Celebrity status! Jeopardy! champion Chris D’Angelo shared how he has a special connection with actress Awkwafina as he tried to win his third game.
D’Angelo, from Washington, D.C., talked to Action News in Philadelphia about how long it took to get on the show. The Haverford native has been auditioning for Jeopardy! since 2005 and finally got his chance 21 years later.
His journey to get on the show was the inspiration behind the film Quiz Lady, which starred Awkwafina and Sandra Oh. His sister, Jen, wrote the screenplay for it, which was loosely based on D’Angelo’s experience.
“Maybe you can call me ‘Quiz Guy,’” D’Angelo told the outlet. “That’s fun. It works. But, you know, I don’t have a lot in common with Awkwafina’s character beyond the game show interest and trying to get on the show for many years. Finally, this year I got the call.”
The 2023 film is based around two estranged sister who had to try to cover their mom’s gambling debts. However, when Anne’s dog was kidnapped, they embarked on a cross-country trek to get the cash to get her dog back. Quiz Lady won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.
“Walking into this space that you’ve always wanted to be on, it’s really kind of overwhelming and incredibly exciting,” he said.
The content manager entered his third game with a two-day total of $28,600. On May 22, he played against Mary Morris, from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Jeff Weyhmiller, from Holland, Michigan. Warning: Spoilers for the May 22 episode of Jeopardy! ahead!
The beginning of the game was a pretty even playing field for all three contestants. When Weyhmiller, a nuclear power instructor, found the first Daily Double on clue 15, he was in first place with $3,800.
Weyhmiller wagered all of his money in “Boxers.” The clue read, “The name of these amateur tourneys, host to many future world champs, is a nod to the metal charms awarded to some winners.”
Weyhmiller got “What are bells?” before the buzzer went off, but he was incorrect anyway. The correct response was Golden Gloves, so he dropped down to $0.
At the end of the round, D’Angelo had the lead with $7,200. Morris, a law school administrator, was in second place with $2,200. Weyhmiller had $1,800.
In Double Jeopardy, Weyhmiller was in second place with $5,000 when he found the first DD on clue six. He made it a true Daily Double once again, this time in “Cabinet Members.”
The clue was “Just like Kiefer Sutherland on the TV show, the 2010 choice as this was the HUD secretary, Shaun Donovan.” “What is the Housing and Urban Development?” he answered.
Weyhmiller was incorrect and dropped to $0 once again. The correct response was designated survivor. D’Angelo maintained the lead with $12,400.
He found the third and final DD on clue 14. Weyhmiller had -$400 and was allowed to wager $2,000, so he did just that.
The clue in “Science Vocabulary” was, “This adjective describes bacteria & protozoa able to live in the absence of oxygen.” “What is anaerobic?” he answered correctly, giving him $1,600.
D’Angelo had the lead at the end of the round with $20,400. Weyhmiller was in second place with $3,200. Morris had $1,800.
The category for Final Jeopardy was “Literary Terminology.” The clue read, “17th century critic Thomas Rymer coined this 2-word term, instructing that a work should uphold moral principles & see vice punished.”
Morris answered, “What is virtuous text?” She was wrong and wagered $1,399, leaving her with $401. Weyhmiller’s response was “What is Morality Play?” He was wrong as well. He wagered $500, giving him $2,700.
D’Angelo had the correct response of “What is poetic justice?” He wagered $4,600, making his final total $25,000.
He had a three-day total of $53,600. D’Angelo will return on Monday for game four.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock