[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Thursday, November 14 episode of Jeopardy!]
Jeopardy! packed an emotional punch on Thursday, November 14, with two huge storylines—neither involving the returning champ. One contestant staged a comeback regardless of a novel Every day Double alternative, whereas one other shared a full-circle rescue story that followers known as one of many present’s most “heartwarming” moments.
Evan Dorey, an information analytics director from Toronto, Ontario, entered with a one-day complete of $29,200 after that contentious “Highland” ruling his method final episode. He confronted Stephanie Asalone, a former 401(ok) processor initially from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, and Steven Czekala, a retired dentist from Oakland, California.
Through the interviews, Ken Jennings talked about that Czekala had buddies with spectacular athletic resumes.“Sure, I had some buddies who had been competing within the Olympic trials this summer season in Indianapolis for swimming,” he shared. “And on my option to the venue in the future, my scooter fell aside, and I fell, and I broke my collarbone.”
“Oh no!” Jennings mentioned because the participant motioned to his shoulder (above). The contestant shared {that a} Jeopardy!-watching household saved him. “And instantly a household stopped, picked me up and drove me to the hospital emergency room and made positive I used to be okay,” Czekala continued. “And I by no means heard from them once more and I didn’t get their contact data. However, I do know they watch Jeopardy! as a result of on their option to the hospital they mentioned they had been from West Lafayette, Indiana and I mentioned, ‘Oh my gosh Adriana Harmeyer is from West Lafeyette, Indiana!’” referring to the latest 15-day librarian champ.
“So to my Hoosier good samaritans on the market, thanks a lot for the kindness you prolonged to me. I’m on the Alex Trebek stage!” The viewers applauded as Jennings addressed the household straight, “Thanks for serving to out Steven!”
After an emotional Jeopardy! spherical, Dorey led with $5,600, Czekala had $3,000 (having missed a $800 Every day Double, however not the possibility to thank Jennings for his internet hosting chops), Asalone had $3,600.
In Double Jeopardy!, Czekala discovered the second Every day Double including $2000 to a sudden lead on the “Musical Ett(E)s” clue in search of “Please Mr. Postman.” The final Every day Double lingered, and the returning champ caught up. With one different clue remaining, Asalone discovered it below the “Sports activities Groups” class. Regardless of being in third place, she opted to wager $500. Getting the clue appropriate as “Antoine de Saint-Exupéry,” she gave up her likelihood to maneuver in into the lead and all of it hinged on Remaining Jeopardy.
Dorey had $14,400, Czekala $9,800, and Asalone $8,100. The “Sports activities Groups” clue was, “Fittingly, this workforce was born on November 1, 1966, the day the franchise.” Asalone was appropriate with “New Orleans Saints,” including $6,000 to have $14,100. Neither of the opposite gamers bought it, so she turned the brand new champ in a last-to-first photograph end as she was left shocked and the group roared.
Followers flooded the Reddit thread for the episode, sharing how moved they had been by Czekala’s story and the way confused they had been by Asalone’s $500 Every day Double wager whereas nonetheless celebrating her win.
“Superb comeback from Stephanie, although I actually want she had gone for that huge wager on the final Every day Double as a result of she would have gained much more that method,” one Redditor wrote.
“Yeah. I used to be shocked when she mentioned $500; hopefully she doesn’t make that mistake once more, strategically. I’m completely happy for her, for her shock come-from-behind win, although. I additionally LOVED Steven’s anecdote and I wager his Hoosier saviors bought the message,” wrote one other.
“Stephanie looks like she would dominate if she had a bit extra confidence. That response of Saint Exupery is without doubt one of the most spectacular half court docket buzzer beater photographs I’ve ever seen,” wrote a 3rd.
“Steven’s story could be essentially the most heartwarming one I’ve ever heard on the present,” wrote a 3rd.
Czekala chimed in to the thread to talk additional on his Jeopardy! journey: “Once I bought the decision to be on the present one month after my accident, I knew precisely the story that I needed to inform in my interview. I’m really hoping that in some way with the facility of the universe that household will discover a option to attain out to me in order that I can thank them for his or her varieties. They had been really Saints. I hope that everybody who has dreamed of being on Jeopardy! could make these goals a actuality. I first auditioned in 1986 after I was in dental college. 38 years later I made it on the present. Somebody requested me how I’d have performed in 1986 in comparison with 2024. I mentioned that my library was sparce however the elevator made it to the highest flooring so rapidly after I was 27. Now my library is busting on the seams however that elevator is tremendous gradual. I like this supportive and unbelievable Jeopardy! household!”
“Effectively performed Steven, your story was top-of-the-line I’d ever heard. Heartwarming second!” one other fan replied.
What did you consider Stephanie Asalone’s come-from-behind victory? Or Steven’s highly effective story in regards to the energy of the Jeopardy! neighborhood? Ideas on Remaining Jeopardy? Lot to unpack! Tell us within the remark part beneath (Plus, congrats to Ayo Edebiri on the clue!)
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