The Best Episodes of Jeopardy!
Last Updated: May 27, 2019
The show first aired in March 1964 and lasted nearly 11 years on NBC daytime. The show resurfaced in a modified format in 1978, and then came back in syndication in 1984, where it continues to enjoy long-term success. This simple reverse-quiz formula resulted in one of the most successful game shows in TV history. Answer: “Legend has it that game show host and TV personality Merv Griffin created this reverse quiz show after complaining about the poor quality of game shows since the Quiz Show Scandals; his then-wife suggested giving the players the answers and having them come up with the questions.” Question: “What's the story behind the birth of Jeopardy!?”
#1 - Ari Stern, Reggie LaFond, Pam Jones-Pigott
Season 2010 - Episode 182
Pam Jones-Pigott, a farmers' market coordinator from Pflugerville, Texas; Reggie LaFond, a business analyst from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Ari Stern, a mathematician from San Diego, California (whose 1-day cash winnings total $17,201).
10.00 #2 - Todd Covert, Christina Dudley, Nate Hudac
Season 2008 - Episode 176
Nate Hudac, a sixth grade teacher from New Orleans, Louisiana; Christina Dudley, a homemaker, writer, & editor from Bellevue, Washington; Todd Covert, a bookkeeper from Valley Glen, California (whose 1-day cash winnings total $32,401).
10.00 #3 - Wayne Cherry, Rob Faunce, Amanda Froning
Season 2007 - Episode 36
Amanda Froning, an elections & voter registration clerk from Wilmington, Delaware; Rob Faunce, a professor from New York, New York; Wayne Cherry, a graduate student from Houston, Texas (whose 2-day cash winnings total $41,801).
10.00 #4 - S28 Teachers Tournament Semifinal Game 3
Season 2012 - Episode 40
Patrick Quinn, a high school German teacher from Chesterfield, Missouri; Catherine Whitten, a high school history teacher from Plano, Texas; Mary Ann Stanley, a high school chemistry & physical science teacher from Statesboro, Georgia.
10.00 #5 - Kathy Wright, Stu Weaver, David Menchaca
Season 2012 - Episode 119
David Menchaca, a law student originally from Long Beach, California; Stu Weaver, a singer/songwriter from St. Augustine, Florida; Kathy Wright, a bookseller from Seattle, Washington (whose 2-day cash winnings total $59,198).
10.00 #6 - Margaret Swanson, Bridget Gallagher, Ayana Matthews
Season 2012 - Episode 125
Ayana Matthews, a geriatric nursing assistent & chef from Baltimore, Maryland; Bridget Gallagher, a fundraising consultant from Arlington, Virginia; Margaret Swanson, a graduate student of architecture from Somerville, Massachusetts (whose 1-day cash winnings total $3,999).
10.00 #7 - S28 Kids Week Game 3
Season 2012 - Episode 153
Partha Purushotham, an 11-year-old from Palo Alto, California; Julia Martinez, an 11-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia; Andrew Grace, a 12-year-old from Apex, North Carolina.
10.00 #8 - Susan Robbins, Anne Takemoto, Andrew Sims
Season 2002 - Episode 24
Andrew Sims, a high school social studies teacher from Laguna Niguel, California; Anne Takemoto, a consultant from Marina del Rey, California; Susan Robbins, a training & development professional from Chicago, Illinois (whose 1-day cash winnings total $11,601).
10.00 #9 - Matt Scarpino, Bobby Padgett, Cindy D'Agostino
Season 2002 - Episode 57
Cindy D'Agostino, a documentary filmmaker from Alexandria, Virginia; Bobby Padgett, an analytical chemist from Cramerton, North Carolina; Matt Scarpino, an electrical engineer for the United States Air Force from Dayton, Ohio (whose 1-day cash winnings total $0).
10.00 #10 - George Hicks, Eric Huff, Sandra Alboum
Season 2002 - Episode 190
Sandra Alboum, a translator from Arlington, Virginia; Eric Huff, a history teacher from Spartanburg, South Carolina; George Hicks, a law student from Cambridge, Massachusetts (whose 1-day cash winnings total $21,998).
10.00 #11 - Bruce Borchardt, Jeff Rinde, Hugh Zegers
Season 1995 - Episode 64
Hugh Zegers, a high school teacher originally from The Hague, Netherlands; Jeff Rinde, a teacher originally from Endwell, New York; Bruce Borchardt, a metrologist originally from Denver, Colorado (whose 3-day cash winnings total $44,899).
10.00 #12 - Jennifer Yuan, Jeff Wohl, Cris Christopher
Season 2000 - Episode 63
Cris Christopher, an executive assistant from Marietta, Georgia; Jeff Wohl, a marketing manager from Smyrna, Georgia; Jennifer Yuan, a web designer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (whose 1-day cash winnings total $12,101).
10.00 #13 - Andrew Garen, Melissa Gaul, Rick Schweitzer
Season 2000 - Episode 159
Rick Schweitzer, an attorney from Alexandria, Virginia; Melissa Gaul, a quality assurance manager from Shoreview, Minnesota; Andrew Garen, a project manager from Mamaroneck, New York (whose 1-day cash winnings total $15,000).
10.00 #14 - Marty Sade, Al Brokos, Betty Fernandez
Season 1996 - Episode 62
Betty Fernandez, an attorney from Washington, D.C.; Al Brokos, a training specialist originally from Baltimore, Maryland; Marty Sade, a math teacher from Tucson, Arizona (whose 1-day cash winnings total $12,999).
10.00 #15 - Bernie Cullen, Dave Streit, Irene Dennis
Season 1996 - Episode 148
Irene Dennis, a freelance copy editor from Medford, Massachusetts; Dave Streit, a TV director & producer from Indianapolis, Indiana; Bernie Cullen, a biology graduate student originally from Dublin, Ireland (whose 2-day cash winnings total $30,599).
10.00 #16 - Dave Priestly, Carl Kruglak, Debbie Saunders
Season 1996 - Episode 187
Debbie Saunders, an adolescent medicine physician from Rockville Center, New York; Carl Kruglak, an actuary from Needham, Massachusetts; Dave Priestly, a business executive from Birmingham, Michigan (whose 1-day cash winnings total $11,799).
10.00 #17 - Christopher Ruth, Amy Solomon, Norm Nadel
Season 1998 - Episode 55
Norm Nadel, a lawyer from Beverly Hills, California; Amy Solomon, a consultant from Seattle, Washington; Christopher Ruth, a musician & songwriter from New London, Connecticut (whose 2-day cash winnings total $26,600).
10.00 #18 - Robin Jacobsen, Jennifer O'Brien, David Waters
Season 1999 - Episode 175
David Waters, a public information officer from Portland, Oregon; Jennifer O'Brien, a professor from Lake Forest, Illinois; Robin Jacobsen, a teacher of global studies from Farmingdale, New York (whose 2-day cash winnings total $9,500).
10.00 #19 - S31 Tournament of Champions Final Game 1
Season 2014 - Episode 202
Julia Collins, a 20-time Jeopardy! champion from Kenilworth, Illinois; Arthur Chu, a compliance analyst, voiceover artist, & blogger from Broadview Heights, Ohio; Ben Ingram, an IT consultant originally from Florence, South Carolina.
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#20 - The IBM Challenge, Day 2
Season 2011 - Episode 32
Brad Rutter, a $3.2-million winner from Los Angeles, California; Watson, a deep question answering system from IBM; Ken Jennings, a 74-game champion from Seattle, Washington. The IBM Challenge, continuation of game 1.
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#21 - The IBM Challenge, Day 3
Season 2011 - Episode 33
Brad Rutter, a $3.2-million winner from Los Angeles, California (subtotal of $10,400); Watson, a deep question answering system from IBM (subtotal of $35,734); Ken Jennings, a 74-game champion from Seattle, Washington (subtotal of $4,800). The IBM Challenge game 2.
9.50 #22 - Alison Meermans, Chris Gullo, Jennifer Blanton
Season 2014 - Episode 125
Jennifer Blanton, an attorney from San Diego, California; Chris Gullo, a poet from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Alison Meermans, a fundraising project manager from Lakewood, Ohio (whose 2-day cash winnings total $33,600).
9.00 #23 - George Schaeffer, Vanessa Fischer, Michel Phillips
Season 2000 - Episode 148
Michel Phillips, a lawyer from Smyrna, Georgia; Vanessa Fischer, an accountant from Creighton, Pennsylvania; George Schaeffer, a publisher from New York City, New York (whose 1-day cash winnings total $2,199).
9.00 #24 - S31 Tournament of Champions Semifinal Game 1
Season 2014 - Episode 199
Julia Collins, a 20-time Jeopardy! champion from Kenilworth, Illinois; Jared Hall, a consultant from Washington, D.C.; Terry O'Shea, a junior at Princeton University from Bridgewater, New Jersey.
9.00 #25 - Suzanne Koppelman, Liz Howard, Kate Brandt
Season 2018 - Episode 133
Kate Brandt, a homeschool mom from Carmel, Indiana; Liz Howard, an assistant analyst from McLean, Virginia; Suzanne Koppelman, a museum education manager from New York, New York (whose 2-day cash winnings total $34,800).
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