'Jeopardy!' contestant reveals what becoming a champion feels like: 'Proud to be a nerd'
Becoming a champion on "Jeopardy!" has turned people into legends on the show and even paved the way for its current host, Ken Jennings, to attain TV stardom. The latest contestant to scale success on the show is a middle school teacher named Joseph Evans, who became the champion with his one-day total of $15,529 in a thrilling game. After his win, he spoke to ABC7 News, expressing how overwhelming everything was after his victory.
Evans went up against Joyelle McSweeney, a poet and the reigning champion from South Bend, Indiana, and Aaron Himmel, a stay-at-home dad, former executive producer of "The Brutalist", from Long Island, New York. McSweeney, who had a one-day total of $17,700 after a runaway game, returned to face steep competition from the two men, who seemed to be prepared to challenge her crown. In the end, Evan bested Himmel in the very end, to emerge as the new champion.
Speaking to his local ABC news station, Evans expressed that he wanted to get on the show forever, but finally got the courage to try out, in his middle age. “I think 95% of Jeopardy! Contestants all watched it when we were growing up, and we all were yelling at the TV, the answers. And I just figured it was time, in my middle age, that was time to take the test," he said to the outlet. He further admitted that he was "proud to be a nerd" and that he loved his job. “I like teaching middle school. I don’t say exactly how many years I’ve been teaching, but I tell the kids more than 10,” he added.
Evans, the middle Global Humanities teacher, started off well as he took a $2,000 lead over McSweeney. While Himmel briefly took the overall lead with $5,600, Evans trailed close behind with $5,400, according to TV Insider. Himmel eventually stretched his lead by getting the second Daily Double and got into the lead with $15,000, going into Final Jeopardy. Evans and McSweeney trailed with $9,000 and $3,600, respectively.
The category in Final Jeopardy was "Literary Characters," and the clue read, “‘Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!’ says this man.” Evans got the correct answer, "Who is Ebenezer Scrooge?", after wagering $6,529. He became the new champion with a total of $15,529.
Evans told the local news outlet that the support has been overwhelming since he announced his appearance on the show. “I’ve been blown away by the support, by people asking when I’m going to be on. It really was a dream come true. The other thing about Jeopardy! is that you only get on once, you can’t come back later, or unless they want you back, like, that’s your one shot. So you better enjoy it, and I really did,” Evans said.
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