CUT IT OUT!
Jeopardy!’s Drew Basile admits producers were forced to reshoot scene over his ‘unclassy’ behavior on show
Plus, what the Survivor alum said about his Jeopardy! haters
JEOPARDY! champ Drew Basile has revealed that he had such an inappropriate reaction to one of his wins that the producers needed to retape it.
The game show's latest buzzworthy winner discussed his seven-day streak and "polarizing" status in a new interview.
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Drew, 23, discussed his Jeopardy! run in a new Rob Has a Podcast episode with Survivor vets Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach.
Drew, the first Survivor contestant to appear on the game show, was defeated last Friday, June 28, after a thrilling run earning $129,601.
As fans know, he also received mixed reactions about his behavior on stage.
Drew would often speak between clues and give abbreviated responses.
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When he won, he clapped for himself, pumped his fists, and pounded his chest, irritating many viewers.
On the podcast, Drew revealed that after his third win—which came off a rare tiebreaker clue—he got so hyped up that the show re-did the ending.
'BIG REACTION'
"Obviously, I had a big reaction at the end of the tiebreak because, you know, it's like a Western standoff," he shared.
"I had such a big reaction that I think we had to re-record it."
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Drew recalled the moment that was cut and he was asked to tone it down.
"I was like, 'Let's go!'" he shared, yelling and pumping his fists.
"They were like, 'We're not doing that?'" one of the podcast co-hosts asked with a nervous laugh.
"Well, Jeopardy! is so classy. I had a huge reaction," Drew explained.
At the time, Drew and opponent Josh Heit finished with $20,000 after Final Jeopardy, giving them a bonus clue.
Drew buzzed in first with the correct answer, winning the game.
In the second take, the champ had a less over-the-top reaction (seen below).
Drew Basile's Astonishing Jeopardy! Win
'I LOVE SHOWBOATING'
Drew also discussed his reputation as a polarizing Jeopardy! contestant due to how he acted when he won and how casually he played.
"It was kind of a little bit muted compared to some of the hate you get from Survivor," he said, implying he wasn’t that bothered.
Drew didn't stop there, calling the negative comments about him “incoherent.”
"The negative people… they’re retired, they’re a little bit older, you know? They’re still grappling with technology, they haven’t figured out spellcheck, for example… It’s hard to be that outraged when it’s a completely incoherent message.”
Still, he admitted, “I was kind of a polarizing figure on Jeopardy!” attributing that to how fans are used to more poised players.
“They have so much poise, and they’re all dressed up to encourage those best qualities of politeness and rectitude, and people don’t really showboat.
"I had no issue with either of those things, I love showboating,” Drew stated plainly.
“I think [because I have] a little bit more personality than your average winning contestant, [it] could have been a little unnerving for [some] viewers,” he speculated.
“Everyone loves to root against the winner… you don’t want the winner to be some kind person who you would invite into your home, that’s boring. I’ll gladly take being the heel… I’ll lean into it."
Drew added that he started playing more loosely once he hit the coveted fifth win, qualifying him for the next Tournament of Champions.
“You’re really playing with house money after that… which probably hurt me,” he admitted.
Drew revealed that he had first applied for a college tournament and reached the finals, but they chose someone else from his college.
He also argued with production over a ruling on an "impend/impent" clue; "What are you talking about? That's not even a word! Why would I say 'impent?!'"
The Michigan-based graduate student finished with the second-longest streak of the season, only behind the super-champ he defeated, 15-day winner Adriana Harmeyer.
The other qualifiers for the next Tournament of Champions are Adriana, five-day winners Alison Betts and Dr. Amy Hummel and Celebrity Jeopardy!'s Lisa Ann Walter.
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That said, with four wins, Grant DeYoung and Amar Kakirde will likely join in as well.
Jeopardy! airs at 7 p.m. ET - check your local listings.
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