusiasts were left astonished during the March 26 episode when all three contestants couldn’t identify a name synonymous with iconic cinema and television. The episode featured returning champion Josh Weikert, a politics professor from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, competing against John Rindone, a policy advisor based in Brooklyn, New York, and Melanie Hirsch, a lawyer from Silver Spring, Maryland. The competition was intense, but one particular clue baffled all participants.
Under the category “Be My TV Show Guest,” host Ken Jennings posed the question: “This star of the O.G. ‘Shaft’ guest starred as two different characters on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’” The answer, Richard Roundtree—famed for his role as detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and its sequels, as well as in the original TV show that aired from 1973 to 1974—eluded all three competitors.
Viewers on social media shared their astonishment. One Reddit user expressed their dismay, stating, “I am deeply saddened about the original Shaft Triple Stumper,” while another cleverly remarked, “You could say he was Shafted.” A tweet echoed the sentiments of many in disbelief: “Meanwhile, these idiots don’t know who Shaft is? Shut yo mouth! #Jeopardy,” provoking further reactions like, “They didn’t know Richard Roundtree?!”
One Reddit participant humorously mentioned they had considered Isaac Hayes as the answer, reflecting on the close association Hayes has with the film through his Oscar-winning score, including the now-classic “Theme From Shaft.” A fellow Redditor acknowledged this connection, noting, “Understandable mistake, as he wrote, recorded, and received an Oscar for the score to the movie, including the indelible ‘Theme From Shaft.’ He’s forever linked with the movie, even if he wasn’t in it.”
Richard Roundtree, who sadly passed away in 2023 after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer, made appearances in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as both Dr. Mumford and Rev. Gordon Sims. His television career extended far beyond this, with roles in significant shows such as Roots, Generations, Roc, 413 Hope St., Rescue 77, Desperate Housewives, Being Mary Jane, Chicago Fire, Family Reunion, and Cherish the Day.
In a poignant note, his final performance was in the upcoming 2024 comedy-drama film Thelma, where he starred alongside June Squibb. As fans reflect on his contributions to film and television, the shock of Wednesday’s episode lingers. What were your thoughts on the puzzling moment? Were you able to solve the Richard Roundtree clue? Share your insights below.
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