Grant DeYoung Is Honest About Why His Sits in a Chair on 'Jeopardy!'

On Reddit, Grant DeYoung has named himself "GrantDoesntKnowIt," but that's certainly not the case on Jeopardy! The Arizona-based store clerk first appeared on the show on May 15, 2024. As of this writing, Grant is on a four-game win streak and has racked up more than $81,000 in winnings. He has already made quite a name for himself on the show and seems to be making himself very comfortable on the podium in his subsequent appearances.

But while his breadth of knowledge for trivia certainly speaks for itself thanks to his win streak, most people now recognize him for sitting in a chair while playing. Most Jeopardy! fans will know that the contestants typically stand at their podiums when competing, but Grant has opted to use a chair for all of his episodes so far. It's certainly an unusual sight for the long-running game, but it isn't entirely unheard of. Why does Grant sit in a chair while playing Jeopardy! though?

Grant is probably more recognizable than most other Jeopardy! contestants, considering he can be seen sitting in a chair while playing. It's not entirely common for folks to sit down during the game, but it certainly hasn't impacted his performance while answering in the form of a question. That said, he's actually taken to Reddit to address some of the questions that people have had about his decision to use a chair.

In a thread on the r/Jeopardy subreddit, a fan asked, "Why do some contestants sit on chairs and others stand? Just curious, no complaints."

Grant himself responded to the question succinctly. He replied, "They give it if you ask."

He even went on to explain why he needs one, writing, "I have some back arthritis that makes standing still for that long very difficult. I wouldn't expect everyone who sits for J to disclose their reason for needing one, but I don't mind saying mine."

Interestingly enough, the option to sit in a chair is actually available to all contestants. In an episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, show producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss revealed that they're always willing to provide chairs to their competitors with no questions asked.

"This is something that we always offer to contestants," Sarah remarked. "We don't ask why, it's not our business. If you want a chair, we give it to you."

As it turns out, anyone playing Jeopardy! can ask for a chair can ask for a chair and will be granted one upon request. Whether you need to tend to issues regarding your body or just get exhausted after filming several episodes in a day, Jeopardy! has got a free seat for you.

Grant will likely take full advantage of that as he seeks to continue his winning streak. Catch new episodes of Jeopardy! every weeknight at 7 p.m. EST on ABC.