One of the most hated Jeopardy champions in the show’s history makes his return Monday.
Arthur Chu has broken every unwritten rule on the program and fans have struck back.
They’re mad because he jumps around the board going for the most difficult clues first when the customary practice is to start at the top and work your way down.
They’re mad because he’ll interrupt Jeopardy host Alex Trebeck with the buzzer, jumping in as soon as he knows the answer rather than waiting for Trebeck to finish his clue.
And they’re mad because he plays with a brash enthusiasm the way perhaps only someone with has won more than $100,000 and four straight games can.
“I kind of fit a certain stereotype of the hyper-focused, unlikable Asian nerd,” Chu told NPR. “And the fact that I’m the Asian guy means that I’m not the underdog, that I’m the bad guy. And some regular person who the audience can identify with is the underdog.”
You can read more about Chu’s background, how he’s directly answered some of his critics and his thoughts on the Asian nerd stereotype on KPBS.
