Penn, of Penn & Teller, wins ‘Celebrity Jeopardy’ pot for Opportunity Village
By Kimberly Laux for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Magician, comedian and Las Vegas headliner Penn Jillette won Friday’s celebrity episode of “Jeopardy” to bring $50,000 to a local charity.
“Celebrity Jeopardy, I hope height counts for something on this damn show,” Jillette, the talkative half of the world-famous magic duo Penn & Teller, tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Although he flubbed the Final Jeopardy question about celebrity memoirs, Jillette had the most money going into the last round and finished the game with $13,800.
“Yes! You call that applause? Come on!” he shouted jokingly to the audience.
The comedian’s $50,000 in winnings will be donated to Opportunity Village, Nevada’s largest charity, which provides services and training to disabled people.
Jillette’s two celebrity opponents on the show were fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who came in second place with $3,300, and TV and movie actor Zachary Quinto, who bet all of his $11,400 in the Final Jeopardy round and finished with $0. Rowley won $10,000 to be split between Public Art Fund in New York and The Feed Foundation. Quinto won $10,000 for Direct Relief.
Jillette tweeted Thursday night about his post-weight-loss appearance on the trivia show, “Yup, I’m going to look a LOT thinner on Jeopardy tomorrow than some of you have seen me. But, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been. Thanks.”
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.