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Viewers hail 'Jeopardy!' contestant Steve Knapp who got paid DOUBLE after Mayim Bialik's rare error

Mayim admitted to her blunder and announced that contestant Steve Knapp will be paid after all

Actress Mayim Bialik, 46, has been hosting 'Jeopardy!' for the past four weeks following alum Ken Jennings' announcement that he would be out for 'months'. He tweeted, "I'm handing the keys back to the talented actor-producer-writer-director (!) Mayim Bialik for a few months. We are lucky to have her! I'll be back before the end of the season.”

However, Mayim is only a temporary host. The permanent hosting slot is vacant and will be filled by the end of season 38 in July 2022. After 12 straight wins, the Philadelphia driver Ryan Long won $226K and made it to the leaderboard of legends. However, a first-of-its-kind score change happened on May 30, Monday.

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During the game rounds on Monday, a new player named Steve Knapp buzzed in on the Potpourri category for $1000. Mayim read the clue, "Sadly the Heath Hen went extinct in 1932, but we still have its relative, the Prarie 'this'. Known for its courtship displays." Steve responded as the screen showed a colorful hen, "What is: A Prairie Grouse" and the host Mayim said, "no."

A few awkward seconds of silence later, Mayim said, "That's a chicken!"

The producers later said that the greater prairie chickens are also called prairie grouse. When the game show returned after commercials, Mayim stated, "Before we get into Double Jeopardy, we have a change in score to announce, and Steve it affects you."

She continued, "The judges have reviewed your response of Prarie Grouse and have decided it is acceptable, we will add $2000. Your score is now correct at $3200." Though Mayim clearly moved on from the mishap, viewers and audiences were surprised as the game has never stopped before to replay a player or paid them double for the inconveniences. 

One viewer tweeted, "Steve’s penmanship is impeccable. #jeopardy"

Another said, "Steve could be a Brian Lehrer impersonator. #jeopardy"

This user shared a gif saying, "The smugness when she said that's a chicken. Give Steve his money #Jeopardy"

Another spoke of one of Steve's moves saying, "OK, I’m gonna say Steve surprised me with his anecdote. #jeopardy"

Meanwhile, the straight 12-time winner Ryan Long shared his excitement about being on the show. Speaking with The Philadelphia Enquirer, he said, "It’s been really surreal. It didn’t feel real until I saw myself on television, and I was like, ‘OK, so this is a thing that happened and it wasn’t a fever dream.’”