Warning: This page contains spoilers for the September 8, 2025, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Famous Names) for Monday, September 8, 2025 (Season 42, Game 1):
On June 12, 1942 she wrote, “I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Josh Jackson, an urban planner from Pasadena, California
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Caroline Paul, an HR specialist from Washington, D.C.
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Jonathan Hugendubler, an adjunct profesor & trivia host from Baltimore, Maryland (1-day total: $23,601)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Our six weeks of encore presentations over the summer have concluded as today is Opening Day of Season 42. The last episode of Season 41 (conveniently replayed on Friday for those who missed it originally) saw Jonathan Hugendubler play giant killer, unseating 16-day champion Scott Riccardi. In his first title defense, he faces off against Caroline Paul and Josh Jackson. One good thing for Jonathan is that he’ll have been able to spend the summer break improving his skills. It’ll be interesting to see if that works out for him early in Season 42.
Also, there is some good news for those who might miss today’s episode for whatever reason: In the United States, if you have Hulu or Peacock, or in Canada if you have Crave, you’ll have about a week to catch it on streaming, as beginning at 6 AM Eastern / 3 AM Pacific tomorrow, the most recent 5 episodes will be available to stream on those services.
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is Anne Frank?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2025 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
On her 13th birthday, June 12, 1942, Anne Frank received a diary as a birthday gift during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Shortly thereafter, her family went into hiding after her sister Margot received a summons to report to a Nazi work camp. The diary, written to an imaginary friend named Kitty (inspired by a character of the same name from the Cissy van Marxveldt books), recounts Anne’s experiences while hiding from the Nazis, and after World War II, the diary was published in Dutch; the English translation, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl received significant popular attention when it was published in 1952.
Yes, I do believe that today’s Final Jeopardy is a rather straightforward clue. But I also think that this is an excellent Final Jeopardy clue to begin the season on, and an important one to ask regardless of how difficult it may play. Because there are certainly a number of viewers at home who probably could stand to be reminded of the horrors of the Holocaust, as it is absolutely within the realm of possibility that the United States of America will move down that path over the coming years.
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Here are our current featured items, including our new Masters Season 3 Player List T-shirt:
Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Monday, September 8, 2025 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Edible Idioms; Business History; Biology; Bicycles On The Big Screen; Plain; Simple)
Our two challengers got off to a great start, but Caroline led at the opening break. After 15 clues, the scores were Caroline $4,600 Jonathan $1,800 Josh $1,600.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Caroline 6 correct 1 incorrect
Jonathan 3 correct 0 incorrect
Josh 3 correct 2 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Josh accidentally said “I ate everybody” instead of “I ate everything” in Italy.
Caroline loves visiting niche museums.
Jonathan was very surprised by his victory in the Season 41 finale.
Josh found the Daily Double and doubled up through it as Caroline continued to lead through 30 clues.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Caroline 10 correct 2 incorrect
Josh 9 correct 3 incorrect
Jonathan 7 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Caroline $5,600
Josh $4,400
Jonathan $3,800
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: African History; That Adds Up; Streaming TV; Plays & Playwrights; Same First & Last Letter; A Platonic Category)
Jonathan did extremely well in the African History category, picking up all 5 there, and a True Daily Double. That put things away for him, as did picking up another $3,000 on DD3 en route to a runaway.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Jonathan 21 correct 2 incorrect
Caroline 15 correct 5 incorrect
Josh 12 correct 5 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 0 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Jonathan $29,800
Caroline $7,200
Josh $5,200
Jonathan and Josh were correct in Final, as Jonathan bet for a big $40,000 and got there. He’ll go for win #3 tomorrow.
Tonight’s results:
Josh $5,200 + $426 = $5,626 (Who is Anne Frank?)
Caroline $7,200 – $1,000 = $6,200 (Who is Queen Elizabeth?)
Jonathan $29,800 + $10,200 = $40,000 (Who is Anne Frank? Love you Kate!) (2-day total: $63,601)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) BIOLOGY $600 (clue #22)
Josh 2000 +2000 (Jonathan 3000 Caroline 5400)
2) AFRICAN HISTORY $800 (clue #13)
Jonathan 10600 +10600 (Caroline 7600 Josh 3600)
3) THAT ADDS UP $1200 (clue #15, $15600 left on board)
Jonathan 22800 +3000 (Caroline 6000 Josh 3600)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 213
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Jonathan 3 3 3 4 3 4 4
Caroline 1 2 4 5 4 5 5 1 2
Josh 2 4 5 5 5 3*
DJ! Round:
Jonathan 4 5 3 4 3 5 2 3 3 2* 4 3*
Caroline 4 5 1
Josh
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Jonathan 3.42
Caroline 3.25
Josh 4.00
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 0 (0.00 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Jonathan $18,200 Coryat, 21 correct, 2 incorrect, 29.82% in first on buzzer (17/57), 4/4 on rebound attempts (on 9 rebound opportunities)
Caroline $7,200 Coryat, 15 correct, 5 incorrect, 31.58% in first on buzzer (18/57), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Josh $3,800 Coryat, 12 correct, 5 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $29,200
Lach Trash: $13,400 (on 12 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $11,400
Lead Changes: 1
Times Tied: 1
Player Statistics:
Jonathan Hugendubler, career statistics:
36 correct, 5 incorrect
5/5 on rebound attempts (on 10 rebound opportunities)
26.32% in first on buzzer (30/114)
4/4 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $20,000)
2/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,700
Caroline Paul, career statistics:
15 correct, 6 incorrect
1/2 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
31.58% in first on buzzer (18/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $7,200
Josh Jackson, career statistics:
13 correct, 5 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $2,000)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $3,800
Jonathan Hugendubler, to win:
3 games: 65.992%
4: 43.549%
5: 28.739%
6: 18.966%
7: 12.516%
Avg. streak: 3.940 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Jonathan $29,800 Caroline $7,200 Josh $5,200)
Jonathan: Bet no more than $15,399. (Actual bet: $10,200)
Caroline: Cover bet over Josh is $3,201. (Actual bet: $1,000)
Josh: Bet no more than $1,200 in the battle for second. (Actual bet: $426)
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I missed the key word “wrote” in the clue, and therefore was stuck thinking this was something verbal and completely wiffed on a softball for opening day. Here’s hoping for a better Day Two.
If it makes you feel any better, I did the exact same thing and am currently feeling extremely embarrassed.
Hopefully tomorrow goes better for us both. 🙂
I knew this one all too well. I’m happy to say I’m one for one on FJ in the new season, but I would’ve been ashamed of myself if I had missed it.
I had a feeling that the correct response will be Anne Frank. And my feeling was correct! My first correct guess at the very start of season 42!!!
This evening, I will be watching Jeopardy! at 10 pm due to MNF.
The clue was so vague that I wondered who they could possibly be asking for other than Anne Frank. Glad it was correct!