Teenaged 'Jeopardy!' contestant says he was cheated over correct but misspelled answer

[Grapefruits]

I was cheated! Heartbroken 12-year-old Jeopardy! finalist who lost $3,000 after giving correct answer says he'll NEVER watch the show again

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- A Connecticut eighth-grader who misspelled the correct answer to a "Jeopardy!" question and lost money over it says he was cheated.

Thomas Hurley III correctly answered the Final Jeopardy question about the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln. But Thomas spelled it "emanciptation" and was ruled out by host Alex Trebek.

He bet $3,000 of his $9,600 in winnings and lost to a rival who amassed $66,000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUwEYuZ0aLI

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Not sure why the kid is whining, he got the answer wrong after all.

I know the trend these days with younger people is that spelling and grammar doesn't matter and isn't important. Well, it is.

While this wasn't a "simple word" to spell, I work with people who can't even spell basic words that are used every day, and they are fresh out of high school.

[Xbox]

I disagree with you. That is such BS that it didn't count. The game show is evil and they knew what the kid meant.

[Lil B From The Pack]

I'm sure this is worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkyG1tnZNI

[Grapefruits]

I disagree with you. That is such BS that it didn't count. The game show is evil and they knew what the kid meant.

[TOMapleLaughs]

So... He had high expectations for the word emanciptation?

[GoaltenderInterference]

I believe the official rule states that any misspellings can't add/remove syllables or change the pronunciation, so "emanciptation" is technically incorrect.

[trek]

Trebek didn't have to be such a douche but the misspelling of the word did make the kid's answer incorrect.

[Blue90]

Who cares. Kid got demolished anyways. Go be a loser and cry somewhere else

[Absent Canuck]

So. I know what the kid at work means when he butchers the spelling of words, doesn't make it right. As for Emancipation Proclamation, the kid spelled it with a T, which totally changes it's pronunciation.

[Grapefruits]

Trebek didn't have to be such a douche but the misspelling of the word did make the kid's answer incorrect.

[canucks.brad]

he added an extra letter in there which completely changed the word. its wrong.

[JE14]

Kid clearly isn't very bright. He still would've lost even with that 3K so he still would've only won 1000.

[Lillooet_Hillbilly]

i was close on a lotto ticket with all 7 numbers once, well each number was off by 2 or 3 but close enough i should get the money then?

[viking mama]

The kid wasn't even close to "winning" his round of the game.

For the big money win & final answer question....it needed to be perfect. It wasn't. Trebek & crew made the right call.

[Horny Manatee]

So. I know what the kid at work means when he butchers the spelling of words, doesn't make it right. As for Emancipation Proclamation, the kid spelled it with a T, which totally changes it's pronunciation.

[c00kies]

I believe the official rule states that any misspellings can't add/remove syllables or change the pronunciation, so "emanciptation" is technically incorrect.

[Rounoush]

Everybody knows Jeopardy is an extremely strict show. They should be expecting this.

On a side note: even if his answer was accepted he still would have lost. What is he complaining about?

[The Brahma Bull]

Trebek didn't have to be such a douche but the misspelling of the word did make the kid's answer incorrect.

[Blue90]

[Grapefruits]

It's pronunciation?

I think you meant "its pronunciation."

Good try, tyke.