Minnesota meteorologist wins a third time on 'Jeopardy!'

Two people on the set of a game show
Eric Ahasic, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in the Twin Cities -- seen here with "Jeopardy!" host Mayim Bialik -- has won two episodes of the game show.
Courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

A Minnesota meteorologist won his third consecutive appearance on "Jeopardy!" on Wednesday, a dream come true for a lifelong fan of the long-running trivia game show.

Eric Ahasic, who works at the National Weather Service's Twin Cities office in Chanhassen, ousted a 16-time champion in his first appearance on Monday.

He successfully defended that title on Tuesday, finishing with $21,600 despite missing the Final Jeopardy question.

That final question asked what 2013 bestseller shared a title with a famous 14th Century poem. The correct answer was "Inferno," but none of the three contestants got it right. Ahasic's response was "The Handmaid's Tale."

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But he still finished with the most money, giving him a two-day prize total of $40,001 and sending him into a third day of competition.

On Wednesday, the final question asked in what 1773 event a participant recalled, “Some of our numbers jumped into the hold … I never labored harder in my life.”

Ahasic had the correct answer of “Boston Tea Party.” It made him $35,600, bringing his total to $75,601.

The next episode — which was taped weeks ago, with the results kept secret — is scheduled to air Thursday afternoon. In the Twin Cities TV market it airs at 4:30 p.m. on KARE-TV.