One of the Jeopardy! contestants in the February 16 episode only had one hope after a mistake during the Double Jeopardy round — but it looks like he won’t get his wish.
Brad, an actor, competing against Ali, a product manager, and returning champ, Stephen, a data scientist, chose Women Authors for $2000 during the Double Jeopardy round. The clue read: “This native of Jackson, Mississippi wrote the novel Delta Wedding about a Southern plantation family.”
Brad rung in with “Who is Faulkner?” — the correct answer was Eudora Welty — only for host Ken Jennings to remark, “I think Faulkner would be surprised to find himself in a women author’s category.” Brad’s response? “Oh no, I hope I don’t go viral.”
And Jennings didn’t let Brad forget about the mistake later, either. For Final Jeopardy, the category was Sports and the clue read, “in 2010 they introduced the 4-point shot, 35 feet from the basket.” Brad was stumped, but he did have a bit of fun with his answer, writing, “who is Ina Garten?” Jennings did comment, “she is a woman author but not much of a basketball innovator, I’m afraid.”
Jeopardy! viewers did like Brad and had a bit of fun on social media, both about his mistake answering Faulkner for a category called Women Authors and for his hope that he wouldn’t go viral.
Tbh the only thing Brad should go viral for is having a really good attitude and sense of humour about making a silly response on #Jeopardy
…ok and also for guessing Faulkner in a women authors category pic.twitter.com/gysPceHQTQ
— Heather Buchanan (@heatherfuture) February 16, 2023
Oh we can make that viral happen Brad. #Jeopardy
— Kathy Bennett 🙈🙉🙊 (@KatBenn1plus2) February 17, 2023
Well Brad… the category was women authors. #Jeopardy
— LinestandingNYC℠ (@linestandingnyc) February 17, 2023
“Oh no. I hope I don’t go viral.”
Sorry, Brad. You’re going viral simply BECAUSE you said that. #Jeopardy
— Amanda Weimar (@alias093001) February 17, 2023
If Brad goes viral for his hilarious mistake, he might be the most vivacious and articulate to ever do so. #Jeopardy
— @Babington.Co (@BabingtonCo) February 17, 2023
Faulkner was funny – I thought I misheard initially #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/6StANvkVjw
— kratzy1 (@kratzy1) February 17, 2023
And they also remarked on his Final Jeopardy answer as well.
#Jeopardy
Ole Brad lost his mind at the end didn’t he?— Mike Fly (@mfly1971) February 17, 2023
Final Jeopardy category is “Sports”, so evidently Brad will answer Al Pacino. #Jeopardy #mkt343
— Henry (@hjwthinks) February 17, 2023
Meanwhile, viewers also couldn’t help but comment on Jennings’ responses to Brad’s mistake, which did get him the nickname “Ken Burns” and a fun GIF reaction.
Ken Burns #Jeopardy
— Karen (@runyourplate) February 17, 2023
#Jeopardy
“William Faulkner would be surprised to find himself in a women’s authors category” pic.twitter.com/9SwQirAWkj— Mike Fly (@mfly1971) February 17, 2023
Jeopardy!, Weekdays, check your local listings