The Worst 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 - Kristin Sausville, Brad King, Stephanie Hull
Season 2015 - Episode 51
Stephanie Hull, a graduate student of philosophy from Columbia, Missouri; Brad King, an automotive engineer from Hartland, Michigan; Kristin Sausville, a stay-at-home mom from Newark, Delaware (whose 1-day cash winnings total $24,801).
2.00
#2 - Matt Preston, Lily Gebrenegus, Lisa Kristina
Season 2017 - Episode 209
Lisa Kristina, a freelance musician from Chicago Heights, Illinois; Lily Gebrenegus, an accounting manager from Seattle, Washington; Matt Preston, an assets protection leader from Harvest, Alabama (whose 2-day cash winnings total $25,998).
2.00
#3 - Pam Jones-Pigott, Laura Spadanuta, Jesse Cuevas
Season 2010 - Episode 183
Jesse Cuevas, a corporate lawyer originally from Leawood, Kansas; Laura Spadanuta, a trade magazine reporter & editor originally from Floral Park, New York; Pam Jones-Pigott, a farmers' market coordinator from Pflugerville, Texas (whose 1-day cash winnings total $16,800).
3.00
#4 - Don Meals, Mike Hodel, Sarah Rabin Spira
Season 2010 - Episode 170
Sarah Rabin Spira, a preschool director from Washington, D.C.; Mike Hodel, a bartender from Bellingham, Washington; Don Meals, an environmental scientist from Burlington, Vermont (whose 3-day cash winnings total $42,599).
5.00
#5 - Josh Powell, Rich Zayatz, Jamie O'Hagin
Season 2010 - Episode 213
Jamie O'Hagin, a museum education coordinator from Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire; Rich Zayatz, an emergency police dispatcher from Asheville, North Carolina; Josh Powell, a phone-based health coach from San Diego, California (whose 2-day cash winnings total $12,500).
5.00
#6 - Dave Belote, Jove Graham, Sarah Weinschenk
Season 2009 - Episode 210
Sarah Weinschenk, a middle school Latin teacher from San Luis Obispo, California; Jove Graham, a biomedical engineer from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Dave Belote, the base commander from Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas (whose 5-day cash winnings total $134,801).
5.00
#7 - Chris Hurt, Laura Kohlenberg, Alex Jacob
Season 2015 - Episode 72
Alex Jacob, a currency trader from Chicago, Illinois; Laura Kohlenberg, a global talent management associate originally from Pemberville, Ohio; Chris Hurt, an actor & grants analyst from New York, New York (whose 1-day cash winnings total $30,801).
5.00
#8 - Thea Lawton, Vivek Ravishanker, Denver Wade
Season 2016 - Episode 188
Denver Wade, an English teacher from Westfield, Indiana; Vivek Ravishanker, a freelance consultant from Higganum, Connecticut; Thea Lawton, a nonprofit resource development specialist from Anchorage, Alaska (whose 1-day cash winnings total $24,400).
5.00
#9 - S34 Tournament of Champions Quarterfinal Game 3
Season 2017 - Episode 193
David Clemmons, an 11th grade U.S. history teacher in Keller, Texas from Fort Worth, Texas; Alan Lin, a software engineer from Riverside, California; Austin Rogers, a bartender from New York, New York.
5.20
#10 - Pam Platt, Jason George, Katie Pieper
Season 2016 - Episode 137
Katie Pieper, a Ph.D. student from Athens, Georgia; Jason George, a management consultant originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pam Platt, a writer & editor from Louisville, Kentucky (whose 1-day cash winnings total $27,600).
5.50
#11 - Dylan Hamilton, Andrew Miller, Adriana Ciccone
Season 2018 - Episode 208
Adriana Ciccone, a data scientist from San Francisco, California; Andrew Miller, a law clerk from Chicago, Illinois; Dylan Hamilton, a pediatric dentist from Durham, North Carolina (whose 2-day cash winnings total $25,598).
5.75
#12 - S31 Teachers Tournament Quarterfinal Game 2
Season 2015 - Episode 24
Michael Jones, a middle school special education teacher from Madison, Wisconsin; Cathy Farrell, a high school science teacher from Wyandotte, Michigan; Lydia Cuffman, a high school history teacher from Redwood City, California.
6.00
#13 - Kerry Greene, Jan Schwartzberg, Evan Bick
Season 2015 - Episode 69
Evan Bick, a graduate student in psychology from Cambridge, Massachusetts; Jan Schwartzberg, an information manager from Ithaca, New York; Kerry Greene, a volunteer guardian ad litem from Manchester, New Hampshire (whose 4-day cash winnings total $89,600).
6.00
#14 - Greg Seroka, Valerie Braun, Robert Sale
Season 2015 - Episode 86
Robert Sale, a government relations liaison from Washington, D.C.; Valerie Braun, a homemaker from Cincinnati, Ohio; Greg Seroka, a chef from Steamboat Springs, Colorado (whose 5-day cash winnings total $133,200).
6.00
#15 - Sacha Samotin, Donna Normington, Matt Pressman
Season 2015 - Episode 124
Matt Pressman, a graduate student in history from Somerville, Massachusetts; Donna Normington, an office manager from Mesa, Arizona; Sacha Samotin, a student from Naples, Florida (whose 1-day cash winnings total $19,600).
6.00
#16 - Jess Lindoerfer, Sawyer Morgan, Bridget Ker
Season 2015 - Episode 134
Bridget Ker, a museum professional from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Sawyer Morgan, an engineering student originally from Fishers, Indiana; Jess Lindoerfer, a study-abroad program manager from Putney, Vermont (whose 1-day cash winnings total $17,801).
6.00
#17 - Jenny Thorngate, Kathy Riley, Heather Melançon
Season 2015 - Episode 136
Heather Melançon, a program analyst originally from Elk Grove, Illinois; Kathy Riley, a retired college professor from Winter Haven, Florida; Jenny Thorngate, a chemist from Madison, Wisconsin (whose 1-day cash winnings total $22,001).
6.00
#18 - Chris Becker, Manisha Parekh, Zach Binney
Season 2016 - Episode 33
Zach Binney, a Ph.D. student & football analyst from Atlanta, Georgia; Manisha Parekh, a clinical psychologist from Charlotte, North Carolina; Chris Becker, a bus driver & trainer from Orlando, Florida (whose 2-day cash winnings total $27,798).
6.00
#19 - Hunter Appler, Peggy Szymeczek, Mark Adams
Season 2016 - Episode 115
Mark Adams, a health benefits advisor from Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Peggy Szymeczek, a retired civil servant from Gilbert, Arizona; Hunter Appler, an attorney originally from Mount Airy, North Carolina (whose 1-day cash winnings total $24,801).
6.00
#20 - TJ Bateman, Matt Hoffer-Hawlik, Emily Hillard
Season 2016 - Episode 134
Emily Hillard, a systems coordinator from Evansville, Indiana; Matt Hoffer-Hawlik, an investment banker & strategy consultant from Boston, Massachusetts; TJ Bateman, a software Q.A. lead from Charlottesville, Virginia (whose 1-day cash winnings total $5,199).
6.00
#21 - Rob Liguori, Trish Floyd, Jeff Brown
Season 2017 - Episode 45
Jeff Brown, a grant writer from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Trish Floyd, an actuary from Chicago, Illinois; Rob Liguori, a research editor from Brooklyn, New York (whose 3-day cash winnings total $58,601).
6.00
#22 - Hannah McIntyre, Jill Hurtt, Dhruv Srinivasachar
Season 2018 - Episode 184
Dhruv Srinivasachar, a medical & doctoral student from Richmond, Virginia; Jill Hurtt, a teacher & librarian from Hemingford, Nebraska; Hannah McIntyre, an author from Whistler, British Columbia, Canada (whose 1-day cash winnings total $20,200).
6.00
#23 - Julia Lee, Jon Frank, Thea Lawton
Season 2016 - Episode 187
Thea Lawton, a nonprofit resource development specialist from Anchorage, Alaska; Jon Frank, a director of marketing & corporate relationships from Washington, D.C.; Julia Lee, a pharmacy student from San Bruno, California (whose 1-day cash winnings total $6,599).
6.25
#24 - Jenny Wrigley, Monica Ashar, Kelvin Smith
Season 2017 - Episode 189
Kelvin Smith, a Ph.D. student from Birmingham, Alabama; Monica Ashar, an attorney from Washington, D.C.; Jenny Wrigley, a yoga instructor from Olive Branch, Mississippi (whose 1-day cash winnings total $22,401).
6.25
#25 - Nan Bauer, Erica Irving, Phil Kohn
Season 2017 - Episode 184
Phil Kohn, a retired engineer from Colonia, New Jersey; Erica Irving, a web developer from Washington, D.C.; Nan Bauer, a writer from Brooklyn, Michigan (whose 3-day cash winnings total $36,601).
6.29