New Jeopardy! Champ Rhone Talsma on Beating Amy Schneider: ‘I Did Not Expect’ to ‘Slay the Giant’
Jeopardy!‘s new champ is just as surprised as the rest of us.
Rhone Talsma, who will go down in game show history as the contestant who ended Amy Schneider’s staggering 40-day winning streak, says his victory has left him “in shock,” adding, “This is my favorite show. I was so excited to be here and I just wanted to do my best. I did not expect to be facing a 40-day champion, and I was excited to maybe see someone else slay the giant. I just really didn’t think it was going to be me, so I’m thrilled.”
As we reported, Talsma — a librarian from Chicago — finished in first place in Wednesday’s episode with $29,600 (to Schneider’s $19,600). His path to the winners’ circle was foreshadowed after he nailed a key Daily Double clue late in the Double Jeopardy! round, which kept the game competitive heading into Final Jeopardy! (where Schneider led Talsma $27,600 had $17,600).
The Final Jeopardy! category was “Countries in the World” and the clue read: “The only nation in the world whose name in English ends with an H, it’s also one of the 10 most populous.” The correct response: “What is Bangladesh?”
Talsma responded correctly; Schneider left her response card blank.
In addition to holding the No. 2 spot on the all-time consecutive wins list behind only current host Ken Jennings (74 wins), Schneider ranks in fourth place on the all-time regular season cash winnings list behind Matt Amodio ($1,518,601), James Holzhauer ($2,462,216), and Jennings ($2,520,700).
Can’t believe she missed that question. Not even taking a guess? Outstanding run by her though.
It isn’t a question you can even take a guess on. Either the country that ends with an H comes to mind or you’re getting it wrong. Writing Americah or Indiah just makes you look stupid.
I think she knew the answer……….
We thought the same thing. It wasn’t really that hard.
If they knew the answer then they would have got it correct, I hate this stupid narrative that surrounds each contestant after they finally lose. People do not give up easy money, you would have to be insane to give up a “job” paying you average 40k an hour.
My wife and I are so proud of Amy and her run of 40 wins. She is amazing!! Rooting for her at the next Tournament of Champions!!!
Good run for Amy. I’ve been watching everyday cheering her on. Shame I’m not connecting with the person that beat her so he’ll be easy to root against. Lol.
I have only watched clips of last night’s show, and he definitely looks like he’ll be a handful. :p
I stopped watching her, she became quite a bore , day after day, with no chance for the others. When she became smug, that’s when I changed the channel. So I guess we are in the same thoughts only with different people,
Same here. Excited to see a new champ who seems truly humble and delightful.
I agree about the increasing smugness. Glad for the change.
Felt the same way
I think she finally had the opportunity to bow out gracefully and took it No way she could have not known the answer Too easy
I wondered the same thing. The clue of the nation being one of the ten most populous in the world would naturally point one in the direction of Asia, I think, and then yes, of course, it’s Bangladesh. I believe she may have just been flat-out tired. Five shows a day? That’s a lot. Sorry to see her go, regardless.
I couldn’t stand her either…I don’t know what it was…but she was kind of smug and really fast on that buzzer, like she practiced it a zillion times. I don’t know…something was off for me.
Yes, she was very “fast on that buzzer.” So what skin off your nose is it? Being able to buzz in more quickly than the competition is a strategy, and if “she practiced it a zillion times,” good for her for her preparation to compete.
LOL. It sure as Hell wasn’t any skin off my nose.
I am NOT happy about this guy ending my brilliant Amy’s winning streak! Amy is my favorite ever Jeopardy contestant. Excited to learn what other opportunities await her!
so proud of her! It was such an odd way for her to go out. You would think out of all the things she has gotten correct on this show that question would be fairly easy for her. Oh well, can’t wait for the tournament of champions!
I am glad Amy has finally lost….was getting so tired of that he/she. Finally others will get the chance to play the game. She did well, but I tired of her winning every game. We knew who would always win before the game began!
Enjoy being a garbage human being.
Amy is a “she,” not a “he/she.” And you know Christine, you could have changed the channel or shut off your television at any time along the way.
Amy, I have cheered for you everyday. Today I missed the show. My husband said,” It is best you did not see i.”
I regularly play Sporcle geography quizzes and I drew a blank in that one (came to me eventually). Just one of those things. Well done, Rhone.
I think I would have too had I not bought a tunic labeled “Made in Bangladesh” this past weekend. But that the nation was in the ten most populous immediately put my head in Asia. I’ll miss Amy, but Rhone looks like a little character and was clearly giddy over his win. He’ll be fun to watch.
Amy I have cheered everyday, but I missed today. My husband said it was best I did not see the loss. I will be a good sport. Congratulations, new winner.
Just google final jeopardy question from today
Soooooo glad that “Amy” lost finally. It was boring to pretty much know who would win each night. I wasn’t a fan of the winner all along. I will say this though- a well-rounded in knowledge person. I was happy to say that I actually got the answer right and so glad Rhone did too.
From the start of this game we noticed Amy was “off”. It just didn’t seem to be her day but I feel terrible she’s gone. The new champion seems like a nice guy but I’ll miss Amy….just like I missed Matt…..just like I missed James…..
Well said Cathy!! I miss them all too!
Yes, it’s easy to get invested in contestants who are around for awhile, wanting to see just how long they can hang on. And when they’re humble and pleasant, like Amy and Matt Amodio, that’s very easy to do.
Amy’s run has been amazing. Can’t wait to see her on Tournament of Champions! Her and Matt will be fun to watch.
Smug?!!! How about modest and humble. Gosh. smh Why be so judgemental and ugly.
Agreed! Not one smug thing about Amy.
Agreed. Matt was smug. Amy was not.
I agree. It was amusing to see how sometimes she was taken aback by having given a correct answer after obviously guessing. But she was so good at figuring out clues embedded in the “questions” that her guesses were more often than not, correct. Not even close to be smug.
I am so so so happy their run is over, I hate long runs by players and tbh I honestly think Jeopardy now rigs the games in favour of these long streaks. Weird how we’re seeing all these people doing it since poor Alex passed, why rig it? Ratings were down and then they spiked as champs kept winning. It feels like the integrity is gone since Alex and the producer parted.
Oh, poppycock. Stop with the “rigged” nonsense. Merely thinking a thing is this or that way, does not qualify as empirical evidence. Unlikely that Jeopardy’s producers would risk the show’s legacy by fixing games.
Did I ever say I know for certain it is rigged? No, I said “I think” so blow your empirical evidence out your you know what and I think it’s absolutely adorable that you would think people in tv and film have morals when their show is on the verge of being cancelled and them being out of work.
I am very suspicious though, we suddenly got multiple runs after ratings bombed that were super rare when Alex was guiding the ship. Not evidence but highly suspect.
It is so much fun to watch a champion when they get on a winning streak! Amy was fun to watch, she did so good. FYI I did not get Bangeladesh either!! Rhone rocked that answer!!
Thank goodness I have watched Jeopardy for years with my mother. Amy was so smug and and even appeared to be rude sometimes. Please go back to five wins and no more give other people a chance to get on the board. It got so boring I stopped watching it was excited to see her lose to anyone.
My father and I watch together almost every single night until one of these people go on a streak and then we stop until they lose. Nothing is worst to me than the same boring show night after night after night, I have no interest in watching a single contestant just pretty much read me a book for 20 mins a night. I like when there is legit competition.
I heard they are considering going back to the 5 wins and done way so keep your fingers crossed the rumblings are right and we can keep watching with our parents each night.