One Jeopardy! contestant’s dream finally happened after admitting that he auditioned for the show four times. Find out whose dream it was and whether Mark Ramirez continued his winning streak.
Ramirez, from Northglenn, Colorado, came into his second game with a total of $20,800. On Instagram, the executive communications lead opened up about how his dream came true when he made it onto Jeopardy!.
“After decades of watching the show, years of taking the test, and four auditions, I’m happy to announce I’ll be on @jeopardy next Thursday, Sept. 17!” he captioned the Instagram post on September 11. Along with it, he shared a photo with host Ken Jennings on the game show.
When his first episode aired, Ramirez hosted a watch party with his family and friends. “A few snaps from last night’s #jeopardy watch party. Thanks for celebrating with us!” the post’s caption read.
The photos featured everyone involved in the party, smiling for a photo, with some wearing party hats, a banner that read “What is a Jeoparty?”, a young boy in a Jeopardy! shirt, as well as the same boy, a woman, and Ramirez smiling with a small fake trophy.
There was another photo with a placecard that read, “Potent Potables,” a known Jeopardy! category. Behind it were cans of drinks, including Brisk iced tea and more.
The last picture had everyone sitting around Ramirez’s living room on the couch and in chairs. Their eyes were all glued to the TV showing Ramirez’s game.
On Friday, September 18, Ramirez played against Holly Firlein, from Newark, Delaware, and Michael Mott, from Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. Warning: Spoilers for the Friday, September 18 episode of Jeopardy! ahead.
Firlein, an attorney, found the Daily Double on clue four. She had the lead with $1,200 and wagered all of her money.
The clue in “Recaps of Shakespeare” read, “Both guys from out of town marry the women of their dreams & a band of outlaws gets pardoned.” “What is Two Gentlemen of Verona?” she answered correctly. This gave her $2,400. Fielein still had the lead by the first 15 clues.
She had $8,000 by the end of the round. Ramirez was in second place with $5,000. Mott, a software engineering manager, had $2,000.
In Double Jeopardy, Mott found the first DD on clue 10. He had $4,800 and wagered $4,000 in “Midterm Elections.”
The clue was “The 1826 midterms, the first to take House control from an incumbent pres.’ party, put a definitive end to this ten-year-old era.” “What is the Era of Good Feelings?” he answered correctly.
Mott moved to second place with $8,800. Firlein had $10,000.
Ramirez took a big lead during the rest of the round. He found the last DD on clue 26. The game show contestant had a big lead of $13,400 and wagered $2,000.
The clue in “Legally Latin” was “If a judge conducts a hearing with only 2 of the contending parties present, it’s being held this Latin way.” “What is ex parte?” he answered at the last second. He took even more of a lead with $15,400.
At the end of the round, Ramirez had $15,400. Mott was in second place with $9,600. Firlein had $8,000.
The Final Jeopardy category was “Fictional Characters.” The clue read, “An outcast, this character plagues a hall called Heorot for a dozen years.”
None of the contestants wrote the correct response of “Who is Grendel?” Firlein’s response was “Who is Holden Caufield?” She wagered $7,402, giving her $598.
Mott didn’t give a response. He wagered $6,401, making his final total $3,199. Ramirez’s response was “Who is Sauron?” He wagered $3,900, making his total $11,500.
Despite a wrong answer, Mott won the game with a two-day total of $32,300. He will return on Monday for his third game.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock