Matt Amodio's stunning Jeopardy! streak finally ends after 38 wins
We'll take "all good things must come to an end" for $1,000.
Matt Amodio, a PhD student who has been on a historic Jeopardy! run, was finally defeated on Monday's episode, ending his streak after 38 wins. Contestant Jonathan Fisher was victorious, while Amodio came in third place.
It was a shocking outcome after Amodio for weeks seemed virtually unbeatable, often building up such a large lead by the end of the game that no player could catch him. His strategy involved starting with the highest value clues and hunting for Daily Doubles to quickly increase his score, but he failed to find any of the three Daily Doubles during Monday's game.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Everybody's so smart and so competent that this could happen any game," Amodio said. "And this time it did."
But Amodio has earned himself a place in the game show history books. He recently passed James Holzhauer as the player with the second-longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history, behind only Ken Jennings, who won 74 straight games in 2004. In an interview for the show's YouTube channel, Amodio said being right behind Jennings, the "face of Jeopardy!," in consecutive games won was "surreal." Amodio is also one of only three players to have won more than $1 million on Jeopardy! in regular-season play, with the others being Holzhauer and Jennings. He leaves the show with $1,518,601, behind Holzhauer's $2,462,216 and Jennings' $2,520,700.
Amodio's streak couldn't have come at a better time for Jeopardy!, as he provided viewers with a consistent presence amid the show's host search debacle. The new full-time Jeopardy! host still hasn't been named, though Mayim Bialik is currently behind the lectern, and she'll share hosting duties with Jennings through the end of 2021. Unfortunately, Amodio's loss came prior to the start of Jennings' second stint as host, so it seems the sight of these two Jeopardy! legends sharing the stage just wasn't meant to be.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The hollow classroom
Opinion Remote school let kids down. It will take much more than extra tutoring for kids to recover.
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Unpasteurised milk and the American right
Under the radar Former darling of health-conscious liberal foodies is now a 'conservative culture war signal': a sign of mistrust in experts
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Government shutdown looming? Blame the border
Talking Points Democrats and Republicans say funding for immigration enforcement is the budget battle's latest sticking point. That's about all they agree on.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Singer Cassie accuses music mogul Diddy of decade of rape and abuse
Speed Read Rapper denies claims in lawsuit describing him as a 'serial domestic abuser'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Bad Bunny joins in criticism of AI music
Speed Read Concern growing in music industry over generative learning, unauthorised impersonations and copyright issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published