Game shows just seemed to have a special place in our lives and we may have watched them since we were young. There are some that come and go but others stick around for the long term.
That is the case with Jeopardy!, a game show that has certainly stood the test of time. More than likely, you have found yourself sitting in the living room with your family (or perhaps by yourself) and calling out answers to the questions as Alex Trebek read them.
There were also some moments of the show that truly made history. That was the case with Mattea Roach, a contestant who managed to beat the odds and work her way through 22 different episodes. She has become somewhat of a Jeopardy hero.
Unfortunately, after the death of Alex Trebek, the show went on for a long time without a permanent host. There is still a lot of talk on the subject, but it seems as if Mattea has something to say about it. She has cast her vote, so to speak, on who should become the host of the show.
Mattea roach worked her way to mega champion status and now, she is giving her opinion as to which of the two who are vying for the permanent host position should get the job. It is between Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, and her vote is for Ken.
In speaking with Vulture, the 23-year-old Mattea said: “I would say Ken because of his history with the show. As a contestant, there’s something really special about being on stage with the greatest player of all time. Someone who understands in a very visceral way what it’s like to be in your position.”
It’s also interesting that she had some good things to say about Mayim as well. In her opinion, however, she just doesn’t have the same experience.
Mattea made her name for herself, not only because of her winning streak but also because of her antics while she was on the show. She would often talk to herself and had some odd facial expressions, something that drew criticism from some fans.
Back in the homeland so I had to pay a visit to some of my earliest hardcore supporters! pic.twitter.com/cOJw8ehi6L
— Mattea Roach (@mattearoach) May 5, 2022
Some of the fans criticized her, saying that she uses facial expressions and talks to herself as a distraction method for the other contestants. In response, she said: “The notion of my comments being distracting either to the viewers or the players, I was like, ‘Huh?’ You don’t have time to think about weird mind games.”
She went on to say that doing so deliberately would be unsportsmanlike, and that’s not her style. There are also some who said that her strategy was too casual, saying that she played like she was sitting at home on the couch.
Mattea said: “I remember saying to a friend, ‘I’m not going to court. I’m not going to a job interview. I’m going to a game show.” She said that she is just enjoying herself, which is why she chose that way of playing.
Many have made note of my colorful facial expressions while playing Jeopardy – here is proof that I come by it honestly/have been making weird faces for a long time! https://t.co/47YMp7s9Xq
— Mattea Roach (@mattearoach) April 27, 2022
In the end, she walked away with $534,984. She plans on putting it toward her student loan payments. In her words, she is going to be boring with money and will just sit on most of it for a couple of years until she has settled into the longer term.
Unfortunately, she still had to deal with those who would be critical of her playing style. In a tweet, she said: “Many have made note of my colorful facial expressions while playing Jeopardy.” She also had a picture of herself at a spelling bee when she was younger, showing that it was just the way she played and always has been.