Dedicated Jeopardy! fans were upset when judges accepted an incorrect answer from the contestant who eventually won the game.
Evan Dorey, a data analytics director, was likely quite pleased with his winnings on Jeopardy! during Wednesday’s intense competition.
In the Final Jeopardy round of the episode, Dorey presented an answer that the judges deemed acceptable, even though it wasn’t entirely accurate.
This decision has prompted fans to criticize the show.
One viewer expressed their frustration on TVInsider, saying: “It’s wrong. No discussion. And when a contestant forgets to answer in the form of a question, it’s wrong. No exceptions.”
Another fan commented: “The ruling was wrong. If it had been a verbal response, it would not have been accepted.”
A third viewer shared: “The judges were wrong. I think they have been inconsistent in their rulings lately.”
Clearly, many people are upset about the situation, though some argue that the rules are subject to interpretation.
In the final moments of the game, three contestants were competing: Joey DeSena, Lois Dioro, and Evan Dorey from Toronto, Canada.
DeSena had $7,400, while Dioro and Dorey both had $14,600, leaving room for DeSena to potentially cause an upset.
The category was ‘poetry and places,’ with the clue stating: “It’s the geographic word in the title of a Robert Burns poem about ‘the mountains … covered with snow … the straths & green valleys below’.”
Dioro answered ‘Scotland,’ DeSena said ‘Moor,’ and Dorey closed with ‘highland,’ which host Ken Jennings accepted, doubling Dorey’s score to $29,200.
The actual answer was ‘highlands,’ as Jennings clarified: “‘My Heart’s In The Highlands‘ is the name of the poem.”
Although the judges allowed some leeway due to a technicality, viewers disagreed with the decision.
One reader responded: “Asking for the word is singular….so is Highland. The clue is ambiguous, thus open to interpretation. Case closed.”
Another argued: “And the single WORD is Highlands. It’s not open to interpretation. Case successfully appealed!”
What do you think about the situation? Personally, I think it’s understandable to let him off, but I’m not a regular viewer.