For Jennifer Tomassi, being on the game show Jeopardy! was something she had wanted to do for most of her life. So when she finally got her chance, she made the most of it.

The Danbury native, and a 1996 graduate of Danbury High School, Jennifer now works as a freelance writer in Los Angeles, and when she got her big chance to appear on the popular game show she didn't disappoint her friends and family.

On Friday night's show (January 26) Jennifer was not only a contestant, but showed the nation just how smart she really is. She answered 20 of 22 questions correctly, and lead throughout the entire game. Going into "Final Jeopardy," she had amassed $11,600, and wagered $8.800 on the question. She answered correctly and became the new Jeopardy Champ with a 1 day total of $20,401.

Her job to defend her title came on the next episode which aired Monday (January 29). Unfortunately, as is the case with a show like Jeopardy!, lady luck wasn't on her side.

She played well, but when the game ended she had only $200 to show for her effort, and a new champion, Ryan Fenster, a banker from Washington State, had been crowned.

I spoke with her brother Anthony over the weekend and he had nothing but praise for his sister:

She's amazing at this game, she so intelligent and we're all so proud of her. I still can't believe some of the questions that she got right on Friday's show. I was completely blown away.

Her parents Micheal and Paula Tomassi still reside in Danbury.

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