Ken Jennings could maintain the Jeopardy! report for many consecutive video games received, and Brad Rutter stands because the largest winner in Jeopardy! historical past, however in relation to the perfect to ever play the sport, Matt Amodio is on the prime of a fairly distinctive statistic: He’s competed underneath seven totally different hosts. The super-champ not too long ago mirrored on what it was prefer to be part of the quiz present following Alex Trebek’s loss of life, and he joked about why he may need a type of visitor hosts to return again.
Nearly all of Jeopardy! contestants over its four-decade historical past competed with Alex Trebek because the host, and extra present contributors have seen both Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik. Nevertheless, Matt Amodio’s 38-game win streak got here amid the internet hosting shakeup that adopted Alex Trebek’s passing. Many followers took challenge with the uncertainty of that period, however Matt Amodio defined on Inside Jeopardy! why it was an honor to witness, saying:
No, it was nice. The guest-hosting time was actually a particular time, and I’m flattered and honored that I used to be capable of be part of it, since you bought to see so many individuals are available in who clearly revered the present and the establishment that it’s, and to see that have the place as an alternative of simply three individuals type of in awe on the stage, you have got 4 individuals in awe on the stage. It was a particular second for the present.
When Buzzy Cohen identified that Matt Amodio’s solely losses have come from episodes led by both Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik, the Jeopardy! Masters contestant stated that when he returns for the spinoff’s second season, perhaps he’d prefer to see a unique face behind the lectern. Amodio joked:
What’s Joe Buck doing lately?
Along with Joe Buck, Matt Amodio participated in Jeopardy! video games guest-hosted by Robin Roberts, LeVar Burton and David Faber. Then-executive producer Mike Richards then got here in after appointing himself the everlasting host. Nevertheless, that lasted solely a day, earlier than scandals pressured Sony to half methods with Richards, and Mayim Bialik was referred to as to fill in.
That is quite a lot of star energy that Matt Amodio crossed paths with, nevertheless it was Ken Jennings who he most needed to subject clues from. Nevertheless, he didn’t get that likelihood till the 2022 Match of Champions, the place he was eradicated within the semifinals. He noticed Jennings once more on Jeopardy! Masters, the place he positioned third behind James Holzhauer and Mattea Roach. Did these experiences bitter Amodio’s impression of Jennings as a number? The champ stated:
My enthusiasm for having Ken as a number was initially from ignorance. I didn’t know what a adverse expertise it was going to be. No, I’m simply kidding. He’s an amazing host. We already knew he was an amazing trivia participant and an amazing individual, however we’ve got discovered in the previous couple of years that he’s additionally an superior host. It’s a unique talent from enjoying that sport however how he’s additionally proficient at that, I don’t know.
It is attention-grabbing to listen to Matt Amodio’s recollection of that turbulent time in Jeopardy!’s historical past, since his expertise of seeing seven totally different hosts is one which (hopefully) no different contestant is ever more likely to expertise. You possibly can see Amodio in motion, as ABC is re-airing Jeopardy! Masters at 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on ABC, with all episodes additionally out there to stream with a Hulu subscription.
