‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Claim Ken Jennings Tricked Contestant Into Losing Game

Usually, it is expected that a game show host does not possess any authority to influence the outcome of the competition. However, this seems untrue as some Jeopardy! fans recently expressed concerns about host Ken Jennings, who may have crossed professional boundaries while anchoring a Monday game show episode.

Netizens believed that Jennings may have tricked one of the contestants, Alex Gordon, a medical student from Somers, New York, into making a decision that impacted his chances of winning. Gordon was a returning champion, had two victories under his belt, and had amassed an impressive sum of $41,500.

Ken Jennings teased Alex Gordon into placing a huge wager on the question in the “Stitch Incoming” category on ‘Jeopardy’

During the Daily Double round on the show, Gordon, who had a very successful run, made the “Stitch Incoming” category, which conveniently featured clues related to the medical field, his area of expertise. Jennings skillfully threw the contestant off his balance by questioning his knowledge in the field. “How confident are you in a medical category, Alex?” he asked.

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To showcase his knowledge in the medical field, the two-day champion boldly decided to wager $12,000 out of his $15,000 in winnings. However, his hopes were dashed when he made an incorrect guess for the clue: “Joba Chamberlain used the scar from below the elbow surgery named for his fellow pitcher as part of a smiley face tattoo.” Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side this time as he answered with “Who is Joe DiMaggio?” instead of “Who is Tommy John?” which was the correct answer, ending his winning streak.

Fans react to Ken Jennings’s comment during the Monday episode of ‘Jeopardy’

Following the host’s comment, fans expressed their frustration and took to social media to vent their discontent. The online outcry centered around the perception that the comment may have misled or coerced the contestant into taking a risk that ultimately resulted in his loss. “WTH! You tricked this doctor into believing the question was a medical question,” a user wrote. “It wasn’t! It was about a tattoo and baseball players.”

“Then #Jeopardy pulled a d— move by slipping in a baseball question when everything else in the category was medical related…,” a fan wrote via Twitter. “I think if @KenJennings kept his mouth shut, #AlexGordon would only have bet $5000.”

“Ken seemed to challenge Alex to bet big when it wasn’t necessary….,” someone else commented.

However, some fans also held a different perspective. They argued that the question was straightforward and in the medical line. “Anyone who knows ANYTHING about orthopedic surgery or sport-related injuries knows about Tommy John surgery,” a fan countered. “@KenJennings on @Jeopardy is NOT to blame at all for # AlexGordon’s inability to come up with the right question!!”

“It was a medical and baseball question. Tommy John surgery is by far the most common surgery that pitchers get,” another fan wrote. “The Tattoo was an abstraction. The question was incredibly easy.”