Controversy on ‘Jeopardy!’ Due to a ‘Bad Call’ and a Confusing Final Clue

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Jeopardy! fans have some grievances about the latest episode.

On the Monday, October 7 installment of the long-running game show, contestant Mark Fitzpatrick returned after his Friday, October 4, win of $30,401. Fitzpatrick, a content manager hailing from Greenwich, Connecticut, went up against teacher Daniel Gately from Tucson, Arizona, and Canadian communications advisor Amanda Prusila. The Connecticut native went into the Final Jeopardy with a comfortable lead; he was sitting at $23,400, Gately was at $4,200, and Prusila had $600.

There were two points of contention from the episode. First, host Ken Jennings repeatedly asked players to be “more specific,” so fans were confused when the 50-year-old did not relay that to Fitzpatrick for his answer to the National Historical Parks clue. The $1,200 clue in question read, “The Hereford cattle on the ranch of this president’s historical national park are descended from his registered herd.” Fitzpatrick responded, “Who is Johnson?” Jennings confirmed his answer was correct, stating, “Yes, LBJ’s right.”

Viewers were annoyed that the game show host did not ask for greater specificity on Fitzpatrick’s answer because there was more than one U.S. president, with the last named Johnson — Lyndon B. Johnson and Andrew Johnson.

“There ABSOLUTELY should have been a ‘be more specific’ prompt on the Hereford cattle clue — two U.S. Presidents had the surname Johnson! Come on, Ken.#Jeopardy,” one person posted on X (formerly known as Twitter.)

Additionally, some fans found the Final Jeopardy clue too difficult. Coming from the Brand Names category, the clue was, “In 1886 this brand’s bookkeeper came up with its name & flowing script logo, saying, ‘the two Cs would look well in advertising.'” Fitzpatrick and Prusila both guessed Coco Chanel, while Gately answered Currier.

“I didn’t get it either. I don’t think it should have been considered an easy one.,” a fan commented via X.

“Triple stumper FJ today in a tougher-than-it-should-be clue. I wonder if they would have accepted Coke instead of Coca-Cola. Mark Fitzpatrick becomes a 2-day #Jeopardy champ in a runaway. He’ll go for 3 tomorrow.,” another viewer posted on the platform.

However, some people believed it wasn’t a difficult question at all.

“@Jeopardy Cannot believe that all three contestants missed such an obvious Final Jeopardy question: What is Coca Cola?,” another person wrote on X.

Season 42 of Jeopardy! is currently airing on ABC.