Jobaaj Stories
Zoe Grobman, a therapist from Philadelphia, faced an unexpected challenge during the January 7 episode of Jeopardy! in the Second Chance Tournament. Competing against Josh Heit and Enzo Cunanan, Grobman’s promising game took a tough turn due to a costly mispronunciation during the third Daily Double.
The clue, from the category "Potent Quotables," asked for a pale dry sherry mentioned in an Edgar Allan Poe story. The correct response was, "What is Amontillado?" Unfortunately, Grobman's slight mispronunciation cost her $6,000. Reflecting on the mistake, she shared on Reddit, “I have strong emotions about losing at least $12,000 and two more games because of a mispronunciation.”
Since I was 3 my dream in life was to appear on Jeopardy! and I recently achieved that goal. Tune in next Tuesday, 10/15 to see if I embarrassed myself on national television or not. Check your local listings to see where Jeopardy! airs in your town pic.twitter.com/X3Hb0UfhuU
— Zoe (@Theraquizt) October 8, 2024
Despite the setback, Grobman stood by her decision to bet big on the Daily Double. "Live by the DD, Die by the DD," she wrote, explaining that playing conservatively wouldn’t have improved her chances against her quick competitors.
A Tough Match
Heading into Final Jeopardy, the scores were tight. Enzo led with $15,600, Josh followed with $9,600, and Zoe had $6,600. In the Final Jeopardy round, the category was "Facts About Countries." The clue read: “It has 40,000 people & a workforce of 42,000, more than half commuting from nearby, including Vorarlberg state in a neighbor country.” The correct response was, "What is Liechtenstein?"
Zoe bet strategically and finished with $12,001. However, Enzo answered correctly and won the game with $19,400. Reflecting on her performance, Zoe admitted she thought she might have won when Josh missed his Final Jeopardy response, but Enzo changed his answer just in time to secure the victory.
Lessons from the Experience
Zoe’s Jeopardy! journey began in October 2024 when she first competed against Eamonn Campbell and Rishabh Wuppalapati. She secured second place and earned a spot in the Second Chance Tournament. In her comments, Zoe acknowledged the challenges of facing such skilled opponents and noted that mastering the buzzer was more helpful than studying specific topics.
On the stressful day of filming, which coincided with Election Day 2024, Zoe credited the Jeopardy! team for creating a supportive environment. “The staff made us feel comfortable on an incredibly high-stress day,” she shared.
Despite the loss, Zoe remains grateful for her two appearances on the iconic game show. Encouraging others to try their luck, she wrote, “Take the Jeopardy! Anytime Test—soon, this could be you!”
Zoe Grobman’s Jeopardy! story is a reminder of how even small moments can have big impacts. Her courage, humor, and sportsmanship make her journey an inspiration to fans everywhere.
