In the May 7, 2024, episode of Jeopardy!, three new contestants took center stage: Allison Gross, a data scientist from Cleveland, Ohio; Daniel King, a Brown University graduate from Parsippany, New Jersey; and Matthew Smith, a paramedic from New York City. With Matthew Smith entering the game as a one-day champion with winnings of $26,400, the stage was set for an exciting contest.
The first round presented a diverse range of categories, including “ONE” OF THOSE BOOKS, DEATH IN THE CAPITAL, IT’S ALL RELATIVE, HODGEPODGE, TV MOVIES, and WORDS IN JEOPARDY. Allison Gross showcased her knowledge in the DEATH IN THE CAPITAL category, successfully wagering a Daily Double and doubling her score to $4,000. As the round progressed, Matthew Smith maintained a slight lead with $2,200, followed closely by Daniel King with $1,800, and Allison with $2,000.
Entering the Double Jeopardy! round, the contestants faced new challenges with categories such as AROUND THE ADRIATIC, PRONUNCIATION ADVICE, DINOSAURS, DO YOU KNOW YOUR RALPHABET?, POP MUSIC, and TEAR U-S APART. Daniel King took a significant risk on the first clue of the round, wagering $2,000 on a Daily Double in the PRONUNCIATION ADVICE category, but unfortunately, the gamble did not pay off, setting him back to $1,200. Allison Gross, however, continued her strong performance, correctly responding to the second Daily Double and extending her lead to $9,400.
As the game progressed, Double Jeopardy! proved demanding for the contestants, with several unanswered clues. Allison Gross maintained her lead heading into Final Jeopardy! with a score of $11,800, followed by Matthew Smith with $7,000, and Daniel King with $2,000.
The Final Jeopardy! category, FAMOUS CHARACTERS, presented a challenging clue: “She’s introduced in an 1845 novella in which she wears a short skirt with her mantilla thrown back to show her shoulders.” Only Daniel King provided the correct response, identifying the character as “Who is Carmen?” Despite Allison Gross’s substantial wager of $2,201, she secured her victory with a final score of $9,599. Matthew Smith finished in third place with $2,100, and Daniel King took second place with $3,998.
The episode also featured a musical miscue, with all three contestants unable to identify the song “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from the movie “Mannequin” in the POP MUSIC category.
