Drew Goins Steps Into Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions After Lisa Ann Walter’s Exit

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Drew Goins, a fan-favorite contestant on *Jeopardy!*, has been called in as an alternate for the 2025 Tournament of Champions after actress Lisa Ann Walter withdrew due to scheduling conflicts. The unexpected twist has sparked a wave of excitement among fans and a heartfelt tribute from Goins to Walter.

Goins, who previously competed in the Champions Wildcard tournament, narrowly missed securing a spot in the Tournament of Champions after losing to Mehal Shah. However, when Walter, known for her role as Melissa Schemmenti on *Abbott Elementary*, couldn’t participate due to her filming commitments, Goins was tapped to take her place. The Tournament of Champions, which began airing on January 27, features top contestants from the past year competing for a $250,000 prize.

In a playful nod to Walter, Goins shared a photo on Instagram of himself wearing a t-shirt adorned with Walter’s face, accompanied by text bubbles referencing an exchange between his brother Zach and Walter. “This is my brother Drew! He was the alternate for the *Jeopardy!* Tournament of Champions and got called in because of your scheduling conflict. Now he gets to play, so we had to show you some love!! *The Parent Trap* was our favorite movie growing up, so only fitting for Chessy to help him get here!” Zach Goins wrote in the post.

Walter, who played the beloved housekeeper Chessy in *The Parent Trap*, responded warmly, writing, “I love it! Please tell him good luck — now he has to win!” Goins captioned the photo, “Lisa Ann, this one’s for you 👯 Catch me subbing in for @lisaannwalter in the *Jeopardy!* Tournament of Champions, this coming Monday, Feb. 3.” He also tagged the location as Camp Walden, a reference to the iconic summer camp in *The Parent Trap*.

Walter’s absence from the tournament stems from her commitment to *Abbott Elementary*, which recently received a renewal for another season. As a series regular, Walter prioritized the ABC sitcom over her *Jeopardy!* appearance. Fans can still catch her on *Abbott Elementary*, which airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

Goins, who expressed his excitement about the opportunity, shared the news on his Instagram story, writing, “SURPRISE! I’m going to the Tournament of Champions! Iconic Celeb J champion Lisa Ann Walter couldn’t make it … so I get her ToC spot 👀.”

The 2025 *Jeopardy!* Tournament of Champions features a lineup of formidable competitors, including Adriana Harmeyer and Isaac Hirsch. Fans are eager to see how Goins will fare in the high-stakes competition, which continues to air weeknights. Stay tuned for updates on the tournament and more pop culture news.