Pitt assistant professor finishes 2nd on 'Jeopardy!'

It was “Weird Al” Yankovic who recorded the parody song “I Lost on Jeopardy.”

But it doesn’t seem fair to apply it to Ally Bove, an assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s school of health and rehabilitation sciences.

Bove fulfilled a lifelong dream when she appeared on the television game show “Jeopardy!” The show aired Wednesday night. And while she didn’t win, she came in second to Amy Schneider, one of the most successful champions in the show’s history, who extended her winning streak to 31 games and has won over $1 million.

We are #PittProud of our very own @Ally_Bove_ who rocked on Jeopardy tonight! https://t.co/oU7bKehz7Z

— Pitt SHRS (@PittSHRS) January 13, 2022

Bove, a Duquesne University graduate who earned her Ph.D. at Pitt, knows exactly where things went wrong for her on the show.

“There was a point in ‘Double Jeopardy’ where I had more than half of her total and I got a ‘Daily Double’ and I bet almost all of my money,” she told the Tribune-Review Thursday. “The category was science which I was thinking would be good because science and medicine are my strengths. And the question was about fossils and I did not know the answer. After that it was smooth skating for Amy.”

Related: Pitt assistant professor to appear on ‘Jeopardy!’

For her efforts, however, the 36-year-old Bove, who hails from Cambria County near Johnstown, won $2,000 for being the runner-up. She said it was an unforgettable experience that went by quickly.

“It was really fun,” she said. “You spend most of your day just waiting around and watching the other games. So, by the time I played against (Schneider) I had already watched Amy kick other contestants’ butts seven times. So, I certainly knew what I was up against. But it was a realization of a lifelong goal of mine and it was so much fun.”