Claim to Fame Finale Shocker: [Spoiler] Wins Season 3! Plus, Find Out Everyone’s Celebrity Relative
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Let’s be real, none of us expected Claim to Fame Season 3 to end this way.
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Heading into Wednesday’s finale, 41% of TVLine readers predicted that Shane would bring home the victory, followed by Hud (27%), Mackenzie (21%) and Adam (11%). Friends, we couldn’t have been more wrong.
And what a finale it was. From Hud and Mackenzie fully leaning into their showmance (“It’s just fun to flirt with him a little bit”) to Adam nearly dropping out of the competition due to a head injury, there was simply no rest for those of us who have been invested in the game for the past few months. And the biggest surprises were still to come.
Despite being the supposed frontrunner, Shane ended up getting eliminated first, thanks to Mackenzie figuring out that he’s related to Hollywood icon Marlon Brando. Do we understand how she managed to reach this conclusion? Not entirely. But it put her in the top three with Adam and Hud, which felt strangely poetic, so we won’t look too much further into the matter.
The second hour welcomed back previously eliminated contestants, most of whom were eager to help Hud and Mackenzie take down Adam… if only any of them had a single clue who his celebrity relative was. At least we finally got to see Mackenzie connect the dots between “cougar” and “melon” for Hud; the dramatic irony was getting painful with that one.
Then came the most shocking elimination ceremony in Claim to Fame history: Adam — yes, the same Adam who was still recovering from a head injury earlier in the day — surprised everyone by correctly guessing both Mackenzie and Hud’s relatives, eliminating them and leaving Adam as… we can’t believe we’re saying this… the winner of Season 3.
As you continue to process that mind-blowing ending, scroll down for a refresher on every contestant’s and their celebrity relative, in order of when they eliminated. When you’re finished, drop a comment with your reaction to this finale, as well as Season 3 overall.
11. BIANCA ROBERTS
No need for clues with this one! Episode 1 ended with the reveal that Bianca is the niece of longtime Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.
10. JILL KURLFINK
As one of the two contestants eliminated in Episode 2, Jill was revealed to be the niece of People’s Choice Award winner John Stamos. (Those sparkly Stamos eyes! We should have known.)
9. GRACIE HYLAND (FKA GRACIE LOU)
As revealed at the end of Episode 2, Gracie Hyland (fka “Gracie Lou”) is the niece of Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer.
8. RAPHAEL CURTIS (FKA ‘MIGUEL’)
“Miguel” (aka Raphael) thought he had this one in the bag, but an incorrect guess at the end of Episode 3 knocked him out of the game early, revealing his celebrity aunt to be… Jamie Lee Curtis!
7. NAOMI BURNS
This one has been obvious since Day 1. In fact, we’re actually surprised it took the contestants four whole weeks to figure out that Naomi’s cousin is Brat Pack princess Molly Ringwald.
6. SIGMUND JACKSON (FKA ‘DEDRICK’)
This season’s fifth episode ended with confirmation of what viewers have known ever since Dedrick — or should we say Sigmund — accidentally referred to himself as “Mr. Jackson” in the premiere. He is, in fact, the nephew of Michael Jackson. His father is Sigmund “Jackie” Jackson.
5. NAEL ZAYAS (FKA ‘DANNY’)
“Danny” played a good game, but he got cocky in Episode 6, resulting in an incorrect guess that cost him everything… including the secret identity of his celebrity uncle Marc Anthony.
4. SHANE BRANDO
The first contestant eliminated in the two-part season finale, Shane is the grandson of legendary actor Marlon Brando. He’s even listed in Brando’s Wikipedia entry.
3. MACKENZIE ADKINS
We’re a little surprised Mackenzie managed to finish in third place, considering her famous father — goatee’d country star Trace Adkins — was figured out weeks ago.
2. HUD
Not only is Hud the son of John Mellencamp, but the rocker actually appeared (via video) in the finale, meaning Claim to Fame managed to accomplish what The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills never could with Mellencamp’s daughter Teddi.
1. ADAM
Shocked that Michael Bolton‘s nephew managed to win it all? So are we! But congratulations are in order either way.
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