Jeopardy! Contestant Hilariously Predicts Downfall of Other Contestant

by

Alison Betts will take the category manifestation for 7,600.

During the February 11th episode of Jeopardy!, a contestant demonstrated an impressive skill: accurately guessing what her opponents would answer on the final question.

In the final Jeopardy round, host Ken Jennings asked Alison, Isaac Hirsch, and Josh Hill to name a character from a 1960s novel who is rewarded with having their courageous deed go unnoticed.

After all three submitted their answers, Ken read out Alison’s lighthearted guess. 

She said she hoped both of them would risk everything. He chuckled, admitting he wasn’t sure if she wanted them to succeed or fail. She responded with a playful hint that their failure was actually central to what she was trying to achieve.

Alison was very sure her plan would work, so she only bet $414 of her $3,200. It turned out to be a smart move! Almost immediately, the host revealed that the two players in the lead, Isaac and Josh, had both answered incorrectly – Isaac wrote down “Randall” and Josh wrote “Caulfield.” The correct answer was Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird.

In an unexpected twist, both contestants wagered all their winnings from the round, allowing Alison to advance to the semifinals on February 13th. She was clearly surprised by the result, and briefly lowered her head in disbelief before facing the audience.

I was so thrilled to see Josh and Isaac absolutely nail their bet! I immediately shared a video of the whole thing on Instagram because it was such a fantastic moment – they really delivered, and I had to give them a shout-out!

It’s not uncommon for contestants on Jeopardy! to be surprised by their answers, whether they get them right or wrong. Recently, during the Tournament of Champions, Lisa Ann Walter accidentally gave an incorrect answer while already at a -$200 score. Her reaction to the correct answer – a simple “What the hell?” – was particularly funny.

Despite a promising start, the Abbott Elementary actor struggled in later rounds and finished with a loss of $2,600. In contrast, her opponent, TJ Fisher, won $15,199 and moved on to the semifinals.

Lisa, the winner of Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2024, wasn’t invited back for the next show, but she’s found a unique way to honor her win. She’s decided to keep her ashes inside her original trophy.

She told Ken during a January game show appearance that she planned to be cremated and have her ashes kept in the urn she’d won. She emphasized how hard she’d fought to get it and that she’d even made arrangements in her will to ensure it happened.

Keep reading to see more Jeopardy! moments…

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe how Jeopardy! started! It was all Merv Griffin’s idea, way back in the 1960s. He and his wife, Julann Wright, were talking about all the drama with those quiz show scandals from the ’50s, and Julann playfully suggested a show where the host gives the answers and the contestants have to figure out the questions! Can you believe it? That’s how it all began! It’s genius, honestly. Merv and Julann are my heroes!

 

Griffin claims he took the concept directly to NBC, and they immediately agreed to it, even without seeing a test episode.

 

The show wasn’t originally called Jeopardy! Merv Griffin first proposed the title What’s the Question?, but TV executives felt it didn’t convey the risk and excitement inherent in the game, suggesting it lacked any ‘jeopardies’.

 

Art Fleming was the original host of Jeopardy! when it debuted in 1964. Alex Trebek became the host in 1984 when the show began airing in syndication.

Throughout his 37 years hosting the show, Alex Trebek only missed one recording session. This happened in 1997 when he and Pat Sajak, the host of Wheel of Fortune, playfully switched roles as an April Fool’s Day prank.

 

Alex Trebek filmed his final episode on October 29, 2020, just ten days before he passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. His daughter, Nicky Trebek, believed he knew it would be his last time recording the show.

In a 2023 episode of the official Inside Jeopardy! podcast, she remembered driving him home and asking if he planned to return. He responded, ‘I don’t think so, Nick,’ she recalled.

 

I was heartbroken to hear about Alex Trebek’s passing on November 8th, 2020. His daughter, Nicky, shared that he spent his final days surrounded by family, relaxing on his favorite swing and reminiscing over old photos – it’s such a beautiful image, and a comforting thought knowing he was at peace with those he loved.

Before Alex Trebek’s death, the Jeopardy! team had a plan for him to take time off for scheduled surgery, explained supervising producer Lisa Broffman. Ken Jennings, a former contestant and consulting producer at the time, was going to fill in temporarily. However, rehearsals were canceled when the staff learned of Trebek’s passing.

 

After Alex Trebek passed away, Ken Jennings was among the first celebrities to temporarily host Jeopardy! while producers searched for a new permanent host. Other guest hosts included Mayim Bialik, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, LeVar Burton, Robin Roberts, and Savannah Guthrie.

 

In August 2021, Mike Richards, an executive producer for Jeopardy!, was chosen to replace Alex Trebek as host. However, he resigned just weeks later due to backlash over past sexist comments.

 

Almost a year after Alex Richards left, Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings were named permanent co-hosts. However, Bialik left the show in 2023, making Jennings the single host.

Interestingly, the stand Jennings uses is technically a lectern, not a podium. The podium is the area where the contestants stand.

 

Contestants on the show can choose whether to stand or sit while competing, and a chair is available if they request one. Producer Sarah Whitcomb explained on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast that they don’t ask contestants why they want a chair – if someone wants one, they simply provide it.

 

Whether contestants prefer to sit or stand, they all stand on adjustable platforms hidden behind their podiums. This ensures they appear to be the same height on television, which avoids the need to constantly adjust the cameras, according to the official Jeopardy! website.

 

A subtle feature could be added to the game show podiums: a small white light in the bottom left corner. This would illuminate to indicate which player most recently gave the correct answer, letting the host quickly identify them.

The lectern is equipped with modern technology, including a screen displaying all the clues. When Aaron Rodgers guest-hosted Jeopardy! in 2021, he took a picture of his view from the podium, revealing he’d covered the computer screen with sticky notes reminding himself to maintain good posture and stay calm.

 

Even with all the technology, some parts of the Jeopardy! set still need people to operate them. For instance, when a contestant picks a clue, a crew member has to manually trigger it to appear on the board.

 

During each recording, a team of judges watches closely to ensure everything runs smoothly. They check when contestants buzz in, how clues are read, and if answers are acceptable. If any technical problems or scoring disagreements occur, they alert the host with colored lights at the podium, signaling the need for a brief pause.

 

Stagehands also control the buzzers. When the host finishes reading the clue, a crew member presses a button, which both activates the buzzers and turns on lights near the gameboard. This signals to the contestants that they can now answer.

One often-overlooked element on the show is the scoreboard positioned where contestants can easily see it. This allows them to quickly figure out how much to bet during Daily Double rounds.

 

While quick reflexes are important on Jeopardy!, simply buzzing in first doesn’t guarantee a win. The show’s website explains that if a contestant tries to ring in before the buzzer is ready, they’re temporarily blocked for a quarter of a second. This system, described as a “digital policeman,” helps keep the game moving at a good pace.

 

Who has won the most money on Jeopardy!? Currently, Ken Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak, having won 74 games in a row back in 2004. He also earned the most money during regular play, totaling $2,520,700 throughout his streak.

James Holzhauer won the most money in a single game of Jeopardy!, earning an impressive $131,127 on the April 17, 2019, episode. Remarkably, this professional sports gambler, who won 32 games in a row that year, holds the top ten spots for highest single-game winnings in the show’s history.

 

The lowest score in a game also holds a record. On the July 26, 2021 episode, Patrick Pearce finished with a score of negative $7,400.

 

While rare, ties have happened on the show before. If two or more players have the same score after Final Jeopardy!, they’re given an extra clue to break the tie. Whoever buzzes in first with the right answer wins the game.

 

If all three contestants are tied with zero dollars at the end of Final Jeopardy!, the next show will start fresh with three new players and no returning champion, according to the official Jeopardy! rules.

 

According to the official rules, if all three players have zero or a negative score after Double Jeopardy!, the Final Jeopardy! round will not be played.

Jennings has stated that bets of $69 are not allowed. Former Jeopardy! players have also shared that wagers of $666, $14, $88, and $1488 are prohibited because these numbers are linked to a white supremacist group.

 

One of the best-known rules of Jeopardy! is that all answers must be phrased as a question. However, the question doesn’t have to be grammatically correct. Interestingly, if the correct answer is already a question – like the name of the band The Who – contestants don’t need to change it.

 

During the first round of Jeopardy!, contestants who don’t answer in the form of a question will be gently reminded. However, if an answer isn’t phrased as a question during Double Jeopardy! or Final Jeopardy!, it won’t be accepted, according to the official Jeopardy! website.

Read More

2026-02-13 18:48