Jeopardy! is the game show for smart people. To even make it on to the stage, you have to prove yourself thoroughly, and many past winners are truly geniuses.
But even geniuses make mistakes under pressure and Jeopardy!'s "answer as a question" format lends itself well to hilarious guesses.
Here are 12 of the funniest and most embarrassing responses in Jeopardy! history.
1
This question regarding ancient Rome was looking for “Public Libraries.” Instead, contestant Gary had different facilities on his mind.
2
In a question looking for “Rabbit Punch,” contestant Mike subs in an incorrect and embarrassing animal. (Do, or don’t look it up.)
3
The answer they were going for was “Kitty Galore,” as a joke on the infamous James Bond character. Not quite correct for the teenage Jeopardy player Raya.
4
Supercomputer Watson infamously blew its lead in Final Jeopardy with this answer under the category of U.S. Cities. With all the question marks.
5
“Which form of locomotion were a group of mice famously seen using to escape predators in 2008?” The answer was “Swimming,” and locomotion does not mean locomotive.
6
Kareem Abdul Jabbar guesses this when talking about film ratings.
7
They were going for “911.” How do you mess that one up?
8
The question, in regards to “14 in boys and 12 in girls” was looking for “Puberty.” Obviously the player Tom needed the answer to his answer.
9
An embarrassing and incorrect guess from Tournament of Champions contestant Kara.
10
In an “Animals that start with ‘O’” category, celebrity Jon Lovitz panicked and forgot the premise.
11
"This term for a long handled gardening tool can also mean an immoral pleasure seeker." In 2004, Ken Jennings answered with what we’re all thinking. The game was going for “Rake,” but Jennings insists he should have also been correct.
12
In 2012, Jeopardy! Teen Tournament contestant Leonard Cooper won $75,000, and realized his victory before giving his meaningless final answer. Although the game was looking for “Who is "Who is Dwight D. Eisenhower?” it didn’t matter, and Leonard was right about the more important part of his answer.
