Jeopardy! crowns new champ on season finale – but viewers are deflated as they’re unable to watch due to Paris Olympics

JEOPARDY!’s 40th season ended on Friday night, but many fans couldn’t even tune in because of Paris Olympics TV preemptions.

When the milestone Jeopardy! game didn’t air at 7 p.m. EST, fans buzzed in with their grievances on social media.

Jeopardy! contestant Rachel Bradley won the last show until the fallCredit: Jeopardy

Ken Jennings gave viewers a sweet sendoff concluding his first season as sole hostCredit: Jeopardy
“Looks like NBC is showing the Olympics all day, so no jeopardy for me,” one Redditor lamented.

“Yeah, I was looking forward to the finale after getting off work. Turned the TV on and, yeah… Oh well,” wrote another.

For those who missed out, here’s what happened on the last episode before the game show’s annual summer reruns take hold.

SEASON FINALE

Two-day champ Davey Morrison from Provo, Utah, faced Rachel Bradley from Greenbelt, Maryland, and Steve Babish from San Jose, California.

In the Jeopardy! round, Davey – the champ since outplaying three-day winner Neilesh Vinjamuri – had an early start with a $1000 Daily Double.

By the end of the round, Davey led with $4,000, but Rachel, in a winning red blazer, was right behind with $3,800, and Steve had $2,400.

In Double Jeopardy!, it was the third contestant, Steve, who took charge, snatching both Daily Doubles.

Upon betting $1500 on the first one, host Ken Jennings shaded, “Just $1500.” However, Steve missed the last Daily Double, and he and Rachel fought for the lead going into Final Jeopardy.

The two newcomers were neck and neck, as Rachel led with $11,800, Steve had $11,500, and Davey had $6,400. Ken remarked, “We’ve got quite a game!”

‘WOAH!’

The “ANCIENT ANIMALS” clue read, “The first fossils of these creatures with an elongated 4th digit were described in 1784 by naturalist Cosimo Collini.”

Davey was very incorrect with “giant sloths,” and Steve was also wrong with “saber-tooth tigers.”

Only Rachel correctly answered “Pterodactyl,” nearly doubling up to $23,597, becoming the new champ as Ken excalimed, “Woah!”

Rachel looked overjoyed and will spend the summer as the reigning champ.

KEN’S MOVING MESSAGE

The host concluded the season with a moving message, taking center stage.

“I’m Ken Jennings, on behalf of all of us at Jeopardy! thanks for watching Season 40.

“We’ll be back on Monday with some of our best shows of the season and then we’ll see you in September!”

Ken’s closeout was a personal milestone because it was his first season finale as the show’s sole host after Mayim Bialik’s departure.

FAREWELL TO SEASON 40

Between Mayim’s dismissal and some of the most intense (and longest) tournaments in show history, Season 40 has been quite a ride.

As the show takes its annual summer break, eight players have qualified for the next ToC in regular play.

The qualifiers are Isaac (9 wins) Survivor alum Drew Basile (7 wins), Adriana Harmeyer (15 wins), Alison Betts (5 wins) and Dr. Amy Hummel (5 wins), and Celebrity Jeopardy!’s Lisa Ann Walter.

With four wins, Grant DeYoung and Amar Kakirde will also likely join in.

To ensure there are enough players for the next Tournament of Champions, it will be held midway through the season in early 2025, not the beginning of the new season.

Meanwhile, it feels only fitting that Season 40 of the show would have a challenging ending, as it’s been – in a word – challenging.

The WGA strike upended the show schedule and there were only four months of regular play.

That said, there were plenty of winners and winning moments, from comeback queen Juveria Zaheer to another queen in Victoria Groce to a vicious 2024 ToC.

Plus, host Ken came into his own, fans have said, which was special to witness.

Season 41 will begin on September 9, 2024 and run through July 2025.

Jeopardy! reruns start on Monday at 7 pm ET – check your local listings.