Jeopardy! champion Matt Amodio’s historic winning streak has come to an end. To date, Jeopardy! has aired over 9,000 episodes and has sported its fair share of champions over the years, including Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, and sports gambler James Holzhauer. Earlier this year, Jennings kicked off the roster of guest hosts after Alex Trebek’s final episodes aired.
Currently airing season 38, Jeopardy! has made waves in the headlines amid its search for a permanent host. In August, Jeopardy! announced that executive producer Mike Richards would be the permanent host, and Mayim Bialik would host occasional prime-time specials. Ultimately, Richards was fired from Jeopardy!, and Bialik and Jennings were tapped to serve as hosts for the remainder of the season. Earlier this month, Amodio scored his 33rd straight Jeopardy! win, moving him into second place on the show’s all-time streak list, and surpassing Holzhauer’s victory.
Per Variety, Amodio’s 38-game streak concluded when he came in third place after failing to answer the Final Jeopardy! clue correctly. Amodio finished second place on the all-time consecutive wins list behind Jennings’ 74 wins and is third on the all-time non-tournament cash winnings list with his $1.5 million in prize money. Amodio was officially dethroned when he incorrectly answered the Countries of the World clue that read: “Nazi Germany annexed this nation & divided it into regions of the Alps & the Danube; the Allies later divided it into 4 sectors.”
As it stands, Amodio’s winning streak spanned episodes hosted by Richards, Bialik, Joe Buck, and LeVar Burton. Speaking on his historic run on Jeopardy!, Amodio said, “I always wanted to be a Jeopardy champion, and I accomplished that. I know going into every bar trivia game that I play that I’m going to come in with a little intimidation factor.” Indeed, Jeopardy! continues to ensure that its champions are welcomed back, and Amodio is slated to return to the Jeopardy! stage during the next Tournament of Champions.
Of course, Amodio’s winning streak breathed new excitement into the show, and amid a rocky season after the passing of Trebek and the Jeopardy! host debacle, it reminded viewers of why they tune in in the first place. Although Amodio didn't achieve his goal of beating Jennings' record by one dollar, his unique gameplay, overall earnings, and positive spirit made him a winner. While Jeopardy! has yet to reveal who will be the permanent host, season 38 has solidified its place in the history of the trivia game show with Amodio earning a title on the champion list.
Source: Variety