Jeopardy! is known for having some raunchy and hilarious questions and categories. The show is also known for inviting extravagant guests that can make a boring question groundbreaking with their unique (and often incorrect) answers. We’ve spoken about the most fun and dirty questions, the toughest questions, and the worst answers that will leave you laughing. But what about the best questions?
In order to give you the right list of questions, we need to know what constitutes a good question. Though you can rarely predict what’s going to make people laugh, there are some guidelines you can stick to. They will make writing good questions easier and more fun. We’ve outlined some of these rules in this article about question writing.
Based on that, we’ve chosen some of the most amazing Jeopardy! questions that have ever been asked. Keep in mind that the best questions don’t always go by the rules. Some questions are made even better by their answer, whether they’re right or wrong.
Words That Start With G
Episode: Show #278 – Wednesday, October 2, 1985
Contestant: Ayofemi Stowe
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=251&highlight=inflammation+of+the+gums
How many words do you know that start with the letter “G”? The answer to this question is certainly one of them! It’s a funny word, until you know what it means.
Question: Inflammation of the gums.
Pop Culture Reference
Episode: The Greatest of All Time game #4 – Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Contestant: Ken Jennings
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6519&highlight=jordan+peele
Questions with pop culture references are almost always a hit. You just have to make sure your audience can understand the reference. If not, the question will be a big flop.
Question: Submitted for your approval, Jordan Peele as host & narrator of this anthology series.
Laughing Out L…
Episode: Show #7337 – Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Contestant: Liz Hedreen
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=5343&highlight=LOL+acronym
Acronyms are all the rage. They make easy and good questions too. If the person answering doesn’t know the exact answer, they can always put in some guesswork.
Question: It’s the second L in the acronym LOL, meaning “how funny.”
Musical Chairs
Episode: Super Jeopardy! show #5 – Saturday, July 14, 1990
Contestant: Mark Lowenthal
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=940&highlight=In+1985+this+group+had+its+first
Musical questions are fun because they attack players’ niche interests. That works flawlessly, unless the player has no idea what the question is referring too, of course.
Question: In 1985 this group had its first No. 1 with the song “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
The Popular Category
Episode: Show #7612 – Tuesday, October 17, 2017
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=5802&highlight=caspian+sea
This question was so great that none of the contestants got it right! Manny Abell got quite close with his guess, but he was off by one letter. Geography is a popular category in many trivia games, and Jeopardy! is no exception.
Question: It’s the only country that borders both the Caspian Sea & the Persian Gulf.
Wordplay
Episode: Show #7066 – Monday, May 11, 2015
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4891&highlight=a+bloodsucking+insect+in+its+name
The beauty of this question is in its simplicity. The answer seems so obvious, yet none of the contestants got it right. Chances are, you’ve been to this place too. Can you guess it?
Question: Shopping is always nice, like at this outdoor spot with a bloodsucking insect in its name.
Egg-celent Question!
Episode: Show #7066 – Monday, May 11, 2015
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4891&highlight=get+breakfast+going
This episode was special because it featured celebrity contestants. Neil Flynn, our favorite father from The Middle, didn’t get this one right. This question has everything, including several hints and even two letters from the answer!
Question: First things first! Get breakfast going, maybe this egg dish that can have “-te” at the end, or not.
Man of the Arts
Episode: Show #7066 – Monday, May 11, 2015
Contestant: Neil Flynn
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4891&highlight=Anatevka
Mr. Flynn didn’t walk away having answered no questions right that day. He got this one, and it’s a lot more difficult than the previous. This question gives you all the clues you need. If you know it—you will get it right.
Question: It’s set in the Jewish village of Anatevka in 1905.
High Society
Episode: Show #7066 – Monday, May 11, 2015
Contestant: Debra Messing
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4891&highlight=This+regal+American+actress
This is a question for people who know a thing or two about old Hollywood and “High Society.” Though this knowledge is not as general as you’d like, it is still a great question.
Question: This regal American actress became a true member of “High Society” when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956.
Good Questions Can Be Easy Too
Episode: Show #7067 – Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Contestant: Aaron Rodgers
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4892&highlight=shark+species+are+near+extinction
Who said that a good question must be difficult? This is one of those questions that you can answer even if you don’t know the answer. Just use logic and common sense!
Question: 1/3 of shark species are near extinction, partially due to human appetite for the soup named for this shark part.
The Name Game
Episode: Show #7068 – Wednesday, May 13, 2015
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4893&highlight=the+late+creator+of
You might be wondering, how is it possible that everyone got this question wrong? The reason is—they forgot to say the author’s full name! Questions that can only be answered with names are not always a good idea, but you can throw one or two in there. When you do, they better be good!
Question: This late creator of “Family Ties” wrote the memoir “Sit, Ubu, Sit.”
Who Doesn’t Love Sports!
Episode: Show #6800 – Friday, March 21, 2014
Contestant: Diane Levinson
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4451&highlight=assists+in+an+NHL+season
This is one of those times when the contestants made the question even better. In this case, the contestant who was meant to answer the question did it so wrong that everyone nearly died laughing. Let’s just say Joe Morse got the NHL and NFL confused.
Question: 100+ assists in an NHL season has been accomplished only 13 times, 11 times by this player.
Plays and Theatre
Episode: Show #7065 – Friday, May 8, 2015
Contestant: Louis Virtel
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4890&highlight=Arthur+Miller+thought+1690s+Salem
This question is not the general knowledge we’re used to. In fact, it is specific. However, if you’re having a themed trivia night, don’t be afraid to get a little detailed. Your guests will appreciate it.
Question: Arthur Miller thought 1690s Salem was relevant to 1950s American when he wrote this play.
Don’t Point Fingers
Episode: Show #5749 – Thursday, September 17, 2009
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3141&highlight=An+accused+person+in+court
This is another great example of how a solid question doesn’t need to be a curveball. Nobody got this question right, while it is quite simple. Remember that the devil is always in the details!
Question: An accused person in court, along with his counsel.
What’s a Crisis?
Episode: Show #5749 – Thursday, September 17, 2009
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3141&highlight=The+1850s+saw+a+bad+one
Once again, we’ve got a Triple Stomper! This is a question that almost anyone could answer, but you need some time to think about it. We know you know this word, but do you know it in this context?
Question: The 1850s saw a bad one of this 5-letter word that refers to an economic crash & the feat-driven rush to sell.
Here’s to the Hard Questions!
Episode: The Greatest of All Time game #6 – Thursday, January 9, 2020
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6522&highlight=These+2+foreign-born+directors
You could say this question is a two-parter because the answer consists of two names. It is no wonder that nobody on the show could answer it correctly. This is arguably one of the hardest Jeopardy! questions I’ve ever seen, which is why it deserves a spot on this list.
Question: These two foreign-born directors have each won two best director Oscars, but none of their films has won Best Picture.
Let’s Talk Politics
Episode: Show #6792 – Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Contestant: Arthur Chu
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4444&highlight=In+1814+this+VP+from+Mass
Politics is not a great topic for the dinner table, but it is always welcome in trivia. There is only one rule: ask about facts and nothing but facts. This question is an awesome example of that!
Question: In 1814 this VP from Mass. for whom a political team is named died in office having served less than two years.
Jesus, Take the Wheel
Episode: Show #7420 – Friday, December 9, 2016
Contestant: Tim Aten
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=5485&highlight=Zechariah+predicted+the+new+king
Assuming not everyone has read the Bible, most people somehow just know the answer to this question. It is surprisingly funny and raunchy! Can you guess it?
Question: Zechariah predicted the new king would arrive in Jerusalem on one of these animals, & Jesus later does.
Send Your Location
Episode: Show #6686 – Monday, October 14, 2013
Contestant: Chris Gaiman
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4326&highlight=former+Soviet+republic+after+Russia
Geography questions are my personal hell, but there is a geography category in most major trivia board games and apps. If you want to play one of those, put on your geography hat and prepare to answer questions like this one.
Question: In area, it’s the largest former Soviet republic after Russia & the largest nation that doesn’t border an ocean.
The Bible
Episode: Show #5528 – Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Contestant: Brian Levinson
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2690&highlight=In+Exodus+18+he+gets
You can’t go wrong with another biblical question! Every quiz needs a few of these; you can answer them with almost no effort. These questions can serve as placeholders that prepare you for the tough ones.
Question: In Exodus 18 he gets advice from his father-in-law Jethro.
A Kinky Answer
Episode: Show #7076 – Monday, May 25, 2015
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4901&highlight=A+Christian+hymn
This is a rather regular question, but one of the answers absolutely blew everyone in the audience away. One of the contestants answered with “Kinky Boots”. While that’s obviously not true, it was an excellent try!
Question: A Christian hymn & a Jewish holiday hymn are both titled this, also the name of a 2009 Tony-nominated musical.
Music and Lights
Episode: Show #4836 – Monday, September 26, 2005
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=521&highlight=Take+a+whirl+on+the+dance
This question may seem easy, but it was surprisingly difficult for all three contestants. None of them figured out the right answer. Can you?
Question: Take a whirl on the dance floor under these lights whose name comes from the Greek for the “act of whirling.”
It’s a Rap!
Episode: Show #6746 – Monday, January 6, 2014
Contestant: Eric Brach
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4387&highlight=grandmaster+flash
A music question that consists of some lyrics is always a classic. You can’t throw around questions like this too often, or people will get bored. However, one question like this is just the right thing to lift the mood.
Question: “Don’t push me, ‘cause I’m close to the edge/ I’m trying not to lose my head,” rapped this pioneering “Grandmaster.”
Ever Been in One?
Episode: Show #6239 – Thursday, November 3, 2011
Contestant: Roger Craig
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3752&highlight=If+Andy+yearns+for+Brenda
This is one of those classic questions that can be misinterpreted very easily. It was misinterpreted on the show by one of the contestants who thought Alex Trebek was talking about a threesome.
Question: If Andy yearns for Brenda & Brenda cares about Charlene who pines for Andy, the three of them form one of these.
Who’s to Blame?
Episode: Show #7128 – Wednesday, September 16, 2015
J-archive: https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=5040&highlight=This+song+from+a+1999
This question is a bit niche for most people, which is evident from the fact that none of the contestants knew the correct answer. However, if you know your way around animated films, you have a real shot at getting this right.
Question: This song from a 1999 animated film about censorship had a word censored from its Oscar performance.
YouTube Compilations
If you are looking for more entertainment, browse YouTube for some hilarious Jeopardy! compilations. Here are some to get you started! When you click on one, you will immediately get more recommendations. Go for it and trust the algorithm.
10 of the BEST JEOPARDY! Quiz Questions – Can you beat Final Jeopardy!?
Top 10 Best Jeopardy! Players EVER
Celebrity Jeopardy!! – Memorable Moments
10 Really Incorrect Jeopardy!! Answers
Final Words
Hopefully, these hilarious questions quench your thirst for entertainment and help you prepare for your own trivia night. Remember that not every good question has to be smart and not every smart question is good. These questions will inspire you to write your own great questions when you need to. And, if you’re ever looking for more hilarious and awesome trivia, watch an episode of Jeopardy! That show is filled with great trivia and funny bits.
Do you have a favorite Jeopardy! question? Which one of these is your favorite? What, in your opinion, constitutes a good question? Let us know in the comments!
Leave a Reply