Who won Jeopardy! Tonight? October 31, 2024, Thursday

Jeopardy! fans were eager to see who would take the win on October 31, 2024. The Halloween episode featured three contestants—Greg Jolin, a system specialist from Raymond, New Hampshire; Alicia Buffa, a translator from Montreal, Quebec; and returning champion Joseph Carlstein, a graduate student from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

With his winning streak at stake, Joseph faced two strong challengers, making for a thrilling showdown. As the game progressed, the scores tightened, but Greg held his ground to secure a decisive win.

After an intense Double Jeopardy round, Greg led with $16,400, while Joseph and Alicia were tied at $12,000 each. In Final Jeopardy, the category was Animals. The clue referred to the Aztecs' name for an animal meaning “turtle rabbit.” Greg, responded correctly with What is an armadillo? added $7,601 to his score, sealing his victory with $24,001.

Due to its unique format, Jeopardy! continues to captivate viewers. Contestants are tested on their knowledge of a wide range of topics, from historical facts to pop culture, in the show's quiz-based competition.

To win Jeopardy!, contestants must show speed, strategy, and accuracy in a game with strict time limits and high stakes. All of these things together make each episode interesting and unpredictable.

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Jeopardy! episode recap of October 31, 2024, Thursday

There were six rounds of Jeopardy! in the first episode of the Halloween season. The categories were They Throw Serious Shade, A Question of Time, I've Got the Movie Title Munchies!, Salutations!, Manners Maketh..., and The King's Men.

Each contestant quickly picked up the pace, with Greg getting ahead early. He got $1,600 on a True Daily Double, but two $1,000 misses temporarily lowered his score, putting Joseph ahead with $3,200 by the ad break.

By the end of this round, Greg had regained momentum, finishing with $8,000. Joseph ended the round with $4,200, and Alicia trailed at $1,400, positioning Greg in a solid lead as they headed into Double Jeopardy.

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Double Jeopardy! round

In the Double Jeopardy round, the stakes heightened with categories that included October 31, Bodies of Water, Hate-ful Quotes, U.S. Government, Rap Genres, and The OED Says H-I. Both Alicia and Joseph made daring moves by wagering all on successful True Daily Doubles, leveling the playing field and bringing them back into the game.

In this round, Alicia showed good recall and got a total of 11 correct answers, while Greg kept his lead with 10 more correct answers, for a total of 28 correct answers across both rounds. At the end of Double Jeopardy, Greg had $16,400, while Alicia and Joseph were tied at $12,000.

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Final Jeopardy: A nail-biting finish

In Final Jeopardy, the category was Animals, and the clue described an animal known to the Aztecs as ayotochtli, or "turtle rabbit," for its rabbit-like ears and turtle-like shell. Both Greg and Alicia answered correctly with “What is an armadillo?” Alicia’s wager brought her total to $23,999, but Greg’s higher wager of $7,601 allowed him to finish with $24,001, narrowly claiming victory.

Joseph’s incorrect answer of “hermit crab” left him at $0, ending his run as champion. Greg’s win in Final Jeopardy marked a thrilling end to the game and positioned him as the next returning champion on Jeopardy!

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Contestants of the episode

This episode showcased a trio of unique contestants. Greg Jolin led the game with confidence, showcasing his deep knowledge across varied categories. Known in the Jeopardy! fan community, Greg’s enthusiasm for the game clearly played a role in his strategy and determination.

Alicia Buffa, the skilled translator, displayed an impressive comeback in Double Jeopardy with 11 correct answers, positioning her as a formidable competitor. Joseph Carlstein, the previous day’s champion, started strong. However, he couldn't surpass Greg in Final Jeopardy. His wager backfired, leading to a score reset to $0 when he incorrectly guessed “hermit crab.”

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Behind-the-scenes and show format

The unique Jeopardy! format combines knowledge with quick thinking. The three-round structure—Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy, and Final Jeopardy—pushes contestants to strategize their wagers. Daily Doubles give an edge, while Final Jeopardy often determines the winner. This structured yet unpredictable approach, with a wide range of topics, keeps Jeopardy! a favorite among quiz show fans.

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Insights and takeaways

Tonight’s episode demonstrated how each contestant’s game strategy plays a pivotal role. Greg’s decision to play confidently in the Jeopardy round and his correct answer in Final Jeopardy clinched the win. Joseph’s risk on the incorrect Final Jeopardy answer cost him his title, showcasing the high stakes of the final round.

Jeopardy round:

Categories:

• They Throw Serious Shade
• A Question Of Time
• I’ve Got The Movie Title Munchies!
• Salutations!
• Manners Maketh…
• The King’s Men

Scores after the Jeopardy round:

• Greg: $8,000
• Joseph: $4,200
• Alicia: $1,400

Performance statistics:

• Greg: 18 correct, 2 incorrect
• Joseph: 6 correct, 0 incorrect
• Alicia: 3 correct, 1 incorrect

Key moments:

• Greg picked up $1,600 on a True Daily Double.
• Incorrect responses cost Greg $2,000, dropping him to second at one point.

At the first commercial break:

• Joseph led with $3,200.
• Greg followed with $2,600.
• Alicia had $800.

Double Jeopardy round:

Categories:

• October 31
• Bodies Of Water
• Hate-ful Quotes
• U.S. Government
• Rap Genres
• The OED Says H-I

Scores after Double Jeopardy:

• Greg: $16,400
• Joseph: $12,000
• Alicia: $12,000

Performance statistics:

• Greg: 28 correct, 4 incorrect (cumulative across both rounds)
• Joseph: 12 correct, 1 incorrect
• Alicia: 11 correct, 1 incorrect

Key moments:

• Alicia and Joseph each succeeded with True Daily Doubles, significantly improving their scores.
• Greg’s consistent performance, with 10 correct responses in this round, kept him in the lead.

Final Jeopardy round:

• Category: Animals
• Final Jeopardy! Clue: The Aztecs called this animal ayotochtli, meaning a “turtle rabbit” for its rabbit-like ears & its turtle-like shell.
• Correct Response: What is an armadillo?

Final scores:

• Greg: $16,400 + $7,601 = $24,001 (Correct)
• Alicia: $12,000 + $11,999 = $23,999 (Correct)
• Joseph: $12,000 – $12,000 = $0 (Incorrect - Answered “hermit crab”)
• Outcome: Greg won with $24,001, becoming the new Jeopardy! champion.

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On October 31, 2024, Greg Jolin became the new Jeopardy! champion with a score of $24,001. Greg earned his win in the Halloween episode with smart moves and a lot of knowledge. The fact that Alicia and Joseph did so well showed how much skill and strategy are needed to compete at this level.