What’s funny is H&R Block offered to do Ken’s Jeopardy taxes for free after this miss

I love how the first thing he did was extend his hand and congratulate her.

That gasp is priceless.

So years later, Ken is hosting the show and a contestant flubbed the last answer by writing what is h&r block. Legend.

I like that you'd think he'd be devastated, then Alex says "2 and half million dollars" and he's like "oh yeah I'm fine"

we all had our mouths opened at the dinner table when we watched this

Ken wrote a book about his trivia "career", in which he makes it clear that he did NOT throw the game. He does acknowledge, however, that he was distracted by the media hype surrounding him, and that probably contributed to his loss. He also says the hype distracted Nancy Zerg, and probably contributed to her loss the next day.

Can you imagine how amazing it must feel to go down in history as the person who dethroned Ken Jennings?

Hate it when the original video disables comments

This was the moment when his path to becoming Jeopardy’s greatest player ended and his path to becoming the perfect new host of the show began.

Apparently people who say he threw the game didn’t watch the episode. Jennings had made poor bets on the daily doubles and he’s not Meryl Streep to hide his disappointment at missing those. She was just in the right place at the right time and to say he threw it really unfairly knocks her victory.

The reactions after he lost are just priceless. I remember watching this with my family and doing the same thing lol.

I rarely watch Jeopardy but I consider myself lucky to have watched this episode live.

"He was defeated by the Evil Emperor Zerg"-My Grandmother when this aired

anyone else here after james lost and also cause the original video disabled comments

The scary thing is...that was just one question. If it was a different question, who knows how long he could have gone for.

I remember that day very well, I wish I should have told Ken Jennings the answer. I was just a teenager around this time, that was the best summer ever!

All good things must come to an end.Thank you for the memories Alex,you will be missed dearly🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️

When Alex Trebek retires they should get Ken to take the place.

Who’s here after James Holzhauer’s loss?

You can only be on top so long and when you're on it, there is only one way to go and that's down. I'll never forget the excitement of watching him play

The second longest winning streak so far is 32 wins set by James Holzhauer in 2019. Though he did not even get halfway to tying Ken's winning streak, he came VERY CLOSE to tying/breaking Ken's record of total winnings of $2.52 million but ended up with $2.46 million. Roughly he fell short, $59,000. But made the hall of fame as the new record holder of most amount won in a single of $131,127. The previous record was $77,000 and during his run, James surpassed that amount 15 TIMES! Even if someone surpasses his winning streak, I doubt they'll be able to break his single day record.... unless they have more guts than he did. ;) But just like Ken who gave his defeater a hug for winning, James gave his defeater a high five for winning. Good sportsmanship to them both.

This was insane. Tuning in every night after watching Dragonball Z and this dude was on every night.

On January 13, 2021 Alex’s “all good things have to come to an end” takes on a whole new meaning, doesn’t it...

The Jeopardy episode that made us watch Jeopardy again.

So do jeopardy contestants just read encyclopedias or something?

We all know why we're here now...

Here bc Holzhauer just lost. I feel like he threw his game too.

This could be James Holzhauer (if you've been watching lately) next.

Imagine being in the audience before this aired, and telling people he lost. Nobody would believe you.

I think he finally had enough lol.

I watched this when it first aired. I had FedEx too, thinking holiday deliveries. As soon as she answered H & R Block I knew she was right. Tax season, obviously. Well done, Nancy, and Ken, too.

now watch final jeopardy! for tuesday, january 19th, 2021. thank me later

Ken Jennings 74-day run may be the best run for any television show in history. Parents, grandparents, children all watching this man dominate.

Who's here after James Holzhauer lost?

I was so happy to meet Alex on the TCM cruise. He was so gracious and really really funny.

Who's here after Alex's death?

Ironic that H and R block does TAXES. What a way to go

I remember I was seven when Ken Jennings had his historic streak. I remember crying the night got beat

Little would we know that Ken would become the future host of Jeopardy after Trebek’s passing. RIP Alex Trebek, you will be missed. (1940-2020) 😔

First time ever watching this. He was quite a gentleman and class act.

I remember this episode! I was in shock when Ken lost

I like the Unnecessary Censorship version: "His final response was... ****** you." (audience gasp & "oh!")

Mad TV brought me here

And he’s the most winningest game show contestant of all time

Probably the worst possible answer. Mail couriers are always busy.

That lady looks like she time traveled straight from the 1960s.

Ken averaged $33,636 a game during his 75-game run.

Aird November 30, 2004 around the time when we were all getting ready for Christmas

Ken Jennings is now a permanent host after Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!

Wouldn't be surprised if they somehow convinced him to throw this one (maybe involved large pay off or something). People who do taxes or other seasonal work would be an AVERAGE person's first guess. Who would logically guess mail (literally every American knows mail is distributed year round)

He got zerg rushed. LUL

cool items: - HR Block gave Jennings lifetime tax consulting and performance - Nancy Zerg lost the very next show

Can anyone break Ken Jennings' record of 74 straight wins? So far, NO.

I remember watching this an crying. I had watched it intensely the last month or so....and heard the leak on the radio driving home that he lost and was still shocked.

In this episode he got 2 daily doubles wrong.

The two daily doubles in double jeopardy that day were really hard. I wonder if the showrunners did that on purpose, to make it more difficult for the leader to run away with the game.

Noooooooo, James, why?

Alex, may he rest in peace, was right about the applause from the audience. It was not only to congratulate Nancy for her win against Ken, but also to congratulate Ken for all of his great work…it was a fitting tribute to both of them!

This episode gives me PTSD to this day.

My friend and co-worker gave me this final Jeopardy the day after it aired. I answered correctly in about ten seconds, even though I didn't watch Jeopardy then. My first thought was USPS and then H&R Block. I can't believe Jennings got this wrong. It was so easy.

I remember this I was in high school when this happened

You know the producers were like "well... there goes our ratings"

My mom has been in the tax industry for decades so watching this live H&R was the natural answer for me. I could kinda see where Ken was coming at with Fed Ex, but to get the question that tripped Ken is a weird flex I’m willing to embrace.

Never heard the audience gasp that loudly before lol

I would've really liked there to have been a special episode of "The Chase" where Ken Jennings would be a contestant and take on The Beast. I'm very sure The Beast would've loved to take on Ken Jennings.

Having worked for H&R Block, I got this answer that night when I watched. I was stunned to see I had beat Ken. . .well, on that one answer, anyway! 😉

I never knew about Ken until James came along

I've always felt he threw that last game. The clue wasn't that difficult, especially for the GOAT that he is.

makes ya tear up

And that was a relatively easy final question too.

I remember seeing this the next day on the news and it was shocking

I'm here after James Holzhauer lost to Emma Boettcher like everyone else.

This was only a year after Jeopardy! abolished the rule that you can't return anymore than 5 times.

Rest In Power, Alex.

According to the subtitles, Alex called her, “Our new Japanese.”

Ken has said the saddest part of his loss was having to say goodbye to the crew whom he gotten to know and be friends with.

This always blew me away because it seems like such an easy answer. It’s the only major corporation that works seasonally and tax season is 4 months.

Some of those cheers are obviously from the contestants who are about to go on for the taping of their show & they now realize that their path to victory has gotten a lot easier. I just wonder what the other contestants were thinking when Ken lost: “darn I won’t be the person who beats Ken, but my path to victory seems a lot easier now.”

Here cause James lost after winning 32 games

We should still issue a warrant for his arrest… for stealing the show more times than we can count.

I cant believe this happened so long ago

The lectern on the far right is the same one that Todd Nacey stood at in 2002.

Ken took this loss like a pro. Good for you, sir!

me, the first time watching this: “wait why is this such a big deal?” Alex: “2 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS!” me: “ah.”

I remember watching this when it aired.. I was mind blown that Ken lost

Now he is going to be a producer on the show starting on September 14 2020.

I cried.

This was my favorite set. I call it the Ken Jennings set. Although it looks like a desert

It was all over my School in Birmingham, Alabama. Huffman High School my Freshmen Year I heard all the rumors all day.

I have a feeling James will not be able to experience this until he tops Ken Jennings. James is averaging nearly twice the amount Ken was doing in a single day and he's doing it constantly

The chicks seem to take down the Giants every time lol She'll go down in American history Well done

Alex looked relieved lol.

Ken was adorable ❤then and is still adorable now!!

Looks like Ken got Zerg rushed.

That Ken Jennings run was insane just recently the first trans woman made it to 30+ days

I was not surprised that he eventually lost, but I was surprised that he missed such an obvious answer.

1:06, OH LORD! Ken got the question wrong!

She's the only player to go undefeated against Ken Jennings

It proofs we are imperfect in this world we live in !!