Jeopardy! has been on for thirty-nine seasons, birthing many winners and changing lives over the years with recognition and cash prizes. Winners from different backgrounds and orientations have emerged from the game show; however, one thing is common to them— they make a particular face when announced as the winner.
Fans of the game show have picked up on the pattern over the years and are curious to know why the “wow” face has been constant. A former Jeopardy! winner explained what’s behind the expression on a Reddit Ask Me Anything session.
‘Jeopardy!’ Winner Stephen Webb Answers Redditors’ Questions
A recent winner from Jeopardy!, Stephen Webb from Longmont, Colorado, recorded a stunning eight-game winning streak until March 17. Webb, who is also a data scientist, has secured a spot at the next Tournament of Champions and has chosen to relate with enthusiasts of the show and share his strategy until the next game.
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Webb took to Reddit to open an AMA (Ask Me Anything) about the show and his experience. “Hi all, now that my run is done, I’m happy to answer any questions y’all might have about my experience on Jeopardy, thoughts on strategy, or anything else related to the World’s Greatest Game Show,” Webb wrote. The Coloradan also included the time and date for the Q&A session for the readers to note.
Webb Explains The ‘Wow Face’
Dozens of questions from curious fans came in response to Webb’s Reddit post. One fan asked an interesting question on whether the winners are asked to make that astonished look. “Do they tell everyone to make a ‘wow’ face when they announce your winnings tally?” the Redditor asked.
Webb answered the question in detail, explaining that the face is actually from the spur of the moment rather than a specific instruction. “They tell you to look right at the camera and smile, but (1) it’s hard to hold a smile for forty seconds while they go over your winnings and (2) it’s hard to not make a ‘wow’ face when you’re still getting used to winning more than you make in a year when the announcer reminds everyone that you did, indeed, win more than you make in a year,” Webb explained.
Webb’s win on the show earned him a whopping $184,881, and he sure made the “wow face” in the moment too.
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