Indiana native Harrison Whitaker celebrated another victory on “Jeopardy!” during the episode aired on Wednesday, November 19. This triumph marks his seventh consecutive win, even though he stumbled on a Final Jeopardy! question regarding a well-known fictional movie character, showcasing the competitive nature of the quiz show.
The Final Jeopardy clue posed a challenge for not just Whitaker, but also his fellow contestants — Josh Chen and Matylda Urbaniak. The question read: “The novelization of a 1977 movie awarded this character a medal at the end, righting a perceived wrong.” In a surprising twist, none of the players identified the character as Chewbacca, a popular figure in the Star Wars franchise. While Urbaniak guessed “Who is Skywalker?” and Chen humorously responded with a family greeting, Whitaker ultimately second-guessed himself. Despite leading the game with a score of $26,600, he crossed out “Chew” on his answer and wrote “Princess Leia” instead.
Host Ken Jennings highlighted the irony of the situation, explaining that while Leia awards the medals, Chewbacca was notably left out in the film, which added a fun layer to the trivia showdown. Nonetheless, Whitaker’s strategic wager of $999 still permitted him to claim first place with a total of $25,601 for that episode.
As of November 19, Whitaker’s overall earnings on “Jeopardy!” have reached an impressive $208,201. Looking ahead, he will return to face new challengers, including Blythe Roberson, a writer from Brooklyn, New York, and Kara Brown, a payroll manager from Seattle, Washington.
“Jeopardy!” continues to air weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on NBC, with episodes available for streaming the day after they air for Peacock subscribers. Whitaker’s journey not only highlights his remarkable knowledge but also his resilience in the face of challenges, promising exciting episodes ahead for fans of the show.