Jeopardy! fans debate favorite player as legendary contestants are thrown into the mix

There are many legendary players that come out of Jeopardy! , and fans have shared which ones are their favorites.

On a Jeopardy! Reddit thread, a fan posed a question, "Who is your fav Jeopardy contestant." They personally answered "Cris Panullo" and explained the reason being "he has a cool vibe & bets big; risking it all! Plus he is very fast & knows a whole lot of stuff." 292 comments met the question and people detailed familiar, iconic players in the trivia games' history.

Although, there was one name that popped up quite frequently and it was fan favorite and Steve Martin look-alike Sam Buttrey. Sam first was introduced to Jeopardy in 2021 in the Professors Tournament where he won. He was the associate professor of operations research from Naval Postgraduate School. His humor, his catchphrase "Bring it" and trivia skills enraptured viewers.

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Then, the California resident went on to finish as second runner-up in the 2022 Tournament of Champions and placed sixth in 2023’s Jeopardy Masters. Recently, he came back for the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament in March 2024. He continued to charm fans with his new job description. His new occupation no longer had professor but read "Bon Vivant & Man About Town." Bon Vivant is a French phrase that means "one fond of good living" or "one who lives well" while Man About Town is a sociable, fashionable man who explores popular places.

Sam sadly did not make it to the finals of the 2024 Invitational Tournament as he faced off against Victoria Groce and Matt Jackson. Fans on the thread explained why Sam was their favorite player. One fan wrote: "Sam Buttrey is so delightful to watch play. He’s a fan favorite for a reason" A second fan wrote in response to someone naming Sam: "love him too! He makes the funniest jokes & I wish he won the tournament."

Other notable players listed were USA Sports writer Eddie Timanus. Eddie was the first blind contestant on the show and he's a five-time winner on Jeopardy! One fan called him "a role model for those with disabilities." Ken Jennings, himself, the now host of the show, also was brought up many times by fans: "His run got me interested in the show and trivia as a whole"

Then more current players such as Adriana Harmeyer and Isaac Hirsch were named as well. A Reddit user said "Adriana. She’s fast-paced, possesses a broad knowledge base, and has a style all her own." Another said: "I liked Isaac the moment he stepped on stage with his fly '70s collars, and his thumb-up after they said his name always made me smile. Plus his range of knowledge was just incredible. Sad to see him leave but looking forward to his return at the TOC!"