A Washington, D.C. journalist who became one of “Jeopardy!’s” most beloved contestants despite rarely winning is heading back to the game show universe, this time with his brother by his side. Drew Goins, 31, took to Instagram on April 28, 2026, to announce that he and his brother Zach Goins will appear as a team on Season 2 of Netflix’s “Pop Culture Jeopardy!,” which premiered May 11, 2026.
The siblings chose a team name that sent longtime fans into a frenzy: “Losers, In Other Words.” The moniker references a classic 2016 moment when late host Alex Trebek delivered one of his signature deadpan quips. During an interview segment that October, contestant Susan Cole described her passion for nerdcore hip-hop, explaining the genre features people who identify as nerdy “rapping about the things they love.” Trebek responded by calling them “losers, in other words,” creating a line that fans still quote nearly a decade later.
A promotional photo showed the brothers standing behind their podium with the clever moniker, while another image in Goins’ Instagram carousel featured current “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” host Colin Jost shrugging with the caption, “What the hell, sure.”
A Tribute With Emotional Weight
Because Goins never had the opportunity to compete when Trebek was hosting, the tribute resonated even more deeply with the fandom. Fans flooded social media with enthusiastic reactions. One viewer commented, “I am far too excited about this!” while another joked, “This feels like cheating, and I don’t know why.” A third quipped, “Man was so popular on Jeopardy! he qualified for Pop Culture Jeopardy!”
Zach Goins hosts the podcast Inside the Film Room and serves as a social producer at STN Digital while working as a reporter. The brothers will debut in episode nine of the Netflix season, airing May 21. The season began releasing new episodes every weekday starting May 11. Winners of each game can advance to play in the next episode, winning up to five games, with the top nine teams from 15 games advancing to the semifinals for a chance to win $300,000.
A Career Built on Near-Misses
Drew Goins has carved out an improbable place in “Jeopardy!” history, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the modern era despite losing most of his games. He made his debut on Sept. 25, 2024, and lost. However, after answering 22 of 25 clues correctly, he earned a spot in the Second Chance Tournament, which he won to advance to the Champions Wildcard Tournament.
Goins finished as first runner-up in the Champions Wildcard. His route to the Tournament of Champions (TOC) came through an unusual circumstance when “Celebrity Jeopardy!” winner Lisa Ann Walter dropped out, and Goins replaced her. Although he lost his TOC semifinal, he appeared at a subsequent taping wearing a Lisa Ann Walter shirt and declaring himself her number one fan — a moment that went viral and strengthened his credentials with the show’s devotees. The two have since developed an online friendship.
The Invitational Tournament Run
Goins then moved on to the Invitational Tournament, with his quarterfinal airing on Feb. 9, 2026. He faced off 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.
The Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament, 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 began poorly when he encountered the first Daily Double on clue 11. He wagered all $3,000 in the category “From Samuel Johnson’s 1755 Dictionary,” but answered incorrectly. Host Ken Jennings revealed the correct response was “lexicographer,” sending Goins to $0.
After the first 15 clues, Feltner led with $2,200. Goins mounted an impressive comeback, though it wasn’t sufficient to overtake his opponents. Following 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, a fellow Invitational Tournament competitor, in the semifinal round, adding another near-miss to his unusual “Jeopardy!” legacy.