The Jeopardy Master that Amy Schneider befriended, and the sweet reason they bonded

Earlier in the TV program 2024, Danger champion Amy Schneider was able to test her mental strength again during the competition known as Danger Masters. Her status as the most successful transgender person in the series’ history has only further cemented her as a pop culture icon. Not to mention you’re one of those people Danger 10 biggest winners.

These accolades are part of what made Ms. Schneider bond with Colleague Danger Master Mattea Roach, who also set records during the long-running quiz show. And while Amy Schneider’s potential friendship with Ken Jennings is currently on hold for obvious reasonsher friendly camaraderie with the non-binary Roach has developed quite well.

Amy Schneider Discovered Mattea Roach After ‘Always Living in Danger’

During her panel at this year’s New York Comic Con, “Who Is Amy Schneider?”, the former engineering manager shared a number of stories that are also included in her memoir of the same name. But one story that emerged from the audience Q&A section was whether or not Schneider befriended her non-binary successor, who would go on a 23-match winning streak between April and May 2022.

Since Amy Schneider’s run ended in January 2022she could actually see Mattea’s triumphs when they debuted. In her conversation with legendary New York journalist Michael Musto, Schneider shared this story about why she chose Roach’s Danger winning streak:

I remember because it was that time where I was just living Jeopardy all the time, and I wasn’t really watching the show when it started. But then I saw things about it on Twitter. I thought, ‘Oh wow. Okay, I’ll check this out.’ And you know, I thought, ‘Somebody’s going to be the next person to get a streak. I wonder who it will be?’ And the fact that it wasn’t another Cis guy, like almost all of them, was so exciting to me.
Amy Schneider, New York Comic-Con ’24

I don’t think anyone can blame Ms. Schneider for wanting a break Danger at that point in her life. Keep in mind that her 40-match winning streak had just ended not long before Mattea Roach’s had begun. So you’re missing the beginning of what would make the Canadian radio personality the most successful contestant Alex Trebek‘s homeland could be forgiven.

Amy Schneider turns her head during a conversation onstage at Jeopardy! Masters.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Television)

However, Roach would ultimately become one of the youngest competitors to walk away with the kind of winnings they achieved. So it makes sense that Amy Schneider herself broke new ground as the most successful transgender of Danger saw her identify with Mattea Roach’s own general knowledge-based conquest.

This relationship inspired the author of In the form of a question: the joys and rewards of a curious life to reach out and offer advice on how their lives were about to change. Ultimately, they would connect on very similar ground, kickstarting the pair as friends.

Mattea Roach stands smiling on her podium during Final Jeopardy on Jeopardy Masters.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Television)

How Amy Schneider’s danger advice led to her friendship with Mattea Roach

While Amy Schneider has previously spoken about her trans representation in Danger history, her offering of wisdom to Mattea Roach is something that doubles down on how she feels about her place in Danger history. And she didn’t do that until she knew the time was right, because Roach’s streak took a while to build.

Eventually, the two champions would become friends, as Amy described in this next part of her story:

When it really got to the point where it wasn’t just about four or five games, but really enjoying getting there, I reached out to them because I was like, ‘You know, I just went through this experience and I didn’t do it. I actually have someone to talk to about it. So let me tell you what this will be like.” … I also had someone to talk to about it. It’s such a very strange, specific experience, and we both experienced it at about the same time. I mean, I think it’s fair to call us friends at this point. I come to Toronto quite often because I’ve always liked it there. And every time I’m there, we hang out.
Amy Schneider, New York Comic-Con ’24

Mattea Roach’s previous Danger reflections about representing the LGBTQ+ community through their win showed how unique the challenges are of being a champion on one of the most prolific game shows. In this case, having someone like Amy Schneider guide them through the experience is effective on two different fronts.

The first is obviously the fact that both Schneider and Roach are notable quiz experts representing the trans and non-binary communities respectively, which would be difficult even if they were just average. Danger participants. However, champions are now officially that Danger Masters participants also place them in an even more rarefied atmosphere.

The camaraderie on display in this moving story blazes a trail in this intellectual spectator sport and helps convey the message that anyone with the smarts could be next Danger champion.

Amy Schneider, in a pink jacket and white shirt, pictured next to Mattea Roach in conversation, wearing a salmon-colored blazer and a cream-colored sweater, on Jeopardy! Masters.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Television)

If you want to revisit Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach’s wins Danger past, you might be able to do this thanks to Pluto TV. Since that platform has a 24/7 channel that broadcasts random replays of previous episodes, there is the possibility of seeing Amy and Mattea both at work. Although at the same time this is a constant source of Dangerso what’s not to like?

And if you want to enjoy Amy Schneider’s memoir: In the form of a question: the joys and rewards of a curious lifeit was recently released in paperback. Or if you’re looking for a version the whole family can enjoy, the Young Readers version titled Who is Amy Schneider?

Questions about growing up, being curious and winning big with danger! hits shelves on March 4, 2025. As always, if you want to grab the next one Danger champion as their wins happen in real time, be sure to check your local listings to confirm when and where your local market is offering the program.