The nine-game winning streak of Isaac Hirsch, a prominent contestant on “Jeopardy!,” ended abruptly due to a math error during the Final “Jeopardy!.” The episode airing on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, saw Hirsch, who had won a total of $215,390, aiming for his tenth win when the mistake happened.
Hirsch, a customer support team lead hailing from Burbank, California, competed against Erika Stromerson from Woodinville, Washington, and Jay Fisher from Lisle, Illinois. The game started with Hirsch unusually at the bottom of the table. At the end of the “Jeopardy!” round, Fisher was leading with $7,000, followed by Stromerson with $600, and Hirsch with $400.
In the Double “Jeopardy!” round, the stakes increased. Hirsch found both Daily Doubles but only answered one correctly, making a conservative bet. As Final “Jeopardy!” approached, Hirsch was in second place with $15,300, trailing Fisher’s $16,200. Stromerson remained at $600.
The Final clue, belonging to the 1960s People category, was: “He said that California prison psych tests he took were ones he had designed, so he made himself look docile and unlikely to escape; then he did.” None of the contestants correctly identified Timothy Leary as the answer.
Hirsch bet $14,000, hoping to overtake Fisher if he answered correctly. However, his incorrect answer and large wager decreased his total to $1,300. Fisher bet $14,001, ending with $1,799 and winning the championship in an unexpected turn of events. Later on Reddit, Hirsch explained his miscalculation, saying, “I was trying to subtract $14,401 from $16,200 and somehow came up with $1,300 instead of $1,800 as the number I needed to arrive at if I got it wrong, hence the $14,000 wager.”
Hirsch shared his disappointment about the error, stating, “I spent the weeks after the taping seeing the bad math in my sleep. I remembered nothing about most of the games last week, but EVERYTHING about this game.” Despite the unfortunate end, Hirsch will have another shot in the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions, which is for players who have won five or more games.
After his loss, show fans expressed their support for Hirsch. One fan commented, “You had a great run and were a joy to watch, Isaac!” Another echoed, “That’s brutal. I’d imagine you secured a recurring nightmare for the rest of your life.” In response to the support, Hirsch acknowledged the game’s challenges and his intention to bounce back stronger in the Tournament of Champions.
Hirsch’s time on “Jeopardy!” was characterized by his strong performance and distinctive humor. As a part-time stand-up comedian, Hirsch captivated fans with his amusing anecdotes and clever wit. His experiences included impersonating actor Jeff Goldblum for a pool ballet job and performing a challenging stand-up set at a minor league baseball field.
Despite his comedic touch, Hirsch took the game seriously. He correctly answered 272 clues, missed 47, and had an impressive 14/20 on Daily Doubles and 7/10 on Final “Jeopardy!” His unique ’70s-inspired attire and signature mustache made him a contestant to remember.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Hirsch mentioned the mental fatigue of filming multiple episodes in a day. “‘Jeopardy!’ can be a grueling experience, and the fast-paced environment means you’re often using only a fraction of your brain capacity,” he said. Yet, his achievements on the show brought him considerable recognition and a sense of accomplishment.
Hirsch carries on a family tradition, as his father competed on “Jeopardy!” in the 1980s. This familial bond added a personal layer to his pursuit of victory. Hirsch’s previous game show stints include winning $140,000 on The Chase in 2023 and $5,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2017.
As Hirsch gets ready for the Tournament of Champions, he is working on his weak points, such as geography and science, while keeping his competitive spirit alive. “I’ll have much to prove in the ToC,” he stated. “Not least that I can do basic arithmetic.”
