Viewers of the popular quiz show Jeopardy! expressed their dissatisfaction following a controversial category during an episode aired on December 10, 2023. Contestants included Eddie Kass, a double bassist from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Chelsea Carter, a creative director from Pasadena, California; and Will Riley, an engineer originally from Houston, Texas. Will, who began the episode as a two-day champion with winnings of $16,801, narrowly secured victory with a Final Jeopardy! score of $8,801. Chelsea followed closely with $8,799, while Eddie finished with $2,800.
The uproar among fans centered on a particular category featured during the Double Jeopardy! round, titled “Make your own Wes Anderson movie title.” Many viewers took to social media to voice their displeasure, suggesting the category strayed from the show’s traditional focus on factual knowledge. One fan remarked, “These contestants deserved better than that Wes Anderson category,” while another criticized it as “one of the worst categories I’ve seen in a long time, just way too far up its own ass.”
Others shared similar sentiments, stating that the structure could have been improved by using actual film titles while maintaining a challenging format. A particularly critical comment noted, “Absolutely awful. The writers really need a better sounding board for some of their ideas.” Another viewer questioned the relevance of the category, stating, “I thought Jeopardy! was about knowing facts.”
The controversy comes on the heels of troubling news regarding a former Jeopardy! champion, Philip Joseph “Joey” DeSena, who was arrested in North Carolina on December 1, 2023, and charged with two counts of felony secret peeping. DeSena, who won $44,698 during his time on the show last November and participated in the Champions Wildcard Tournament, faces serious allegations. According to court documents obtained from the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, DeSena is accused of unlawfully installing a device capable of capturing photographic images in a bathroom without consent.
The documents allege that the incident occurred on October 10, 2023, despite the arrest taking place nearly two months later. DeSena was released on a $5,000 bond two days after his arrest, and a court-ordered DNA collection was conducted on the morning of his arrest. In North Carolina, a first-time conviction for felony secret peeping is classified as a class I felony, potentially resulting in a sentence of 3 to 12 months in jail.
As both controversies unfold, fans and viewers continue to engage in discussions about the direction of Jeopardy! and its commitment to classical quiz show standards.
