Historic Game Show Winning Streak Comes to End
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The longest winning streak in television game show history ended on Tuesday when “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings lost after he collected more than $2.5 million in 74 victories.
Jennings walked away with $2,520,700 in cash, in what the syndicated TV show’s distributors said was a record for the most money ever won on a television game show, as well as the most victories.
The 30-year-old software engineer from Salt Lake City started his winning streak in June, fielding questions on everything from Shakespeare to hip-hop music in an impressive run that made him a household name and boosted “Jeopardy!” audience ratings by 22 percent over the same period last year.
He was brought down by what seemed a relatively easy question: Which U.S. company’s white-collar employees mostly worked only four months a year?
Jennings answered FedEx. His opponent, California realtor Nancy Zerg, gave the correct answer — tax preparer and financial services company H&R Block.
Some commentators noted Jennings’ losing episode was broadcast at the end of the key November “sweeps,” when U.S. networks roll out their best shows to boost audience ratings that are used to set advertising rates.
“Industry wags speculated that producers must not have had enough Jennings episodes to get through the sweeps and wanted to make sure his final appearance coincided with its end,” wrote Washington Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes.
Asked about his defeat, Jennings said: “Nancy was great. Her timing was just right on. It was not a fluke. She knew things I didn’t know.”
Jennings said he had made a lot of safe choices before appearing on the show. “I never took a chance or did something that for me would be a dream. And being on ‘Jeopardy’ has been that dream.”
“Jeopardy!” debuted on U.S. television in 1984 and can be seen in several countries around the world.
Categories