‘Jeopardy!’ Has a New Bon Vivant. Did They Win?
Spoiler Alert
He’s coming for Sam Buttrey‘s nickname. A Jeopardy! contestant gave himself the title of “Bon Vivant,” which the alum famously coined while on the game show.
Adam Remsen, from Memphis, Tennessee, shared on his website that he is a “Novelist, playwright, impresario, attorney, bon vivant, last of the big spenders. Obsessive Jeopardy! fan, and now contestant!” A bon vivant is “a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink,” according to Dictionary.com.
On the June 12 episode, he labeled himself as an attorney and theater producer. Remsen played against Erin Schor, from Lansing, Michigan, and returning champion Matt Wheeler, from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.
Wheeler, an associate registrar and songwriter, entered his second game with a total of $13,500 after defeating the previous day’s champion, Katelynn Mueller-McLean. Warning: Spoilers for the June 12 episode of Jeopardy! ahead!
Wheeler found the Daily Double on the first clue. He wagered the allotted $1,000 since he didn’t have money. In “4 Ever More,” the clue read, “In 1789 George Washington created the 4 original Cabinet posts, with Thomas Jefferson holding this one.”
“What is the Secretary of State?” he answered correctly. Wheeler jumped into the lead with $1,000.
However, by the first break, both Remsen and Schor, a legislative director, had $3,200. Wheeler remained at $1,000.
Before the final clue, Wheeler said, “Bring it!” which is also a phrase Buttrey would say before the final clue in each round. He ended in third place with $2,600.
Schor had $4,200. Remsen had the lead with $7,000.
Remsen remained in the lead in Double Jeopardy when he found the first DD on clue 10. He had $14,600 and wagered $4,000.
In “Yelp Reviews of The Universe,” the clue read, “Went to this Galilean moon with a continental name. Just a bunch of ice. Antarctica at least has penguins. Just ice here. Boring.” He correctly responded with “What is Europa?” giving him $18,600.
Schor found the second DD on clue 15. She was in second place with $5,800 and wagered $3,000. Remsen had $23,800.
The clue in “1926 Bookshelf” read, “‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ ends, ‘I wish’ this man ‘had never retired from work & come here to grow vegetable marrows.’” She didn’t have a response, so she dropped down to third place with $2,800. The correct response was Hercule Poirot.
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Remsen also said “bring it” at the end of the Double Jeopardy round. He ended in the lead with $25,000.
Wheeler moved to second place with $5,000. Schor had $4,800.
The category for Final Jeopardy was “Tributes.” The clue read, “Big Ben has been purposely silenced in honor of a person on only 2 occasions: the funerals of these 2 non-royals, 48 years apart.”
None of the game show contestants guessed the correct answer of “Who are Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher?” Schor’s response was “Who are Churchill & ??” She wagered $4,000, leaving her with $800.
Wheeler answered, “Who are Queen Elizabeth I & Queen Elizabeth II?” He wagered $4,599, making his total $401. Remsen responded with “Who are ??” He wagered $5,000, making his final total $20,000.
Remsen will return on Monday, June 15, for his second game. Maybe the bon vivant will get to meet Buttrey, who sometimes is on set for social media videos.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
