Who won Jeopardy! tonight? December 20, 2024, Friday

Modified Dec 21, 2024 00:40 GMT

Jeopardy! fans eagerly tuned in tonight, December 20, 2024, to find out who triumphed in the latest episode of the iconic quiz show. There was an exciting competition that night between Maria Lauro from Pittsburgh, Joe Asaminew from Winnipeg, and Laura Faddah from Memphis. Each person brought something different to the podium, making for an interesting and suspenseful show.

In tonight's episode of Jeopardy!, Laura Faddah won, making her a two-day champion and giving her a total of $17,000. During Final Jeopardy!, her smart play helped her beat her opponents, Maria and Joe, who won $799 and $5,000, respectively. Laura won because she consistently performed well, demonstrating her intelligence and how quickly she could think under pressure.

With its trivia, strategy, and charming hosts, Jeopardy! has long been a staple of American TV. Its broad testing format has made it popular with contestants and viewers. Tonight's episode showed the show's longevity and ability to inspire contestants.

Jeopardy! episode highlights on December 20, 2024

Tonight's Jeopardy! episode was memorable because of the tough competition and strategic gameplay. There were different categories in the episode that tested the contestants' quick thinking and knowledge. The questions ranged from Fountains and TV to Business Names and Numeric Phrases.

Jeopardy round

In the initial Jeopardy! round, Maria Lauro made a strong start by answering six clues correctly, leading the board with a score of $5,200. Joe Asaminew and Laura Faddah followed closely behind with scores of $3,800 and $4,800, respectively. Maria's impressive opening set the tone for the competition, showcasing her extensive knowledge and quick response time.

Double Jeopardy round

They both lost $2,000 on Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy round, which made things more tense. Maria stayed ahead by correctly answering important clues, while Joe tried to make a comeback. At the end of this round, Maria had the highest score, followed by Laura and Joe. This set the stage for a very exciting Final Jeopardy.

Final Jeopardy round

The Final Jeopardy category was Movies & The Law, a tricky subject that tested the contestants' ability to connect cinema with legal terminology. Laura made a conservative wager, which ultimately paid off as she correctly answered the question, "What is the RICO Act?" Her careful strategy allowed her to secure the win, while Maria and Joe fell short despite their efforts.

Contestant profiles

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Maria Lauro

Maria Lauro, a contract specialist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, brought a wealth of knowledge to the game. As a dedicated quiz bowl and history bowl mother, Maria demonstrated her expertise by leading the early rounds with multiple correct responses. However, her strong performance was not enough to overcome Laura's final play.

Joe Asaminew

Joe Asaminew, an ER physician from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, showcased his quick thinking and medical knowledge throughout the episode.

Despite a solid start and a near comeback, Joe faced challenges with a few incorrect answers that ultimately limited his final score. His resilience and competitive spirit were evident, making him a formidable contestant.

Laura Faddah

Laura Faddah, a manager from Memphis, Tennessee, entered the game as a returning champion. With a one-day total of $11,200, Laura aimed to defend her title against strong competitors.

Her strategic wagering and accurate responses in Final Jeopardy secured her victory once again, highlighting her consistent performance and deep understanding of the game.

Game recap and tonight’s game stats

Jeopardy round

Categories: Fountains; TV; Smooth As Silk; Business Names; Science Bookshelf; Numeric Phrases

Performance:
Maria Lauro: Answered 6 correct, 0 incorrect
Laura Faddah: Answered 4 correct, 0 incorrect
Joe Asaminew: Answered 5 correct, 1 incorrect

Scores at first break (15 clues):

Maria: $4,000
Laura: $2,400
Joe: $2,000

Interviews:

Maria Lauro: Quiz bowl and history bowl mom, thanked her husband
Joe Asaminew: Shared a personal story about punching a doctor at age 5
Laura Faddah: Mentioned celebrating Dip-mas over the holidays

End of Jeopardy round (30 clues):

Maria: 9 correct, 0 incorrect - $5,200
Laura: 9 correct, 0 incorrect - $4,800
Joe: 8 correct, 1 incorrect - $3,800

Double Jeopardy round

Categories: Historic Songs Of The Brits; Computer Tech; World Religion; Mr. & Mrs. Lit; Pop Culture Physics; “Hog” Calling
Performance:
Both Laura and Joe lost $2,000 each on Daily Doubles.
Maria: Answered clue #29 correctly to lead by $400 going into Final Jeopardy!

Statistics after Double Jeopardy:

Maria: 16 correct, 0 incorrect
Laura: 16 correct, 1 incorrect
Joe: 16 correct, 4 incorrect

Scores going into final:

Maria: $10,800
Laura: $10,400
Joe: $9,000

Final Jeopardy round

Category: Movies & The Law
Clue: “Drafters…have to have a little fun sometimes,” said the author of this law when asked if he was inspired by 1931’s “Little Caesar”
Correct response: "What is the RICO Act?"

Wagers and results:

Joe Asaminew: Wagered $4,000, final score $5,000 - Response: "What is the Taft-Hartley Act?"
Laura Faddah: Wagered $4,600, final score $5,800 - Correct response: "What is the RICO Act?"
Maria Lauro: Wagered $10,001, final score $799 - Response: "What is Jackie The Child ar"

Final scores

Laura Faddah: $5,800 (2-day total: $17,000) - Winner
Joe Asaminew: $5,000
Maria Lauro: $799

Tonight’s results:

Joe $9,000 – $4,000 = $5,000 (What is the Taft-Hartley Act)
Laura $10,400 – $4,600 = $5,800 (What is ?) (2-day total: $17,000)
Maria $10,800 – $10,001 = $799 (What is Jackie The Child ar)

Tonight's episode of Jeopardy! added another exciting chapter to the show's long history. Laura Faddah won as she played strategically and had good knowledge about the game. This shows that she is a strong competitor.

The episode showed the wide range of categories and tough competition that make Jeopardy! a popular game show. With interesting contestants and hard questions, Jeopardy! continues to captivate viewers and encourage them to learn more.