Where's spell-check when you need it?
Last week on Jeopardy!, a select group of youngsters were chosen as contestants to win big money and show off their brilliant minds. One of them was Connecticut eighth-grader Thomas Hurley lll.
The game was going great for Hurley until the final question. The three contestants were asked to name the 1863 document that Abraham Lincoln deemed "a fit and necessary war measure."
Hurley had the correct answer with the Emancipation Proclamation. However, the middle school student spelled the word emancipation with an extra t.
To nobody's surprise, Hurley looked upset and absolutely stunned when host Alex Trebek explained why he wouldn't receive the $3,000 he wagered on during the round.
After the controversial moment aired, Hurley's parents chose to speak out about the game-show moment that left loyal fans wondering, can't an exception be made for kids?
"The thing that bothered me most was the way Alex Trebek and the producers treated my son," Hurley's father told CNN. "They were kind of smug. It's a kid's tournament! Everyone knew what he meant."
Jeopardy! producers, however, aren't so sympathetic.
"We love presenting young people as contestants on our show, and make every effort to be fair and consistent in their treatment," a statement from producers said. "If Jeopardy! were to give credit for an incorrect response (however minor), the show would effectively penalize the other players.
After getting second place, Hurley was still able to take home $2,000.
It's safe to say Hurley will probably be staying away from any televised contests for a long time, the National Spelling Bee included.