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‘Hopelessly Stereotypical’ Cat-Loving Librarian Schools Other ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestants, Wins $40,100

She’s purr-fect! Margaret Miles won the hearts of Jeopardy! viewers on Thursday, April 14, when the contestant — a librarian from Wilmington, North Carolina — talked about her preferences.

“You have the demeanor of a librarian, you’re very calm, and you know a lot! I mean, you’re leading now with 7,600 bucks!” host Alex Trebek noted during the competition. “What do you like to do for fun?”

Miles — looking unassuming in her bright red shirt, simple ‘do and spectacles — serenely replied, “What do I do for fun? Knit …” Before she could finish, the quizmaster broke into a fit of laughter, and the well-read contestant gave him a big smile before continuing with her answer. “And pet cats! I’m hopelessly stereotypical!”

“I love it! I love it!” Trebek declared.

Jeopardy contestant
Margaret Miles

Fans of the game show were equally smitten by Miles.

https://twitter.com/Sam_Turley/status/720758535206907905

The youth services librarian with the New Hanover County Public Library dominated the game from the outset. According to local Wilmington news site Star News Online, Miles banked $13,000 by the end of round one, increased it to $32,000 in Double Jeopardy and then added an additional $8,100 to her winnings in Final Jeopardy. According to one viewer who was keeping tally, the librarian had 29 correct answers and zero incorrect ones.

The New Hanover County Public Library system was especially proud of its longtime employee.

Miles returns as Friday’s defending champion, and will compete against Andrew Pau, an assistant professor from Amherst, Ohio, and McKinnie Lee Sizemore, a DJ and music journalist from Orlando, Florida.

Check your local listings to see when Jeopardy! airs.

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