'Jeopardy!' host Mayim Bialik TEARS UP as Ryan Long reveals how he’ll spend his $279K winnings
Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik teared up on Thursday, June 2, as rideshare driver Ryan Long won his 15th game and revealed his plans for his prize money. Long boasts total winnings to the tune of $279K with 15 straight wins at the time of publication, just eight games shy of Canadian tutor Mattea Roach's 23-game streak.
Jeopardy! has been hosted by 46-year-old Bialik for four weeks in a row, returning after fan-favorite alum Ken Jennings spent three weeks at the helm and later announced he'd be out for "months." That said, Philadephia native Long is already on the ninth-longest streak on the show ever.
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Long made Bialik and fans of the show emotional after he revealed what he planned to do with his winnings during the segment where contestants shared tidbits about themselves. "Do you have anything planned with all of the changes that are going on?" Bialik, who wore a dark blazer and signature specs, asked Long. The contestant responded saying, "The only thing I have planned is taking my son on a trip, he wants to come out here he's been curious about what I've been doing." He rejoiced saying, "He wants to come to California, he wants to go to the theme parks - the best thing is, I have time to do these things with him now. I don't have to, you know, work and say 'I can’t do it,' now we can just go wherever we want." Bialik, who is a mother of two sons herself, was almost on the verge of tears as she replied, "That is wonderful, gave me chills. Alright... back to the game."
As mentioned, Long is just eight games shy of Canadian tutor Mattea Roach's 23-win streak that ended after she lost by $1 earlier this month. Roach, Long, and Amy Schneider are expected to compete in the Tournament of Champions in November. Long amused fans as he pumped out an Arnold Schwarzenegger impression during his first Q&A three weeks ago. The contestant has since shared how he grew up watching the popular show with his mom, who allegedly thought "Alex Trebek was so handsome." He also revealed how he fostered "four baby kittens" and "bottle-fed them" before his mom adopted them. Earlier this week, he shared that he once fought off a raccoon while working as a bouncer at a Philly bar.
Ryan Long's investment in himself has certainly paid off! pic.twitter.com/6JJtPlcqpN
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) June 1, 2022
Speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Long said his father passed before the start of his senior year in high school, which he "barely" graduated from. He revealed that he was hospitalized for several weeks after contracting Covid-19 in January 2021, which meant he could no longer work his public bus driving job. Long told the Inquirer that he was living paycheck-to-paycheck for over a year before he was able to afford a flight to Culver City. He said he only carried two dress shirts because he couldn't afford anything more.
“I didn’t study or anything. I probably should have perused something, but I just didn’t,” Long said of his preparation as a contestant on the show. “I just kind of went in and did my thing. I want to take my kid fishing. That’s really where my head is at," he added. Long, who won $19K on Thursday night, has an 88% accuracy rating per Daily Box Scores, despite not getting Final Jeopardy correct in three games. He has responded to 357 clues correctly and 48 incorrectly thus far, The Sun reported.