It takes a lot of smarts to get opt forJeopardy!—but even impertinent people freeze under insistence sometimes . Here are 10 of those instances .
1. THE $75,000 GAMBLE
Seventeen - year - old Leonard Cooper was pretty trusted he was pop off to make headway the 2013Jeopardy ! Teen Tournamentand take home the grand swag of $ 75,000 . And when you ’re that surefooted in a win , it does n’t really matter what your answer is .
2. WATSON’S BIG ERROR
Even computers mess up sometimes , as IBM ’s question answering reckoner prove in 2011 . Though Watson leave out the Gospel According to Mark , the coach of the Watson undertaking was actuallypleasedwith the computer ’s public presentation : The multiple question marks showed that Watson " realized " it was unable to tuck enough information to be positive in its answer .
3. THE MOST AWKWARD ANSWER EVER
In April 2015 , a contestant replied to an ungainly resolution with an embarrassing head . For the record , the correct reply was " puberty . "
4. A VERY COSTLY NICKNAME
Though he would have advance with a correct answer , this teen tournament contender drop off everything after making a costly spelling mistake .
5. WOLF BLITZER GETS EVERYTHING WRONG
Feel like you never get anyJeopardy!questions right ? You ’ll feel well after find out this clipping of CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer puff it over and over again .
6. A SHORT WORKDAY INDEED
To be fair , this contestant was plausibly refer tothis , notthis .
7. SOUNDS LIKE A BOND GIRL REJECT
In 2011 , a Teen Tournament contestant named Raya buzzed in without really knowing how to answer . Her attempt to take in the blank is at least PG-13 .
8. CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
Contestant Jonathan Couser had a similar experience in 2013 , when he buzz in thinking he could guess the answer based on the hint . He could n’t .
9. KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR’S ANSWER IS BETTER THAN THE RIGHT ONE
During " Power Players Week " in 2012 , Kareem Abdul - Jabbar give an wrong response — but the jape it arrive from the crowd should have been deserving a few bucks .
10. OOPS, WRONG SPORT
Though buzzing in ahead of time can provide an advantage , it can also compensate to mind to the whole interrogation first . We ’re guessing this dissenter stopped paying care after " assist . "
