Jeopardy! Audience Reacts as New Twists Conclude an Unforgettable Week

Jeopardy! Fans Rave Over a Week of Thrilling Gameplay

Jeopardy! fans are buzzing about what they’re calling one of the most exciting weeks of regular-season gameplay in recent memory. The streak of nail-biting matches came to a head on Friday, March 14, 2025, with another intense showdown featuring a returning champ and two fresh challengers.

Jack Goldfisher, a screenwriter and director from Los Angeles, California, returned after pocketing $32,401 in Thursday’s game. He faced off against Alex DeFrank, a Brooklyn, New York native, and Jamie Hare, a library worker from Decatur, Georgia.

The first round kicked off with DeFrank taking an early lead. He nailed all six $200 clues and racked up seven correct answers in the first 15 clues, heading into the commercial break with a commanding $4,800. Goldfisher held his own with six correct responses, totaling $2,800, while Hare trailed with two correct answers and $400.

During the contestant interviews, Goldfisher shared his quirky love for the discontinued candy Good & Plenty, a theater snack he misses dearly. He’d also revealed on Thursday that a broken thumb nearly derailed his Jeopardy! dreams the day before his original call, but fate gave him a second shot this year. Hare spoke about her year in India working on her Ph.D., while DeFrank reminisced about his brief fourth-grade basketball stint guarding none other than rapper Romeo.

Late in the round, DeFrank uncovered the first Daily Double and seized the moment. Sitting at $6,800, he doubled his score to $13,600 with the clue: “During the American Revolution, one German state made about 13 years of tax revenue by renting out soldiers known as these.” His spot-on response? “What are Hessian mercenaries?” The round wrapped with DeFrank at $14,400, Goldfisher at $4,200, and Hare at $1,200.

Double Jeopardy flipped the script as Hare surged ahead. She snagged both Daily Doubles in the round, tying DeFrank for the lead. The first came with: “In 1976, Lady Oracle, about writer Joan Foster, was reviewed as ‘the most cheerful novel’ by this Canadian woman.” Hare confidently answered, “Who is Atwood?” doubling her score to $6,400. Later, she hit the second Daily Double: “Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is the solar system’s largest; this appropriately named moon of Saturn is a close second.” “What is Titan?” she replied, boosting her total to $14,400—matching DeFrank.

Despite DeFrank’s impressive 24 correct answers in Double Jeopardy, Hare’s strategic Daily Double plays kept her in contention with 15 correct responses. Heading into Final Jeopardy, the scores stood at DeFrank with $26,400, Hare at $21,200, and Goldfisher at $6,200. As always, the final round held the power to shake things up.

The Final Jeopardy category was “21st Century Broadway,” with the clue: “A review of this musical noted ‘sacrilege’ & said it was ‘blasphemous’ but ‘its heart is as pure as… a Rodgers & Hammerstein show.’” All three contestants correctly answered, “What is The Book of Mormon?” It came down to their wagers. Goldfisher bet $2,200, finishing with $8,400. Hare wagered $5,201, landing at $26,401—a single dollar more than DeFrank’s total would’ve been if he’d missed it. But DeFrank, betting $16,001, clinched the win with $42,401. He’ll return Monday, March 17, to face two new opponents.

This week’s rollercoaster of competition has fans hooked. It began with Harvey Silikovitz, whose two-game run and viral karaoke video lit up social media. James Corson then stole the spotlight with two jaw-dropping games, only for a Wednesday contestant to charm viewers with a tale of rescuing a drowning man. Goldfisher’s thumb injury story on Thursday added to the week’s unforgettable moments.

“Man, this has been one of the fiercest weeks of regular Jeopardy! I can recall,” one Reddit user posted. Another gushed, “Wow! The contestants weren’t kidding—these episodes were packed with incredible talent. It’s rare to see so many players with long-run potential in one week. That’s what makes Jeopardy! so thrilling!” A third chimed in, “They all brought their A-game!”

Catch Jeopardy! weekdays—check your local listings for times.