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Kids Week contestant Thomas Hurley III, 12, wagered $3,000 out of his $9,600 take going into the show's Final Jeopardy! round.
The clue: "The Civil War." The answer: "Abraham Lincoln called this document which took effect in 1863, 'a fit and necessary war measure.'" Thomas's response: "What is the Emanciptation Proclamation?"
"You misspelled it badly," host Alex Trebek told Thomas, disqualifying his response per the judges' ruling.
"I was pretty upset that I was cheated out of the final `Jeopardy!' question," Thomas told the Danbury News-Times, recalling the taping, which took place back in February. "It was just a spelling error."
It ultimately wouldn't have made a difference, since winner Skyler Hornback ended the day with a record-setting $66,600, though Thomas still snagged $2,000 as the show’s runner-up.
However, many fans are still outraged over the show’s rigidity concerning the minor spelling error.
"I will never watch Jeopardy again after today," said one of the scores of fans who bombarded the show's Facebook page with angry comments. "The fact that they denied it was the last straw for me. Goodbye Jeopardy."
"Jeopardy!" meanwhile, tried to mitigate the situation with a statement justifying its decision.
"If "Jeopardy!" were to give credit for an incorrect response (however minor), the show would effectively penalize the other players," the show's producers wrote. "We love presenting young people as contestants on our show, and make every effort to be fair and consistent in their treatment."
Some, including Thomas's dad, believe Trebek himself still owes the boy an apology.
Calling the host "smug," Thomas Hurley II told CNN Trebek should have lightened up.
"It's a kids' tournament!," he said. "Everyone knew what he meant."
Source: Gawker Media
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