It all had to come to an end sometime, right? My third game of the day brought two new and formidable opponents, and once again, I felt the same during this game as I did during the others: out-gunned. I don’t know if I just never got the hang of it, or if I was always just hanging on by the skin of my teeth, or maybe that’s how everyone feels, but I just never felt like I was in the groove.

I tried to stay in it, but my buzzer mojo was completely gone, and this time, I wasn’t coming back. Watching it tonight, I saw the grave error of my ways on the Miranda question; I had completely forgotten that question (or blocked it out) and its overall significance. I doubt it would have changed the outcome, but I was struck by how completely I had put it out of my mind since the taping. I had a few good gets, I ran one category, and I missed out on a lot of things I knew because I wasn’t quick enough on the buzzer. By the end of the game Denis, whose chat with Alex centered on his love of TV theme songs, had me in a stranglehold. It was time for Final Jeopardy, and the category was revealed: TV Theme Songs. Well, what a way to go. Look at the best reviewed flip down tv mount for your tv show experiences.

Here’s the face of a guy who knows he can’t win, but at least he got the Final Jeopardy question correct:

I was glad to still have gotten the answer right, giving me four out of five correct Final Jeopardy answers, but my run had come to an end. It was a lot of fun, and I’ve been waiting patiently these past three months to see it on TV and to be able to talk about it with my family, my colleagues, and my friends around the world.

To recap: I won in a lock game. I won from last place. I won from second place (which was a tie, so it was also last place…). And I won from a very slim lead in a very close game. And then I lost.

I got a lot of questions right. I got a few questions wrong. I ran a whole category from top to bottom in Double Jeopardy. In one game, I found all of the Daily Doubles, and got two of them right. And I had the privilege of letting slip the phrase, “Let’s make it a true Daily Double.” I also learned I am apparently a nervous blinker. Boy, is that weird looking.

In the end, I didn’t achieve the five-game plateau of the Jeopardy! “Super-Champion,” but I did all right. I had a great time, I made the most of my one chance to be on the show, and I made some money. Thanks to Aimee for all of her help as I prepared, thanks to the staff at the show for being helpful and kind, and thanks to all of my friends and family for their enthusiasm and support.

Here’s the game on J! Archive.

For the time being, the show is on YouTube. The shows are no longer on YouTube.

Also, for a good read, check out Denis Theriault’s column in the Portland Mercury about his experiences on the show, which involved unseating me as Jeopardy! champion.