'Jeopardy' champ at $1,135,460

LOS ANGELES, July 19 (UPI) -- Salt Lake City software engineer Ken Jennings brought his "Jeopardy" total to $1,135,460 Monday, adding $35,000 for his 34th straight win.

Host Alex Trebek, noting Jennings initially prepared for his appearances by studying flashcards, asked Jennings, "How do you prepare for games now?"

"Don't be offended but I try to never watch 'Jeopardy' ... I read the paper and see if that helps," Jennings said. "It hasn't so far, but you never know."

The 30-year-old Brigham Young University graduate bested Beverly Herter of Portsmouth, R.I., and casino worker and former telephone psychic Tim Crockett of Las Vegas, who won $6,800 and $7,900, respectively.

Jennings, who is within $20,000 of the all-time record for a champion, went into the final round with $$27,800 and wagered $7,200 on the answer: "The libretto for 'William Tell' was in this language, the native tongue of neither the composer, Rossini, nor the subject."

Only Jennings came up with the correct question: "What is French?"