MacKenzie Jones of Tulsa put together an eight-game “Jeopardy!” victory streak and is one of the quiz show’s biggest winners of 2020. The final Alex Trebek-hosted episodes of “Jeopardy!” are scheduled to air Monday-Friday, Jan. 4-8.
Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek died Nov. 8 at the age of 80.
Some episodes of “Jeopardy!” with Trebek at the helm have yet to be aired.
The final Trebek episodes are scheduled to be shown starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, through Friday, Jan. 8, on KTUL channel 8. All five episodes were taped in late October, according to a news release, and, at the time, no one knew those episodes would be his last.
“Jeopardy!” announced that viewers will want to make sure to catch the start of Monday’s show because Trebek will deliver “a powerful message about the season of giving.”
A special tribute to the life and work of Trebek will be shown at the end of the Jan. 8 episode.
Trebek hosted “Jeopardy!” for 36 years. Tulsa’s MacKenzie Jones was one of the quiz show’s biggest winners during his final season. Jones was an eight-time winner in episodes that aired in February. Her streak is tied for the second-longest of 2020 and her $204,808 in winnings ranks third-best for the year.
Jason Zuffranieri of Albuquerque, New Mexico, won 19 games and earned $532,496. Jennifer Quail of Dowagiac, Michigan, won eight games and $228,800.
“Jeopardy!” will continue airing new episodes Monday, Jan. 11, with guest host Ken Jennings at the helm.
2020 in review: Here are the year’s top local entertainment stories
Tulsa’s top restaurants reviewed in 2020
2. Amelia's Market & Brasserie, 114 N. Boston Ave.
When Cherry reviewed this new enterprise by the owners of Amelia's Wood Fire Grill, he was so taken by the crab cakes, and wood-roasted French onion soup, Croque Madame sandwich and steak frites, that he gave the place his only five-star review of the year. "We probably were there about two hours, and every minute was memorable. In a good way," Cherry wrote in his January review. Unfortunately, Amelia's Market & Brasserie closed in July, but owner Amelia Eesley said it would reopen in spring 2021. (SC)
3. Cardinal Club, 7890 E. 106th Place South
This semi-private upscale restaurant and cigar lounge is open to the public for dinner, and executive chef Carla Cousins' menu is studded with impressive dishes, from the charcuterie board featuring cheeses from Lovera in Krebs, cured meats, a tasty onion-bacon-bourbon jam and house-pickled green beans, cucumber and whole garlic cloves, to the American Wagyu tomahawk steak for two, which is smoked over pecan and cherry woods until fork-tender. (SC)
4. The French Hen, 319 E. Archer St.
Chef and owner Kathy Bondy moved her restaurant from its secluded space in south Tulsa to a shiny and new spot downtown, upping the elegance while delivering on high-quality, French-inspired food. The menu has undergone some slight changes but staples such as the brie-topped French onion soup, its unique twist on the wedge salad, the shrimp and scallops over pasta are as good as ever. (JDW)
5. The Goat Bar & Kitchen, 222 S. Kenosha Ave.
While much effort has been put into the presentations of the cocktails and food at this classy joint, there is a good amount of substance behind the glitter — perhaps because some of the recipes came from co-owner Nabil Alame's mother and grandmother. Standouts include the baked goat cheese appetizer, with mango puree, red pepper and rice; the kafta skewers of thick-textured, well-seasoned beef; and the honey glazed salmon. (SC)
6. Kai Vietnamese, 201 W. Fifth St.
The family that once owned Viet Huong in east Tulsa opened this downtown spot in June, and raised their culinary game to new heights. There wasn’t a thing I tried in the course of three visits that did not make me say “Wow” at the first taste, be it the the Vietnamese crepes (Banh Xeo), made with turmeric-spiked rice flour, filled with diced pork, shrimp, green and white onions and bean sprouts; the Nha Trang calamari ($12), a pile of thick-cut segments of squid coated in a thin, piquant batter and perfectly fried; or their signature Pho, with a rich, unctuous and deeply flavored broth. (JDW)
7. Celebrity Restaurant, 3109 S. Yale Ave.
This Tulsa landmark, which has been around for more than half a century, was purchased late last year by the 3 Sirens group, and chef Stephen Lindstrom recently rolled out a new menu. Some of the Celebrity's signature dishes remain, from the pan-fried chicken, now available Monday through Thursday; to the shrimp cocktail and the Caesar salad prepared table-side. Of the new dishes, check out the steakhouse stroganoff, made with chunks of tender steak, crème fraiche and earthy mushrooms with long, flat tagliatelle noodles. (SC)
8. The Wild Fork, 1820 Utica Square
Another bastion of the Tulsa restaurant scene that underwent renovations this year, the newly remodeled Wild Fork streamlined its menu while maintaining its unique charm and high quality. A number of popular dishes of the past remain, such as the five-spiced catfish and the black bean cassoulet, sharing space with a steak Diane so tender you could cut it with a sharp glance, and a decadent crab pasta, with large chunks of sweet crab in a lemony sauce over bucatini. (JDW)
9. Blue Dome Market Restaurant & Bodega, 211 E. Second St.
The lunch and dinner menu at this latest addition to Robert Merrifield's empire isn’t particularly long but "a few things done well" often is the best policy. It certainly works here, as evidenced by a fork-tender chicken fried steak; the slaw dog with shaved pickles and mustard sauce; a reuben sandwich that additions of "atomic horseradish sauce and Dijon mustard took it beyond ordinary; and a BLT with candied bacon. (SC)
10. Vintage Wine Bar, 324 E. First St.
The new Blue Dome home for this food-and-drink emporium has allowed chef Colin Sato to work wonders within a fairly limited menu, and at a remarkably thrifty price point. Start with dessert, with the delectable pot de crème, as well as the house tartine (an open-faced sandwich), and the chicken liver mousse. Servings are as large, if not larger, than many appetizers at nicer restaurants, where they likely would cost at least twice as much. (SC)
Honorable Mentions
Bluestone by Day; The Bramble (Broken Arrow); Pizza 313; Alpha Grill BBQ; Tors Country Pub; Ike's Famous Plate Lunches; Boss Hawg BBQ; Take 2: A Resonance Cafe; 1907 BBQ.
Gone, yet not forgotten
Jimmie Tramel
Scene Writer
I cover pop culture and work as a feature writer at the Tulsa World. A former Oklahoma sports writer of the year, I have written books about former OU coach Barry Switzer and former OSU coach Pat Jones. Phone: 918-581-8389
