Harvard Grads Dominate 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!' Despite One Glaring Weakness

Two Harvard grads, Jack Goldfisher and Henry Johnson, just crushed "Pop Culture Jeopardy!" — a feat made even more impressive by the fact they went in knowing almost nothing about, well, television. Because apparently, the secret to winning a pop culture game show is to be really good at movies and then wing the rest.

Goldfisher and Johnson, both 2018 Harvard alums, met in a film class, so their movie knowledge was, as you might imagine, robust. Their TV blind spot, however, was massive. Goldfisher even assumed Johnson, who'd co-written a kids' show for Apple TV, would be a small-screen savant. Nope. Just goes to show, even the pros have their Achilles' heel.

Originally, a mutual friend roped them into a three-person team, but when the show downsized, the two Jacks became the "AMC B-Listers." Their prep involved online quizzes on anime and country music (because, of course) and a crash course in major award shows. They didn't aim for mastery, just basic familiarity. Think: learning the theme song to The Wire without actually watching The Wire. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.

From Jitters to Journey

Filming day at Sony's Culver City lot brought the usual pre-game jitters. Host Colin Jost (also a Harvard alum, naturally) lobbed questions that other teams seemed to inhale. Goldfisher's internal monologue: "Everyone here seems to know everything." Their initial goal was simple: win one game. Just one.

Those nerves vanished once they hit the stage for the day's final taping. They nearly swept a Breakfast Club podcast category, realizing that aggressive guessing was their superpower. Even their notorious TV weakness couldn't stop them in Final Jeopardy! They combined forces to identify Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" — a song that became a digital hit decades after its release thanks to its starring roles in the finales of The Sopranos and Glee. It’s almost like they knew the secret sauce for enduring pop culture.

After a nail-biting first win, they dominated their next two games, securing a spot in the season's final tournament. Their secret? Low expectations and a healthy dose of fun.

The Bonnaroo Bet and the Big Win

The semifinals saw them trailing early. Johnson, ever the wit, joked to Jost that he was expecting a Borscht Belt comedians category. They clawed their way back, surprisingly, by excelling in "Real Housewives Wit and Wisdom" – a category for a show they'd never watched. Because when you're good, you're good, even if you're faking it.

Final Jeopardy! brought them to a clue about a director who'd garnered nominations in all four major acting categories. Johnson instantly knew: David O. Russell. Onward to the finals.

The championship started... badly. They were almost 30,000 points behind the aptly named "One Baddie After Another" team after the first game. Their solution? Buzz in for everything in game two. A Daily Double! about Awkwafina doubled their money. Then, a question about the game Balatro, which their friends played constantly, felt like an "enchanted moment," as Goldfisher put it. The universe was finally on their side.

Still nearly 20,000 points behind, they risked it all on a Daily Double about a music festival. The clue: J. Cole headlining a 2022 Tennessee music festival, its name Creole slang for "a real good time." Goldfisher thought of a North Carolina festival, but it didn't fit. Johnson, ever the quiet genius, whispered, "It can't just be Bonnaroo, right?" It seemed too obvious. It was Bonnaroo. The crowd erupted, even the opposing team applauded, and Jost, incredulous, declared, "I told you anything could happen!"

Final Jeopardy! on 21st-century movies: a clue about Edith Macefield's house, built around by developers, inspiring an Oscar-winning film. They answered correctly, sealing their championship. Two baseball fans, they're now planning a Cubs vs. Mariners trip. Goldfisher used some winnings to finish a low-budget feature film he co-wrote and directed, while Johnson is contributing to a scholarship fund for a high-school classmate. Because sometimes, knowing nothing about TV is the perfect recipe for a win.