LeVar Burton debuted as the latest, highly-anticipated guest host of Jeopardy! on Monday. Burton’s anticipated debut was not short on memorable moments.

One of those moments was the fact that a contestant managed to obtain the lowest score in history. The previous score was held by Stephanie Hull, who appeared on the show in March of 2015. Hull’s record was -$6,800. Patrick Pearce manages to exceed Hull’s goal by a deficit of $600, with a total of -$7,400.

One viewer tweeted, “Wait, hold up. Did I (and probably a whole lotta other folks) just tune in for the first time in a LONG time to watch the lowest recorded score in #Jeopardy history? If so, now I feel even worse for him ”

Writer Noel Murray tweeted, “According to my Jeopardy-obsessed son, the dude who finished in the negative set a record for the lowest score in the modern era.”

During the Jeopardy round, he got $200. However his performance during the Double Jeopardy dug him into the money hole. Pearce was eliminated from participating in Final Jeopardy.

Matt Amodio of New Haven, Connecticut competed alongside Kathleen McHugh of Detroit, Michigan in Final Jeopardy. Amodio was the victor with his four-day winnings totaling $122,400.

Burton’s debut may have been overshadowed by the new record breaker, but fans of Burton and Jeopardy! can watch Burton on the show four more times as the guest host this week.

“More than anything, I am eager to put my skills up against those of anyone else in contention and then let the chips fall where they may,” Burton said on The View ahead of Monday’s episode. “The important thing for me is I have an opportunity to compete for the job, and that’s all I ever really wanted.

Burton has had his heart set on hosting the show years back in 2013 when he first tweeted about the idea. The unfortunate passing of Alex Trebek in 2020 has made the Star Trek alum consider being the permanent host.

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