Jeopardy! fans were left in disbelief on March 18, 2025, after a question about the beloved TV show Cheers became a triple stumper during the show's Final Jeopardy segment. The fact that none of the contestants could come up with the answer shocked viewers, especially considering Cheers' status as one of the most iconic television series in history.
The episode featured Alex DeFrank from Brooklyn, New York, who returned for his third game with two new opponents: Lily St. Laurent from Bakersfield, California, and David DeBacker from Ypsilanti, Michigan. At the beginning of the game, DeFrank, an inventory specialist, boasted a two-day winnings total of $56,401, raising stakes for the competition ahead.
The first half of the game was a competitive back-and-forth between DeFrank and DeBacker, an architectural designer, as both answered questions correctly and raced to the top. However, it was not all smooth sailing for St. Laurent; she buzzed in incorrectly on her first attempt eight questions into the game, dropping her score to -$1,000.
During the interview segment, St. Laurent reflected on her brief experience in a spelling bee back in the fourth grade, where unfortunately, she spelled the first word incorrectly. Despite her struggles early in the game, she managed to find her footing after confronting a Daily Double in the category 'Disney Villains.' St. Laurent wagered $1,000 despite her negative balance but answered correctly with 'Who is Ursula?' thus boosting her score to $600.
After the first round, the scores were as follows: DeFrank with $4,000, St. Laurent at $600, and DeBacker leading with $6,200. DeBacker then landed another Daily Double in the category 'Authors,' which provided him the opportunity to add another $5,000 to his score after correctly identifying Isabel Allende, who had to flee Chile in 1975.
As the first round progressed, DeFrank came out strong, wagering $6,000 on another Daily Double and correctly answering 'What is stealth?'—an attribute associated with the B-2 bomber. This brought DeFrank's total to $16,400 and ultimately positioned him well going into Final Jeopardy, where he led with $25,200, while DeBacker had $15,600 and St. Laurent remained at $2,200.
However, it was during Final Jeopardy that the unexpected occurred. The category was 'Classic TV Shows,' and the clue read: "Posted over the door of this show’s setting was a notice reading, ‘Maximum Room Capacity 75 Persons.'" In a shocking turn, St. Laurent wrote down, "What is a TV show I don’t know?" betting $2,198 and ending with a mere $2. DeBacker took a stab with "What is MASH?" wagering $11,111, which also turned out to be incorrect, leaving him with $4,489.
Finally, DeFrank made a similar guess, also writing down MASH and wagering $6,001. This choice left him with a total of $19,199, making him the winner of the night. The correct response was revealed to be “What is Cheers?” This impressive victory made DeFrank the first three-day champion since the show's regular season returned this year, bringing his total earnings to $75,600.
Fans on social media platforms like Reddit expressed their astonishment over the contestants' inability to answer the clue. One fan remarked, "Flabbergasted that Final Jeopardy was a triple stumper. I've never seen Cheers, but I know about it through pop culture. It's one of the longest-running shows and famously set in the titular bar.”
Another echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Hopefully they at least know Cliff Clavin,” referring to one of the show's well-known characters. St. Laurent later chimed in on the thread, sharing her perspective on missing the answer. "Pop culture is probably my strongest forte, so when Classic TV Shows appeared as the category, I assumed I had it in the bag. My mind blanked when the clue appeared. I couldn't come up with the answer. I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and most importantly Cliff Clavin,” she wrote, showcasing her understanding of the show's significance.
As for Alex DeFrank, he is scheduled to return on March 19, 2025, where he will face two new competitors, hoping to extend his winning streak and further solidify his place in Jeopardy! history.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays; check local listings for times.
