The clue, under the category “Modern Words,” read, “Neal Stephenson coined this word in his 1992 novel ‘Snow Crash;’ it was later shortened by a company to become its new name.”
The most recent episode of Jeopardy! had a particularly challenging Final Jeopardy question that left all three contestants stumped
As the 30-second Think music began, all three contestants stared at the clue, but nobody could guess the answer: “Metaverse.” Despite reading the book referenced in the clue, the winner of the episode, Emma Hill Kepron, couldn’t guess the answer in time. Jeopardy! fans across the internet expressed frustration at the vague and challenging clue. The Metaverse is just one aspect of Facebook’s 2021 $36 billion rebrand, which changed the parent company’s name to Meta.
The episode featured returning champion Devin Lohman, an architectural designer and Master’s student from Georgia, who returned with a 1-day total of $1,200. Although all three contestants performed well throughout the game and wound up with high scores going into Final Jeopardy, nobody guessed the correct answer. Emma made the smallest wager and dropped only $4,000, allowing her to win $11,400 and be declared a one-day winner.
Jeopardy! fans expressed disappointment with the Final Jeopardy question and criticized the lack of specificity in the clue’s category and wording
Some called it an “absurd and impossible” clue, while others accused the writers of “evil” and “misleading” tactics. Fans also accused the show of cost-cutting by frequently having triple-stumper Final Jeopardy questions. The show has recently undergone significant changes, including the hosting announcement of Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, who succeeded the late, great Alex Trebek, and a change in executive producers.
Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies, who replaced the disgraced Mike Richards, has been focused on the upcoming Jeopardy! Masters. Despite the show’s recent changes and controversies, Jeopardy! continues to be a popular and beloved game show.
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