Josh Weikert, the politics professor from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, can breathe a sigh of relief – for now. He secured his third consecutive “Jeopardy!” victory on Tuesday’s episode, but not without a healthy dose of suspense, particularly in a Double Jeopardy! round that saw the lead change hands multiple times.
The Double Jeopardy! round was a nail-biter, with Huang briefly taking the lead before Weikert bounced back. One notable moment saw Weikert correctly identify director James Wan’s signature move, the “jump scare,” in a Daily Double. Huang stumbled on a Daily Double about Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Prince Edward Island, a misstep that likely cost him the game. In the first round, Huang also missed a Daily Double relating to “incorporation,” losing $2,000. Categories throughout the game ranged from “MOUNTAINS” and “HIPPO-POURRI” to “QUOTING THE FILM” and “POETIC PLACES.”
Going into Final Jeopardy!, Weikert held a seemingly comfortable $20,000 lead, while Eugene Huang, a teacher from Paramus, New Jersey, trailed with $10,600. Sara Balmuth, an archeologist from Shasta Lake, California, held on with $1,600. The Final Jeopardy! category, “WORLD GEOGRAPHY,” held the potential for a shake-up.
The clue: This biosphere reserve in Michoacán gets its name from the colorful insects that overwinter there. All three contestants correctly identified the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, but it was their wagers that determined the final outcome. Weikert played it safe, adding a modest $1,201 to his total, finishing with $21,201. Huang bet big, adding $9,401 to his score, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Weikert. Huang landed in second place with $20,001. Balmuth doubled her score, ending the game with $3,200.
“Jeopardy!” airs on weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for showtimes.
