'Jeopardy!' fans crown unstoppable contestant as 'Alex's last champion'
Thursday marked the third day that contestant Brayden Smith dominated Jeopardy!. The policy intern from Las Vegas has been putting on a clinic and fans are loving it, but not just for entertainment sake. Knowing that there are only a few episodes remaining that feature host Alex Trebek, who died earlier this year, fans are happy that Smith was one of his last contestants.
”What a week this is turning out to be on Jeopardy!," said Trebek at the top of the show. “So I'm not going to say anything that might risk jinxing it.”
Trebek marveled at Smith’s gameplay, particularly his ability to the Daily Doubles.
“I don't think you've missed any of the Daily Doubles you've uncovered,” Trebek said. “And you've uncovered all of them in the games in which you've competed.”
Fans took to social media to share their collective joy.
I’d like to think that Brayden was a final gift to Alex Trebek. He loved a great champion. #Jeopardy
— Lisa (@lisadanls) December 18, 2020
In Alex Trebek's last handful of episodes, he's clearly loving Brayden's brilliance.. as he should.#Jeopardy #AlexTrebek #Brayden
— Jukebox Romeo (@FrayedBlueJeans) December 18, 2020
It makes me really happy that Alex Trebek got a contestant like Brayden on some of his last shows. Smart as a whip. Plays the board like no other (him finding all those Daily Doubles is not dumb luck). Makes heckuva runaways. And pretty low key. It’s awesome. #jeopardy
— Elizabeth Hurd (She/her/hers) (@elizanhurd) December 18, 2020
I’m happy Alex gets a whiz kid. He loves that. Now if Brayden would bet large Alex would be over the moon. #jeopardy
— Kathy McParland (@jkmcfam) December 18, 2020
I feel like Brayden might wind up Alex's last champion. #Jeopardy
— Christmasnameopher Grimm (@GrimmPixels) December 18, 2020
Heading into his third day, Smith had already accumulated $66,000. He had a whopping $36,400 going into Final Jeopardy!, and despite a rare incorrect response he still walked away with a three day total of $93,800.
While the money is great for Smith, the fans would probably say they were the bigger winners, because they got to watch their beloved host celebrate one last great champion.
Jeopardy! is a syndicated program; visit Jeopardy.com or check you local listings for TV schedule.
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