Fans were shocked by what this Jeopardy! contestant really wishes she did differently
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The game may have ended, but for one Jeopardy! contestant, the memory (and one tough loss) still lingers. Melanie, a recent competitor on the long-running quiz show, faced off against reigning champ Josh Weikert—who was coming in hot with $54,001 in three-day winnings—and walked away with more than just a story to tell.
But that edge quickly vanished after back-to-back Daily Double stumbles—first in the category Fossil Fueled, where she misfired on a prehistoric shark clue, and again under Lion Around, where a tricky theater reference cost her even more.
She lost $3,500 on the first Daily Double and another $2,500 on the second, totaling $6,000 in lost winnings.
Despite the hits, Melanie stayed composed and held a narrow lead heading into Final Jeopardy!—$12,000 to Josh’s $11,600.
Also read: Jeopardy! Contestant’s unexpected slip—what really happened behind the scenes?
None of the contestants got it right, but Melanie’s bet dropped her to $799, pushing her from first to third in a single moment.
Josh, meanwhile, took home his fourth consecutive win with $5,201.
Also read: Ken Jennings' accent stuns Jeopardy! fans—did you catch this?
“I’d have preferred to win,” she wrote, “but I’m still so happy to have had this experience–and if I’m going to lose, for it to be to a really nice multi-day champion like Josh.”
She also highlighted some personal wins, including clues she credited to her children and past life experiences—from kids' books to international travels.
But her biggest regret?
Not the Daily Doubles. Not the Final Jeopardy! miss.
“My only regret is that I forgot to write in a shout-out to my kids (and my poor beloved CFPB) in my final answer,” she said. “This whole experience has been a delight, bringing some much-needed joy to what has otherwise been a dark time in my professional life.”
Have you ever faced a turning point like Melanie’s—where a single moment changed everything? How do you balance disappointment with pride? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
Read next: Game show revolution: Fans say "Finally!" to major overhauls on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune next season
When Daily Doubles Go Off the Rails
Melanie started strong, quickly climbing the scoreboard and entering Double Jeopardy! with a lead.But that edge quickly vanished after back-to-back Daily Double stumbles—first in the category Fossil Fueled, where she misfired on a prehistoric shark clue, and again under Lion Around, where a tricky theater reference cost her even more.
A Jeopardy! contestant named Melanie blames “unusually rough” Daily Doubles for her loss. Image source: Wheel of Jeopardy / YouTube
She lost $3,500 on the first Daily Double and another $2,500 on the second, totaling $6,000 in lost winnings.
Despite the hits, Melanie stayed composed and held a narrow lead heading into Final Jeopardy!—$12,000 to Josh’s $11,600.
Also read: Jeopardy! Contestant’s unexpected slip—what really happened behind the scenes?
A Final Twist
With the clue under the category Seafaring Brits, Melanie placed a hefty wager. The correct answer? “Who was Bligh?”None of the contestants got it right, but Melanie’s bet dropped her to $799, pushing her from first to third in a single moment.
Josh, meanwhile, took home his fourth consecutive win with $5,201.
Also read: Ken Jennings' accent stuns Jeopardy! fans—did you catch this?
“Unusually Rough” Daily Doubles—and One Heartfelt Miss
Following the episode, Melanie shared her thoughts online, calling the Daily Doubles “unusually rough”—but overall, she expressed gratitude for the experience.“I’d have preferred to win,” she wrote, “but I’m still so happy to have had this experience–and if I’m going to lose, for it to be to a really nice multi-day champion like Josh.”
She also highlighted some personal wins, including clues she credited to her children and past life experiences—from kids' books to international travels.
But her biggest regret?
Not the Daily Doubles. Not the Final Jeopardy! miss.
“My only regret is that I forgot to write in a shout-out to my kids (and my poor beloved CFPB) in my final answer,” she said. “This whole experience has been a delight, bringing some much-needed joy to what has otherwise been a dark time in my professional life.”
Read next: Game show revolution: Fans say "Finally!" to major overhauls on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune next season
