MAYIM Bialik is hosting the finals of Jeopardy!’s High School Reunion Tournament.
After three sometimes lengthy-seeming weeks without regular episodes it’s set to be a fiery finish.
Jeopardy!’s High School Reunion Tournament is down to the two-episode finalsABCJeopardy!Here’s a look at the three finalists with $100K and a Tournament of Champions slot on the board[/caption]
Mayim, 47 is hosting the last leg of the 14-episode High School Reunion Tournament worth $100K and a slot in the 2023 Tournament of Champions.
27 former Teen Tournament contestants who first duked it out in 2018 and 2019 have competed, and three remain.
Jackson Jones and Justin Bolsen, and Maya Wright will go head-to-head on Wednesday, March 8, and Thursday, March 9.
The finals are a two-day point affair meaning the student with the highest combined score of both games wins – get clued in on each one.
MAYA WRIGHT
Score in quarter-finals game: $20,800 Score in semi-finals game: $15,600Placement in 2018 Teen Tournament: 3rdABCMaya Wright became a finalist after a huge comeback win in the semis[/caption]
ABCShe came in 3rd place in the 2018 Teen Tournament with Claire Sattler and Emma Arnold[/caption]
Maya is an Emory University senior from Peachtree City, Georgia.
She is a human health and Spanish double major and president of the Emory Quiz Bowl team.
Maya came in 3rd place in the 2018 Teen Tournament, making to the finals with eventual winner Claire Sattler and Emma Arnold (a fan-favorite whom execs said “disappointingly” couldn’t return).
The all-out girls club resulted in them becoming “best friends,” Maya and Emma have both said.
Maya is the only past finalist to make it back to the finals again.
This time, she advanced being the only one correct in Final Jeopardy in the semi-finals, and she looked near tears as she booked it from last place to first in an epic comeback beating two boys who previously had runaways.
If Maya wins, she would be the first female to secure a 2023 Tournament of Champions slot – right now the annual event has only men.
JACKSON JONES
Score in quarter-finals game $22,001 Score in semi-finals game: $19,780 Placement in 2019 Teen Tournament: 4thABCJackson Jones is the second finalist and he is on paper the frontrunner[/caption]
JEOPARDY! / ABCHe lost in the 2019 Teen Tournament semi-finals in an ‘incredibly painful’ tiebreaker[/caption]
Jackson is a junior at Vanderbilt University from Louisville Kentucky – he’s back with a vengeance.
Jackson originally lost to 2019 Teen Tournament champ Avi Gupta in the semifinals in an extremely rare tiebreaker.
A tiebreaker entails the two remaining contestants answering a bonus clue; and whoever buzzes in correctly first wins.
Then-host Alex Trebek read the bonus clue as the two had the same scores before and after Final Jeopardy in a shocking moment.
Alex read: “Types of it you could find in Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773 include souchong and bohea.”
Avi [seen above] buzzed in near immediately with “tea” and Jackson looked distraught as if he knew the answer as well.
Jackson could be seen clicking the device to no avail and tossing up his hands in helplessness.
Jackson opened up on the podcast Inside Jeopardy!: “The way I lost last time in a tiebreaker that is on the internet for everyone to see was incredibly painful.”
“I so desperately wanted some sort of redemption and I didn’t think I’d ever get it.”
Jackson trounced Avi in a rematch for the books in his semi-finals game this time around.
He picked up such a solid lead that when he landed on the last Daily Double of Friday’s game – he had $19K and some fun with it.
He told Mayim: “I’ve always wanted to say this…” as the crowd paused in anticipation.
Gasps and “No’s” could be heard as it seemed people were worried he was going to bet the farm.
“$200,” he announced after quite the pause, and the actress doubled over at her podium and the audience just lost it as well.
Jackson is most likely to win on paper with the highest scores of his first two games back.
JUSTIN BOLSEN
Score in quarter-finals game: $23,223Score in semi-finals game: $6.4K Placement in 2019 Teen Tournament: lost in the first roundABCJustin Bolsen is the third finalist and has the most to prove[/caption]
ABCHe lost in the first round as a youngster in 2019[/caption]
Justin is a Brown University freshman studying economics and international and public affairs.
He has the most to prove since he originally lost in the first round in 2019.
During the interview segment, he quipped that his favorite place to study is “the most isolated spot” on campus.
In his quarter-finals game, Justin showed he was not messing around with a huge $8.8K Daily Double bet, and advancing from there.
In the semis he beat Claire Sattler meaning both 2019 and 2018 Teen Tournament winners didn’t make the finals this time.
WHO IS: GOING TO WIN?
Jeopardy! fans booked it to the game show’s Instagram to pick who they think will win.
“Maya seems like such a lovely, nice person – we’ll be cheering for her!” one person commented.
“Rooting for Maya, but I have a feeling Jackson is gonna take it. They’re all so sharp. Gives me a little hope for the future,” applauded another.
“I’m rooting for Justin!!” wrote a third.
Others agreed it seems like Jackson is the frontrunner with the highest score going in.
“What a comeback from Maya!!! Great Game overall!! Congrats to Maya on advancing!!” gushed a fourth.
“I’m just waiting for Ken Jennings to return. Mayim Bialik is crushing the life out of Jeopardy,” barbed a fifth.
The G.O.A.T contestant returns as host on Friday for regular episodes and will be hosting until May 1. Then Mayim will finish out the season.
ABCJackson, Justin, and Maya all beat frontrunners to become the last 3 students standing[/caption]
