‘Jeopardy!’ contestant’s huge loss: ‘Dumbest player in history’
Wednesday evening’s episode, contestant Karen Morris made a bad choice with her bet when it came to the final rounds of the trivia show — and she lost big time.Morris was in the lead with earnings of $21,800, while the other players had scored $7,100 and $6,400.During the Double Jeopardy segment, Morris opted for a huge bet — $10,000 — in an attempt to emerge as the victor of the game.“This artist the younger was working on yet another portrait of Henry VIII when he died in 1543,” host Ken Jennings said in giving her the clue, and the veterinary student, head shaking, struggled to come up with an answer before time ran out.“I’m sorry — Hans Holbein the Younger, the painter,” Jennings said, to which Morris responded in a whisper: “OK.”When it came down to the Final Jeopardy round, the category was “American Novelists,” and the Virginia native had just $11,400 to her name.The clue: “He served with an airman named Yohannan in World War II, and despite what readers might think, he enjoyed his service.”The correct answer was “Catch-22” author Joseph Heller, and Jennings underscored the importance of Morris’ forthcoming response, saying, “She had a big lead before tangling with that last Daily Double — she needs to get Heller her.”Unfortunately, a blank-faced Morris, who had wagered $6,001, wrote Hunter S. Thompson — the “gonzo journalist” known for “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” With a shrug, she unceremoniously dropped to $5,399 and a third-place finish.Fans couldn’t help but scoff and roll their virtual eyes at Morris’ blunder.“Karen Morris might be the dumbest #jeopardy player in history.