When looking at the world of game shows, there is only one that comes close to a cultural landmark. While many have come close to capturing the enthusiasm of competition, only Jeopardy! has managed to endure. It could be the infinite charm of host Alex Trebek, or that its formula is infinitely meme-worthy, able to produce small snafus that are delightfully strange. For a show where the only catch is to question an answer, it has managed to sustain our interest for all this time. It’s a celebration of intellect and individuality, proving that everyone is capable of winning so long as they have the passion.
The Cult of Jeopardy! is a very nerdy one, and it’s amazing to note how many contestants’ lives have been changed for appearing on the show. They have been celebrated, praised by strangers, and in some cases given a second lease on life. There is something powerful about knowing that a TV show can be a beacon of hope for the geniuses in our lives, whether they be gamblers like recent phenomenon “Jeopardy James” Holzhauer or humble teachers who never expected to have online fan pages.
While the show is on hiatus at the moment, this week feels special for a variety of reasons. For starters, it’s Trebek’s 80th birthday. He’s also published his memoir “The Answer Is…” which chronicles his life and gives a personal look at the many that hundreds (maybe even thousands) of contestants admire. Following his recent experience with pancreatic cancer, the past few years have been a victory lap for him as he’s produced endless specials and reminded audiences of why the show will always matter, even if it will feel lesser without him.
Since there are way too many contestants to cram into one list, I’ve decided to take a look at my Top 5 favorite from the past decade. This isn’t based on who was necessarily the best or most competitive, but who personally connected with me and made every night exciting. As a Jeopardy! Nerd™ myself, these people have become welcomed faces every time that they pop up, reminding me that we all start the same way: an unknown fighting for that chance at glory. This list will only include players who debuted after 2010, meaning that figures like Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter will not be included. Still, it’s a delightful bunch worthy of recognition.
If you have a favorite contestant that I didn’t include, feel free to leave them in the comments section. I love talking about these great minds and everything that they achieve.
1. Austin Rogers
It can be argued that nobody this decade had quite a boost from Jeopardy! that this New York bartender had. From the moment that he stepped onto the stage, he brought with him an enthusiasm and willingness to be a clown. Even if he wasn’t the first, he revolutionized the introductory segment with physical gags, making every appearance feel special in these small unexpected ways. Even when he got a question wrong, he had this disarming charm of being flippant. If there is a poster child for how Jeopardy! champions should be, Rogers raised the bar by making you feel joy for just being there.
Rogers is arguably one of the most genuine players in the show’s entire history. What he lacks in racking up the highest scores he more than makes up for with making you want to watch. Most of all, he could back up the buffoonery with a competitive streak that felt effortless. Nothing was greater than watching him get to a Double Jeopardy. Just as it looked like he would bomb, he gives an off the cuff remark that benefits him greatly. He made answering questions into an art form, and there is a reason that he’s been one of the most frequent returning champions in the years since.
As mentioned, there have been better contestants in terms of play, but nobody has been as magnetic as Rogers. If anything, he’s a reminder that this isn’t a show where everyone needs to be deathly serious. You can have fun while being super smart. He just happened to have one of the most entertaining folkloric origins of any contestant, able to make him seem much more humble and approachable than just about anyone else. Who expected a bartender to become a Jeopardy! sensation? Nobody did, and that’s only one reason that makes him infinitely watchable.
2. Colby Burnett
Much like Rogers, Burnett’s humble beginnings allow his story to become more endearing, also making him a fixture on the quiz show circuit. That’s for good reason. As one of the many teachers to have won on Jeopardy!, he has become a beacon of hope for anyone wanting to use their book smarts to their fullest advantage. He just so happens to do it with such confidence that he becomes an endearing force to watch. He clearly cares about his profession, often taking chances to talk about how his winnings have improved his classroom activities. Because he can come across as stuffy sometimes, the moments where he gets a good joke in lands with far more aplomb than just about any other contestant.
Of course, what places Burnett on another level is the fact that he’s the first person to win both The Teacher's Tournament and The Tournament of Champions. He’s someone who has the charisma to endure, reflecting the strength of competition and wits in equal measure. Compared to everyone else on this list, he’s doesn’t have as much of a hook to his personality, and yet I find him to be one of the most charming players to ever grace the stage. I love watching him pop up years later on The All-Star Tournament of Champions, working on strategy. He’s ultimately one of those who cares so much about the game that it shines through in his performances. If I were ever to be on the show, I could do worse than have someone like Burnett tutoring me.
3. Buzzy Cohen
He is maybe the flashiest Jeopardy! champion of the recent era. If you ever saw him, you’d recognize him immediately. He opened every episode by brushing off his shoulders, putting on a show, and playfully antagonizing contestants. There’s a good reason why he immediately shot up among the greats. Beyond his wicked skills with a buzzer, he just had a personality that made you want to spend more time with him. Like Rogers, he was the type you felt like you could get drinks with and nerd out about every aspect of trivia. He had a warmth to his competitiveness that never made him feel intimidating.
Along with his various appearances, he’s become one of the most enjoyable winners in additional Jeopardy!-sanctioned entertainment. During the All-Star Tournament, he was quick to have a playful rivalry with Rogers, creating this adorable competition within the structure. At the end of the day, Cohen understood that part of the draw of watching the show was having fun with everything. He remains one of the most recognizable and approachable people to have played, even earning a deserved Tournament of Champions win. For someone who would likely smoke you in a typical game, he’s still able to treat it like a friendly game of wits. He’s the perfect balance of personality and is a joy to watch every time he comes on.
4. Matt Jackson
Oh man, is there nobody quite as distinctive in the show’s recent history as Matt Jackson. I love the guy, but he’s one of the most meme-inducing performers out there. Due to his intense smile, many saw him as a psychopath. When he lifted his fingers to indicate how many days he had won, the popular joke was that he was telling you how many bodies he had buried in his backyard. For those who think that’s harsh, just know that he’s someone who feels wired for competition, so in tune with the board that he’s playing at double speed, practically shouting his answers from sheer exhilaration.
Jackson is an intense guy, and despite sometimes coming across as impersonal you can’t help but admire his passion. He clearly cares too much about getting a question right and it’s refreshing given that he’ll often catch you off-guard with how quick he is. With that said, I’ll always admire those moments when he gets to add his own warped sense of humor. When answering a question about Broadway, he used jazz hands. It’s the little moments like this that keep him from being entirely alien. I love watching him get into a rhythm and nobody is quite as fun when he finds that groove.
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| I'm glad he shortened his name from this mouthful |
5. Arthur Chu
There was a time when Chu was considered to be a very controversial Jeopardy! champion. Before James Holzhauer came and reinvented the game, he received complaints about not playing the game in a fashion that gelled with decades of strategy. When he took to the board, he often went after high point values immediately, searching for Daily Doubles that would inflate his score to an insurmountable lead. He practically worked the board from the bottom up, and in the process became one of the least predictable champions of the era. The debate became whether he was the smartest player or just one who played the game with unethical measures.
Frankly, Holzhauer is more unfair than Chu ever was. With that said, he deserves credit for introducing the modern aesthetic of the game. Instead of doing an uneventful top to bottom game, everyone now jumps around, doing everything to make the game livelier. In hindsight the controversy surrounding him was overblown. The reason people got worked up was because of how great he was as a player, able to play among the best. While I’m sad to not see him in more recent all-star tournaments, I’m glad that he was able to make the game more interesting. Very few people have played it straight ever since, and we all have Chu to thank for normalizing this and proving just how well this can work.
Honorable Mention
Cindy Stowell
In a great history of champions, very few had a story as sentimental as Cindy Stowell. When her episodes aired, she had passed away from cancer. One of the agreements between her and the Jeopardy! staff was that they wouldn’t reveal the results to anyone she knew. As a result, watching the highly publicized episodes became event viewing. Even if she was on for only an episode, it would be this thrilling moment. Everyone dreamed about being on Jeopardy!, so to have this final wish come true was already a beautiful moment for everyone watching.
The fact that she went on to win only made things more incredible. All expectations were out the window for the next few games as she racked up a healthy amount. If judged on her skill alone, she ranks as one who would easily have made The Tournament of Champions. Unfortunately, the story didn’t end with that moment of glory. What it did end with was one of the most exciting series of episodes that proved how diverse the contestants were, where even cancer couldn’t keep them from leaving their mark on game show history.
This is a show where I could easily go on and on with Honorable Mentions. It was difficult to whittle down to this list. It’s hard to leave off such people as Teen Tournament phenomenon Monica Thieu, or the librarian who took down Holzhauer named Emma Boettcher. I’d even include Watson the IBM Machine. There are so many people that have made this show an essential viewing every night. Even the reruns hold up. I hope that the show does return and that Trebek does continue to be in top form. Otherwise, I’d suggest checking out his new memoir “The Answer Is…” and getting in on this great and loving cult. We welcome anyone willing to play trivia with us.
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