Jeopardy! viewers compare Isaac Hirsch to fan-favorite champ while some fear he’s ‘slowing down’ after sixth win
JEOPARDY!'s newest star, Isaac Hirsch, has snagged his sixth straight victory on Wednesday night, causing a fan frenzy.
Some viewers likened Isaac to an all-time favorite contestant, given his charming demeanor, while others worried he's losing steam.
After clinching a Tournament of Champions spot last episode, the sharp-dressed Burbank, California champ faced Larry P. Wellington and Alex Pribil.
After the Jeopardy! round, Isaac, boosted by a $2,200 Daily Double, led with $8,000. Alex trailed with $3,200, and Larry with $1,800.
In Double Jeopardy!, Alex found both Daily Doubles but bungled one of them, entering Final Jeopardy! just out of contention.
Isaac didn’t have a runaway, so Larry needed a correct response and a miss from Isaac to win.
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The champ led with $16,800, while Larry had $10,600 and Alex had $5,600.
The FAMOUS AMERICANS clue was, "In his 1999 memoir he wrote, 'I had been shot down a short walk's distance from the French-built prison Hoa Lo.'"
Everyone correctly responded with "John McCain," and Isaac added $4,401 to win $21,201, bringing his six-day total to $141,388.
He flashed a brief grin and clenched his fist in victory as his earnings were displayed. "Very impressive!" Ken Jennings declared.
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'LOOKING MORE VULNERABLE'
Fans swarmed social media, celebrating another win for Isaac, though some noted the games are getting tighter.
"He’s a great contestant!! Funny and humble!!" one Instagram user gushed.
"The most charming contestant since Sam Buttrey!" wrote another, referencing the 2023 Masters favorite.
"I love this guy!" wrote a third. "Perfect mix of likable, smart, self-deprecating but confident. I hope he keeps going strong!!"
Another joked, "Finally, a TOC competitor that seemingly no one has an issue with. A true Festivus Miracle."
While three of Isaac's four initial wins were blowouts, one Redditor noted his last two were less dominant and not in a runaway fashion.
“Isaac seems to be slowing down in his last two games. His Coryat scores were $16,400 today and yesterday, compared to $22,000-$25,000 in his first four games."
"Is it fatigue, stronger opponents, categories out of his wheelhouse, or a combo of all three? He's visibly deflating when he misses a buzz or can’t think of a response.
"He's a phenomenal player, but he's looking more vulnerable than last week," they wrote.
Despite the doubts, everyone seems to love the champ's streak, and he'll go for his seventh win in Thursday's episode.
So far, the other qualifiers for the next Tournament of Champions are Survivor alum Drew Basile (7 wins), Adriana Harmeyer (15 wins), Alison Betts (5 wins) and Dr. Amy Hummel (5 wins), and Celebrity Jeopardy!'s Lisa Ann Walter.
With four wins, Grant DeYoung and Amar Kakirde will also likely join in too given four-day champs have competed the last two ToCs.
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
Isaac arrived on last Wednesday's episode and is suddenly getting into Drew/Adriana territory with the third major streak in just a month.
He's notably turned heads with his flashy wardrobe choices that give '70s menswear.
"That current champion looks like a 70s p*rn star," one Facebook user recently snarked.
"I’m guessing Isaac hit Studio 54 after that show’s taping," mocked another.
In an Instagram post, Isaac shut down his fashion haters, writing, "The Internet is divided on my love of 70s menswear.
"Good news for the haters: I am almost out of vintage shirts approved by wardrobe. So if I keep winning, the fits are going to get a lot more subdued."
He also shared, "I went into this with actually pretty low confidence - as a local alternate, I watched seven games get filmed before I taped."
STAND-UP GUY
Meanwhile, Isaac has won over fans with his hilarious Q&A stories - no surprise since he's a former stand-up comic.
During his fourth win, he recalled a recent fitness journey that left his figure "exactly the same" after "bulking up and gaining 30 pounds."
During his third win, he shared that not himself but his car had a cameo on the TV show Brooklyn 99.
During win two, he drew laughs by recalling how he "ironically" was crowned high school homecoming king.
"Protect Isaac at all costs how is he so effortlessly funny," another Instagram user recently praised.
"I don't recall any contestant having such a run of funny and/or charming anecdotes."
That said, Isaac's gameplay is no joke. He's gone 169 correct, 23 incorrect on clues overall, and 10 for 12 on Daily Doubles.
AVENGING HIS FATHER
Isaac came in hot during his first win with a Q&A story revealing that his dad appeared on Jeopardy! - and lost - 30 years ago.
“My dad was on Jeopardy! in the ’80s and one of the first years Alex hosted, and he lost,” said Isaac.
“I used to tease him about it as a kid. Like Weird Al’s ‘I Lost On Jeopardy!,” being like, ‘It’s about you, Dad!'”
Ken burst out laughing as Isaac concluded, "So today, we get to find out how real karma is."
Jeopardy! shared an Instagram video of the story, and Isaac's dad, Steven, buzzed into the comments section, demanding a second chance.
“If Ken Jennings is going to keep mentioning that I lost on Jeopardy, I want another chance! Bring me back for another shot at winning!," Steve wrote.
HIS GAME SHOW HISTORY
Isaac is also no stranger to the game show circuit, aside from the stand-up comedy circuit.
In 2023, he won $140,000 on the ABC game show The Chase, defeating Chaser and nine-day Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen.
In 2017, Isaac also appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, winning $5,000 after botching the $20,000 question.
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That said, he's faring better on Jeopardy!- and better than his dad did (at least unless that second chance comes).
Jeopardy! airs at 7 pm ET - check your local listings.
