Two-dayJeopardy!champion Jason Singer apologized for incorrectly announcing that he and his wife, one-day winner Susan McMillan, were the first married couple to win on the game show. Jason was a two-day champion, after breaking the 13-day streak of one-day winners on July 2. However, he lost his third game.
Jason’s wife, Susan,had wonJeopardy!in 2021, andhe incorrectly stated that he hoped they’d be the first married couple to both be crowned champions if he won. During Final Jeopardy!, he even wrote"#BringBackSusan"under his answers, hoping that his wife could someday return to the show.
However, after Jason said that he and Susan were the first married champions,some formerJeopardy!winners came forward to say that they weren’t the first, with Kristin Sausville, who won five games in 2015, even going so far as to say that she and her husband, Justin, who won six games in 2011, were being erased.
Dan Pawson and Andrea Saenz, David Rigsby and Ryan Alley, and Amy Stephenson and Scott Bateman are alsoJeopardy!champions who are married.
Two-dayJeopardy!champion Jason Singer apologized for incorrectly announcing that he and his wife, one-day winner Susan McMillan, were the first married couple to win on the game show.
In a statement toEW,Jason apologized to the otherJeopardy!married couples for unintentionally causing the scandal. He wrote,“After I heard from other players via Facebook that there had been a handful of previously married champions, I felt terribly.”
Jason explained that he and his wife had told the media thatJeopardy!didn’t track married couples' statistics, so his story was only an anecdote. He stated,“We always told media and other people it was anecdotal and that ‘Jeopardy!’ didn’t track that stat.”
Jason then expressed his love for the game and its alums. He said,“I love ‘Jeopardy!’ and the people who love and participate in ‘Jeopardy!’ and would never want to hurt them or diminish their accomplishments in any way. On both of those fronts, I obviously came up short here.”
Jason then issued a specific apology to Kristin, stating,“Kristin Sausville and all the other champions and championship couples deserve all the plaudits in the world because winning on ‘Jeopardy!’ means you’re an interesting, curious, engaged human who’s worked really hard and performed incredibly under a lot of pressure.”
Jason added that Kristin and Jason had achieved even more than he and Susan had, writing,“In addition, Kristin and her husband won many times and qualified for the Tournament of Champions, which is even more impressive!”
Jason then revealed that he tried to make things right by correcting his mistake with the media, and also by personally apologizing to Kristin. He said,“In addition to asking for corrections and clarifications from any media I spoke with, I also reached out to Kristin on Facebook and apologized personally and gave her my cell phone number if she ever wanted to talk.”
Jason went on to say,“I’m sad for her and for anybody else who felt diminished by our media coverage, but I hope she gets the attention she’s earned, as with every other couple who’s ever been on.”
Jason then shared his idea for aJeopardy!Couples Tournament, which would bring back all of the married couples who’d previously won. He said,“I sincerely hope one day there’s a Couples Tournament for all couples who have succeeded on Jeopardy, so she and others have a chance to go back on and get even more plaudits, recognition and even more chances to show off their amazing minds.”
Jason concluded by writing,“I feel really grateful to be a tiny part of such a special, loving and brilliant community, andI hope that by apologizing and trying to correct the record, I’ve taken a small step toward healing anyone I hurt.”
What Jason Singer’s Apology About Jeopardy! Mistake Means For The Show
Jason Didn’t Mean To Cause This Scandal
Although Jason probably should’ve done some research to see if he and Susan were reallythe first married couple to winJeopardy!, he obviously didn’t mean to cause this scandal. Rather, his excitement led to him getting carried away. However, Jason’s mistake could actually lead to something great, as new attention has been focused on married couples who’ve won the show.
Jason’s idea for a Couples Tournament is fantastic. Not only could it welcome back members of couples who were marriedwhen they wonJeopardy!, but it could also include legends Roger Craig and Julia Collins, who got married after their iconic appearances on the show.
Our Take On Jason Singer’s Apology To Married Jeopardy! Alums
Jason Did The Right Thing
Jason made a mistake when he incorrectly announced that he and Susan were the firstJeopardy!married couple to win the game, but he did the right thing by apologizing to the other contestants, both publicly and personally. Kristin seemed especially upset about the error, stating that she was less concerned about her legacy, and more worried about how quickly misinformation spreads online.
Now that everything has been sorted out with the scandal, hopefullyJeopardy!can move forwardand create something exciting from it. A Couples Tournament would be thrilling to watch, and would allow these couples to return to the show and remind people about their achievements.Jeopardy!married couples, including Jason and Susan, should be showcased with a Couples Tournament.
Jeopardy!airs weeknights. Please check your local listings for the time and channel.
