Rogue ‘Jeopardy!’ champion defeated
“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek poses with contestant Arthur Chu at a taping in Culver City, Calif. Chu reigned on the show for 12 days. (Associated Press)
“Jeopardy!” champ Arthur Chu, who won big money while taking heat for his renegade style, has been defeated.
Chu finished in third place with zero dollars on Wednesday’s edition of the syndicated quiz show. He had reigned for 12 days. His total winnings were $297,200.
“A great run,” summed up host Alex Trebek.
Chu was unseated by Diana Peloquin of Ann Arbor, Mich., who led for the day with $15,700.
The 30-year-old Chu, a resident of Broadview Heights, Ohio, has described himself on Twitter as “mad genius, comedian, actor and freelance voiceover artist.”
He applied a “mad genius” approach to “Jeopardy!” brinkmanship. He ditched the time-honored practice of polishing off each category’s questions one by one. Instead, he took a hopscotch approach to his category choices, which tended to keep his opponents off-kilter.
He also concluded that the bottom rows of the game board are most likely to contain the hidden Daily Doubles, and he played accordingly.
Chu’s strategy fueled indignation from “Jeopardy!” traditionalists, who contended that such an aggressive style was somehow unsportsmanlike and exhibited a lack of respect for the game.
TV’s Judge Judy files first lawsuit
Television’s Judge Judy filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a Connecticut personal-injury lawyer, alleging that he used her image without authorization in advertisements that falsely suggested she had endorsed his firm.
The lawsuit filed in federal court seeks more than $75,000 in damages from Hartford attorney John Haymond and his firm.
Judith Sheindlin, a retired Family Court judge who has starred in “Judge Judy” for 18 years, said this is the first time she has filed a lawsuit against anyone. She said the unauthorized use of her name and image is “outrageous” and requires action.
“Mr. Haymond is a lawyer and should know better,” Sheindlin said in a written statement.
The birthday bunch
Songwriter Mike Stoller is 81. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka is 75. Actor William H. Macy is 64. Comedian Robin Duke is 60. Actress Glenne Headly is 59. Actress Dana Delany is 58. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2) is 54. Actress Annabeth Gish is 43. Actor Danny Masterson is 38. Actor Emile Hirsch is 29.