Overview

• The Sept. 15 episode included a Sesame Street category delivered by Oscar the Grouch that displayed a young James Earl Jones.
• Reigning champion Paolo Pasco, Ryan Sharpe, and Kelsi Tyler did not answer before the buzzer, after which host Ken Jennings identified Jones.
• Jeopardy!’s official Instagram post drew thousands of reactions, with prominent comments like “Nobody knew James Earl Jones, straight to jail.”
• Some viewers defended the contestants, noting that a youthful black-and-white photo could make Jones less recognizable on sight.
• Coverage across outlets through Sept. 18 reported no new statements from the show or contestants, while noting Jones’s 2024 death and his iconic roles including Darth Vader and Mufasa.