The Best Episodes of Jeopardy!
Last Updated: Feb 3, 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 - 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
#2 - 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
#3 - 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
#4 - 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
#5 - Christopher Ruth, Rebecca Rhyne, John Hart
Season 1998 - Episode 54
John Hart, a sales executive from Portland, Oregon; Rebecca Rhyne, a writer's assistant originally from Austin, Texas; Christopher Ruth, a musician & songwriter from New London, Connecticut (whose 1-day cash winnings total $17,199).
10.00
#6 - 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
#7 - 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.
10.00
#8 - S31 Tournament of Champions Final Game 2
Season 2014 - Episode 203
Julia Collins, a 20-time Jeopardy! champion from Kenilworth, Illinois (subtotal of $6,400); Arthur Chu, a compliance analyst, voiceover artist, & blogger from Broadview Heights, Ohio (subtotal of $15,600); Ben Ingram, an IT consultant originally from Florence, South Carolina (subtotal of $25,600).
10.00
#9 - Alex Navissi, Cindy Garner, Gautam Mukunda
Season 2015 - Episode 59
Gautam Mukunda, a professor from Boston, Massachusetts; Cindy Garner, a tax accountant from Omaha, Nebraska; Alex Navissi, a business development associate originally from Katy, Texas (whose 2-day cash winnings total $26,901).
10.00
#10 - Andrew Haringer, Mary Green, Louis Virtel
Season 2015 - Episode 92
Louis Virtel, a journalist & comic originally from Lemont, Illinois; Mary Green, a college instructor from Milton, Georgia; Andrew Haringer, a college instructor from Squamish, British Columbia, Canada (whose 1-day cash winnings total $8,799).
10.00
#11 - S31 Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 3
Season 2015 - Episode 95
John Berman, a veteran newsman from CNN's Early Start & At This Hour; Wendi McLendon-Covey, an actress from The Goldbergs & Repeat After Me; Mo Rocca, a correspondent & host from CBS Sunday Morning & My Grandmother's Ravioli.
10.00
#12 - Choyon Manjrekar, Melissa Lake, Gordon Marx
Season 2015 - Episode 102
Gordon Marx, a software architect from Somerville, Massachusetts; Melissa Lake, a special education teacher from Reading, Pennsylvania; Choyon Manjrekar, an urban planner from Providence, Rhode Island (whose 1-day cash winnings total $23,800).
10.00
#13 - Dan Feitel, Kate Cox, Jane Longacre
Season 2015 - Episode 105
Jane Longacre, a pediatrician from Ambler, Pennsylvania; Kate Cox, a writer from Arlington, Virginia; Dan Feitel, an attorney originally from Gillette, New Jersey (whose 1-day cash winnings total $27,599).
10.00
#14 - Dan Feitel, Ivan Tan, Adrienne Onofri
Season 2015 - Episode 106
Adrienne Onofri, a writer & editor from Queens, New York; Ivan Tan, a graduate student originally from Lexington, Massachusetts; Dan Feitel, an attorney originally from Gillette, New Jersey (whose 2-day cash winnings total $45,599).
10.00
#15 - Dan Feitel, Randy Pike, Victoria Machado
Season 2015 - Episode 108
Victoria Machado, a library assistant from Burlingame, California; Randy Pike, an Army public affairs chief originally from Louisville, Kentucky; Dan Feitel, an attorney originally from Gillette, New Jersey (whose 4-day cash winnings total $99,999).
10.00
#16 - 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.
9.50
#17 - S28 Teachers Tournament Quarterfinal Game 4
Season 2012 - Episode 36
Kathryn Wendling, a high school social studies teacher from Farmington, Minnesota; Mary Ann Stanley, a high school chemistry & physical science teacher from Statesboro, Georgia; Brad Brown, a theater teacher from Nashville, Tennessee.
9.50
#18 - 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.
9.33
#19 - Matt DeTura, Jon Golbe, Stephanie Bethel
Season 2010 - Episode 178
Stephanie Bethel, a public information officer from Las Vegas, Nevade; Jon Golbe, an actor & TV writer from Brooklyn, New York; Matt DeTura, a recent law school graduate from Washington, D.C. (whose 1-day cash winnings total $22,200).
9.00
#20 - Matt DeTura, Megan Griffiths, Tommy Jordan
Season 2010 - Episode 179
Tommy Jordan, a pastor from Sylvania, Arkansas; Megan Griffiths, a conservation technician from Omaha, Nebraska; Matt DeTura, a recent law school graduate from Washington, D.C. (whose 2-day cash winnings total $45,200).
9.00
#21 - Jesse Cuevas, Barbara Brown, George Villarreal
Season 2010 - Episode 185
George Villarreal, a college swim coach & aquatics consultant from Lexington, Kentucky; Barbara Brown, a retired housewife from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jesse Cuevas, a corporate lawyer originally from Leawood, Kansas (whose 2-day cash winnings total $51,600).
9.00
#22 - 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
#23 - Ben Raphel, Charlie Santiuste, LaKedra Pam
Season 2017 - Episode 216
LaKedra Pam, a physician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Charlie Santiuste, a relationship manager from Charlottesville, Virginia; Ben Raphel, a healthcare data analyst from Boston, Massachusetts (whose 1-day cash winnings total $25,201).
9.00
#24 - S34 Teachers Tournament Semifinal Game 3
Season 2018 - Episode 98
Katherine Saxby, a high school English & French teacher from Alameda, California; Jake Allen, a K-12 gifted & talented teacher from Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Larry Martin, a second grade teacher from Kansas City, Missouri.
9.00
#25 - Sam Stubblefield, Mike Barrett, Ken Hill
Season 2015 - Episode 191
Ken Hill, a nuclear power plant inspector from Mauldin, South Carolina; Mike Barrett, a cashier & writer from Medford, Massachusetts; Sam Stubblefield, a hospital pediatrician from Wilmington, Delaware (whose 1-day cash winnings total $27,601).
8.67