JEOPARDY-ALL-TIME GREATEST

I have been looking forward to the Jeopardy All-Time Greatest tournament since they announced it late in 2019. The big match-up between the best Jeopardy players- Ken Jennings ( who has the longest winning streak-74 games), Brad Rutter ( who has won the money money, over $ 4 million), and James Holzhouser ( who has set over 20 Jeopardy records, including most money in one show. So, naturally, I have been watching the tourney intensely since the first match on Tuesday night.

The format is whoever wins three matches takes the $ 1 million grand prize and the title of Jeopardy Greatest of All-Time. Each hour long show ( starting at 8 pm on ABC) consists of two Jeopardy games. The combined total points of each game wins the match.

So far, Jennings has won two matches, Holzhouser one, and Rutter has been shut-out. If Jennings wins tonight he takes the tournament.

Jennings is like a machine. No wonder he won so many games in a row. It's been 15 years since his streak, but he hasn't lost a thing. He is still quick on the buzzer too.

Jennings made a bold move last night, betting all of his over 25,000 points in Game 1 of Final Jeopardy and getting the answer correct. Ahead by 24,000 points, the night was pretty much a formality. Overall, Holzhouser did start Game 2 by winning 5,000 straight points and found a Daily double. but he missed the answer, a rare occurrence on a daily double for him. His method of winning has been to find Daily Doubles and bet as much as he can to out-distance his opponents.

Rutter has found Daily Doubles each night but he has also missed each night on questions, falling to zero and needing to constantly catch-up.

I'm amazed, not only at the knowledge displayed but also by their quickness. They are lightning fast on the buzzer, but also in their answers. That impresses me most of all.

holly and i did answer one question a piece last night that none of the champions got- something to be proud of!

Alex Trebek, battling Stage IV pancreatic cancer, is doing his usual excellent job hosting the event. I'm sure ABC would prefer that Holzhouser wins tonight to tie the tourney at two wins apiece between he and Jennings, with suspense building over the weekend. Or will Rutter finally break through with a win? Or will Jennings close things out tonight?

The ratings are awesome. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime show. When will three champs like this ever be together? They have a great chemistry together and with Trebek (Holzhouser paid tribute to Trebek in one of his Final Jeopardy answers).

Even if Rutter doesn't win he earned my respect by writing something about The Eagles winning the 2017 Super Bowl. Rutter is from Lancaster, Pa., and is obviously an Eagles fan. He closed his Final Jeopardy answer by muttering 'Go Birds!"