Jeopardy Contestants Miss Iconic James Earl Jones in 'Sesame Street' Category

“Jeopardy!” contestants were caught off-guard during the episode aired on September 15, failing to recognize one of Hollywood's most legendary figures: James Earl Jones. The late actor, who left us nearly a year ago, remains a monumental presence in the entertainment world. The episode's "Sesame Street" category featured a $400 clue presented by Oscar the Grouch. He stated, “Throughout the years, lots of people have stopped by ‘Sesame Street,’ like Alex Trebek and Ken Jennings,” before introducing “this guy” who famously recited the alphabet in a black-and-white photograph of a distinguished, bald man in glasses.As the timer expired, the contestants remained silent, prompting host Ken Jennings to reveal the answer. Jones initially appeared on the beloved program in 1969, also teaching numbers in the show's second episode. Viewer reactions have filled social media with disbelief over the contestants' lack of recognition. “So excuse me, you know Rocco The Rock but you don’t know James Earl Jones?” one user lamented. Given Jones’ timeless contributions, including iconic roles in “The Lion King” and “Star Wars,” fans certainly expected better recognition.

Image Credit: (Wikipedia Commons)