Around the time that Amy Schneider made her debut on Jeopardy!, there was one question looming large in the viewers’ minds. With the anniversary of Alex Trebek’s passing, one has to wonder just what the show would be without him. Following the Mike Richards scandal, it was a bumpy road back to one inevitable truth: it was always about the contestant. As much as Trebek had become a personality, it was complementary to the contestants. He kept the show moving forward, never allowing awkward fumbles to destroy the momentum. He will always be considered one of the TV greats, though for some it maybe has been harder to accept his replacements Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik. Could Jeopardy! survive without him?
As evident with Schneider’s recent historic 40-day win, the answer is not just yes but an enthusiastic “Of course!” The show was never about him. It was about the addictive nature of trivia presented in a timeless format. The intensity was based on who could navigate the board, strategically collecting money that would give them an easy advantage. Some continue to argue that the format is unfair with calls for limits, but that would take something away from the show. The most noteworthy is the unpredictable nature of who could take down a giant whether it be one game or 20. It’s not only evident in the meteoric rise of Schneider as a public figure, but for Jennings himself who is quickly celebrating 20 years as Jeopardy!’s greatest achievement. You too could go on the show and have your life changed not only financially, but as a welcomed celebrity, a harborer of knowledge.
In late 2021 alone, the first full season without Trebek has had TWO incredible runs. First was Matt Amodio with a 38 day win that made him the fourth millionaire in the show’s history. Given that it had been three years since James Holzhauer’s game-breaking run, nobody expected Schneider to show up two months later and not only rival Amodio, but in some fields beat him. With a 40 day win, she not only became the first woman to win a million, but is also the longest-winning champion behind Jennings and the first transgender woman to be eligible for The Tournament of Champions.
Like the best of champions, Schneider’s rise starts unassumingly with a few wins building a base that she grew from. Many have been able to maintain a 10 day winning streak, but who could possibly go for four times that? Most can get by on colorful personalities, but there was something more modest about Schneider. While praised for her intellect and competitive nature, she was humble, smiling whenever Johnny Gilbert read her name. There was always the sense that winning meant the world to her. Even early on she joked about how she wanted to win more money than her sibling did on the show. At the time that could’ve just meant five games. Instead, it blossomed quickly into buzzworthy accomplishments.
As much as Jeopardy! is just a show about trivia, there was something about those 40 times that the host interviewed Schneider. It’s daunting to think of one thing that a contestant could be interviewed about, making the most of the only deliberately spontaneous moment in the entire show. It’s a chance to build empathy through your own personal interests. Having those chances to explore her life created a richer understanding of who she was. She often spoke of activities she did with her girlfriend, these playful moments from her childhood that endeared her to the public. In one of the cuter stories, she talked about her secret tattoo, which had to be covered up for the show. As she wrote on Twitter:
“My tattoo is indeed of Ozma of Oz. For those who don’t know, L. Frank Baum wrote many sequels to The Wizard of Oz, and in all of them the ruler of Oz was Princess Ozma. She had been the rightful heir, but was kidnapped as a baby by a sorceress, who enchanted her to become a boy. Eventually, the enchantment is lifted, and she is revealed to be the beautiful princess she always was. So it seemed like the perfect image to commemorate my transition!”
These sweet tidbits slowly sprinkled throughout the series’ run, allowing for to express queerness in a modest way. At no point did Jennings take offense at her being transgender, if anything poking fun at her being intimidating for her winning streak. Here she was, standing her own against dozens of contestants.
In her own quiet way, it was empowering to see her blaze a trail. While being eligible for The Tournament of Champions would’ve been enough, what she ended up doing was far more impressive and unexpected than anyone could’ve guessed. Every episode felt like it knocked down another barrier, at one point topping Julia Collins for highest earnings from a woman and then becoming the first woman in the show’s history to earn a million. If anyone wants to know why game limits are silly, it’s this. The curiosity to see how long a genius can go for is addictive. Sometimes it’s dull, but as made clear repeatedly by Jennings, Schneider had an enviable skill when it came to betting, especially in Final Jeopardy where she dominated until her closing stretch of episodes.
Of course, while Jeopardy! did a phenomenal job of making her an easy contestant to root for, the greater world was more divided. Schneider would be the first to mention that she hoped that her success would prove to be a positive role model for other queer people. The idea of being praised not for being trans but being very smart meant a lot. Even in her farewell interview, she talked about how she hoped everyone could be proud of their identity and not be scared to embrace who they are. At the same time, it’s okay to not be defined by one’s gender or sexuality alone. Every human has a dimension, and that’s the value of those 40 interviews. She was allowed to talk about what brought her joy, some awkward moments from her life that made her more relatable. In some respect, she was no different from anyone else, and that was incredible.
Her wins don’t in any way feel radical. They are just a component of the show. Still to put Schneider into the greater context makes her much more endearing. A lot of the modern era has been defined by states doing what they can to pass anti-transgender legislation. Conversations around sports have been especially prevalent, which became abundantly clear in how some approached her wins. Initial criticism tried to suggest that she had some unfair advantage because of her identity, that she was just a man in a dress. Those familiar with transphobic rhetoric will recognize these arguments. At a certain point, even the quietly homophobic crowd got their input by saying “I’m happy for her, but why do they have to make a big deal of her being transgender?” Again, this is a detail the show never exploited or ever really mentioned despite her headline-grabbing accomplishments. The conversation remains largely askew, and thankfully Jeopardy! never flirted with the controversy. Schneider ended her run with a smile and the overall reputation of being nice.
And with $1,382,800 in winnings and a 40 day record, Schneider did the unthinkable. As of right now, she’s in the Top 5 highest earning winners in the show’s history. As mentioned on her Twitter in the days to follow, there are many opportunities emerging that are likely to keep in the spotlight for a little longer. For now, she has reminded audiences why Jeopardy! will continue to endure. So long as there are producers and crew members who care about the pursuit of knowledge, the show will function as it always has. Despite initial shakiness following Richards’ exit, it looks like things will be entering a new era with its own form of celebration. As it stands, many are already anticipating the match-up between Amodio and Schneider in the not too distant future.
Quietly but surely, Schneider reminded audiences of why this series remains the most quintessential of game shows. It’s not necessarily about how much is won, but how everyone can compete on a level playing ground and have their lives changed. Over time, personalities build and those lucky enough will become fan favorites for years to come. Who knows if Schneider will have a career on par with Holzhauer, who among other things co-hosts The Chase. It all depends on what she wants.
Still, the doors have been opened. Whether it’s just viewed as an incredible and historic run that continues to prove Jennings can be knocked off his perch with the right gumption or something more tied into identity, there is room for Jeopardy! to continue expanding and invite a wider array of talent onto the show. Even amid controversy, so long as the show sticks to its roots, there will be something to enjoy. The fact that 2021 produced TWO millionaires after years of people missing the mark shows that anything can happen. Who knows what legacy Schneider will leave behind, most notably on the series. Whatever the case may be, she proved what it took to be a champion with grace. It was never about making history. It was just about being able to say you won a few games and beat your siblings at something you both love to do.
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