A 31-year-old Washington, D.C., journalist who has become one of the most beloved figures in Jeopardy! history despite losing most of his games just announced he’s teaming up with his brother for a Netflix trivia competition — and their team name has fans of the late Alex Trebek losing their minds.
Drew Goins revealed on Instagram April 28 that he and his brother Zach Goins will compete together on Season 2 of Netflix’s Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which premieres May 11, 2026. The brothers will appear in episode nine, airing May 21, and they’ve chosen a team name that sent longtime Jeopardy! devotees into a frenzy: “Losers, In Other Words.”
A Deep-Cut Tribute To Alex Trebek
The moniker pays homage to one of Trebek’s most memorable zingers from October 2016. During a contestant interview segment, Trebek spoke with Susan Cole about her passion for nerdcore hip-hop. Cole described the genre as people who identify as nerdy “rapping about the things they love.” Trebek’s deadpan response — that they were “losers, in other words” — became one of the host’s most quotable moments.
The reference carries special meaning because Goins never had the opportunity to compete when Trebek was hosting. By honoring a moment that Jeopardy! diehards still quote nearly a decade later, Goins has further endeared himself to the fandom. A promotional photo in his Instagram carousel showed the current Pop Culture Jeopardy! host Colin Jost shrugging with the caption, “What the hell, sure.”
Comments poured in from excited fans. “This feels like cheating, and I don’t know why,” one commenter joked, while another quipped, “Man was so popular on Jeopardy! he qualified for Pop Culture Jeopardy!” One viewer simply wrote, “I am far too excited about this!”
The Most Lovable Loser In Jeopardy! History
Goins has achieved remarkable recognition in the Jeopardy! world — and he’s done it largely by losing. His first appearance on Sept. 25, 2024, ended in defeat. But after answering 22 of 25 clues correctly, he qualified for the Second Chance Tournament, which he won, advancing to the Champions Wildcard Tournament.
Goins finished as first runner-up in the Champions Wildcard. His unexpected path to the Tournament of Champions (TOC) came when Celebrity Jeopardy! winner Lisa Ann Walter dropped out, and Goins took her place. Though he lost his TOC semifinal, he showed up to a later taping wearing a Lisa Ann Walter shirt and proclaiming himself her number one fan — a viral moment that further cemented his fandom credentials. The two have since become friendly online.
Goins then advanced to the Invitational Tournament. His quarterfinal aired on Feb. 9, 2026, against T.L. Cubbage, a lawyer from Dallas, TX, and Liz Feltner, a law student from Baton Rouge, LA. Feltner finished third in the 2022 National College Championship.
A Dramatic Comeback In The Invitational
The Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament (JIT) — an invitation-only tournament where contestants choose whether to compete — offers a winner’s prize of $150,000 and a coveted slot in Jeopardy! Masters. Goins’ quarterfinal started disastrously when he hit the first Daily Double on clue 11. Wagering all $3,000 in the category “From Samuel Johnson’s 1755 Dictionary,” Goins answered incorrectly. Host Ken Jennings delivered the bad news: the correct response was “lexicographer,” dropping Goins to $0.
Feltner led with $2,200 after the first 15 clues. Goins clawed back impressively, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the field. After the first round, Feltner held the lead with $4,800, Cubbage sat at $3,600, and Goins trailed in third with $2,800. All three missed Final Jeopardy, but Goins’ wagering strategy left him $1 ahead of Feltner — enough to advance to the semifinals. He ultimately fell to Long Nguyen in the semifinal round, adding another close-but-not-quite finish to his trademark style.
The Goins Brothers Take On Netflix
Zach Goins hosts the podcast Inside the Film Room and works as a social producer at STN Digital, in addition to his career as a reporter. Pop Culture Jeopardy! Season 2 will drop one new episode every weekday for four weeks, beginning May 11.
Given Drew’s track record as the show’s most lovable underdog — and the brothers’ instantly viral team name that sealed the deal for fans — viewers are already setting reminders.