BIANCA ROBERTS
No need for clues with this one! Episode 1 ended with the reveal that Bianca is the niece of longtime Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.
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AND THE WINNER IS...
Claim to Fame Finale Shocker: [Spoiler] Wins Season 3! Plus, Find Out Everyone’s Celebrity Relative
By Andy Swift
TVLine
Courtesy of ABC
Let’s be real, none of us expected Claim to Fame Season 3 to end this way.
Heading into Wednesday’s finale, 41% of TVLine readers predicted that Shane would bring home the victory, followed by Hud (27%), Mackenzie (21%) and Adam (11%). Friends, we couldn’t have been more wrong.
And what a finale it was. From Hud and Mackenzie fully leaning into their showmance (“It’s just fun to flirt with him a little bit”) to Adam nearly dropping out of the competition due to a head injury, there was simply no rest for those of us who have been invested in the game for the past few months. And the biggest surprises were still to come.
Despite being the supposed frontrunner, Shane ended up getting eliminated first, thanks to Mackenzie figuring out that he’s related to Hollywood icon Marlon Brando. Do we understand how she managed to reach this conclusion? Not entirely. But it put her in the top three with Adam and Hud, which felt strangely poetic, so we won’t look too much further into the matter.
The second hour welcomed back previously eliminated contestants, most of whom were eager to help Hud and Mackenzie take down Adam… if only any of them had a single clue who his celebrity relative was. At least we finally got to see Mackenzie connect the dots between “cougar” and “melon” for Hud; the dramatic irony was getting painful with that one.
Then came the most shocking elimination ceremony in Claim to Fame history: Adam — yes, the same Adam who was still recovering from a head injury earlier in the day — surprised everyone by correctly guessing both Mackenzie and Hud’s relatives, eliminating them and leaving Adam as… we can’t believe we’re saying this… the winner of Season 3.
As you continue to process that mind-blowing ending, scroll down for a refresher on every contestant’s and their celebrity relative, in order of when they eliminated. When you’re finished, drop a comment with your reaction to this finale, as well as Season 3 overall.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC (2) -
JILL KURLFINK
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection As one of the two contestants eliminated in Episode 2, Jill was revealed to be the niece of People’s Choice Award winner John Stamos. (Those sparkly Stamos eyes! We should have known.)
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GRACIE HYLAND (FKA GRACIE LOU)
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, JA/Everett Collection As revealed at the end of Episode 2, Gracie Hyland (fka “Gracie Lou”) is the niece of Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer.
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RAPHAEL CURTIS (FKA 'MIGUEL')
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Dee Cercone/Everett Collection “Miguel” (aka Raphael) thought he had this one in the bag, but an incorrect guess at the end of Episode 3 knocked him out of the game early, revealing his celebrity aunt to be… Jamie Lee Curtis!
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NAOMI BURNS
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Christina DeOrtentiis/Everett Collection This one has been obvious since Day 1. In fact, we’re actually surprised it took the contestants four whole weeks to figure out that Naomi’s cousin is Brat Pack princess Molly Ringwald.
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SIGMUND JACKSON (FKA 'DEDRICK')
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Phil Walter/Getty Images This season’s fifth episode ended with confirmation of what viewers have known ever since Dedrick — or should we say Sigmund — accidentally referred to himself as “Mr. Jackson” in the premiere. He is, in fact, the nephew of Michael Jackson. His father is Sigmund “Jackie” Jackson.
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NAEL ZAYAS (FKA 'DANNY')
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Everett Collection “Danny” played a good game, but he got cocky in Episode 6, resulting in an incorrect guess that cost him everything… including the secret identity of his celebrity uncle Marc Anthony.
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SHANE BRANDO
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, MGM/Everett Collection The first contestant eliminated in the two-part season finale, Shane is the grandson of legendary actor Marlon Brando. He’s even listed in Brando’s Wikipedia entry.
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MACKENZIE ADKINS
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Steven Ferdman/Everett Collection We’re a little surprised Mackenzie managed to finish in third place, considering her famous father — goatee’d country star Trace Adkins — was figured out weeks ago.
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HUD
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, S.Sarac/Everett Collection Not only is Hud the son of John Mellencamp, but the rocker actually appeared (via video) in the finale, meaning Claim to Fame managed to accomplish what The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills never could with Mellencamp’s daughter Teddi.
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ADAM
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection Shocked that Michael Bolton‘s nephew managed to win it all? So are we! But congratulations are in order either way.
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Great finally! And surprisingly, while Adam didn’t have a clue who anyone was during the whole season, he figured out Hud and Mackenzie on his own.
The only thing I don’t understand is why Hud and Mackenzie targeted each other during the final challenge. They should have focused on Adam first, then fought it out after that. That’s what lost them the game.
Because Adam in the end, figured out the 2 hardest celebs on his own, i’m ok with him winning. And I still don’t like how they bring back the ousted celeb relatives. Don’t like the idea that they could possibly determine who wins by them helping.
I did not toot for Adam because he wasn’t very nice most of the time. He got others to do the work. I think Mackenzie HUD and Shane derived to win!
I’m sure that anybody you were watching the show with appreciated the fact that you didn’t “toot” for Adam.
Adam was the most likable person on the show. Everyone was against him. He persisted and overcame.
I’m glad he won.
I’d be curious to know how the show’s designers set up a challenge in a way that could lead to someone getting a head injury. Adam was actually bleeding pretty badly, and was lucky that it wasn’t worse. They’ve been making competition shows like this for a long time, so you’d think there would be better safety precautions.
Hud & MacKenzie are dating IRL and I AM HERE FOR IT! 😍😍😍
I am glad Adam won. When the group got back together they were extremely rude to him.
Way to go Adam!
Seriously, why is this show not up there for the Emmys?! You find people with literally one qualification, and when the guy who knows literally nothing about pop culture wins the whole bag? GENIUS!
On many occassions throughout the season, Adam has no idea about pop culture how did he suddenly figure out
Mackenzie and Hud’s celebrity relatives on his own???
Where did he get Trace Adkins when he couldn’t name Frank Sinatra, Matt Damon, or 80% of the music, TV, movie industry??????
Mackenzie, Hud, and several of returning players working together couldn’t combine “cougar,” “melon,” “cherry bomb”, and “pink houses” ???????????
And none of them could figure out “80s ballad singer” and “time, love, and tenderness” (that was even in quotes)??????
Sadly, Mackenzie & Hud destroyed their own games by going after each other.
“Mackenzie, Hud, and several of returning players working together couldn’t combine “cougar,” “melon,” “cherry bomb”, and “pink houses” ???????????”
LOL, Hud couldn’t figure out his own clues?
Mackenzie and Hud played the worst game ever in the final challenge. All they had to do was first target Adam, get his clue which they wouldn’t have figured out without help. Then go for it on each other. Gracie Lou even said it out loud.
I really enjoy this show and hope it continues
I was shocked when Adam came back from the hospital and was playing pool with the guy and told them who he was. And none of them told Hud or Mackenzie just in case either of them were going to be the guesser. Congratulations
And mackzine figured out Shane because his knew all things Marlon Brando as there was valkryie and then his wine bottle clue Hollywood icon who played an Italian kingpin role and then also notable co-stars Martin sheen apolocypse now aka Mr. Mumbles and there were clues like on the waterfront with a trolley car and also captain which was caption Bligh
So happy Adam won, the other contestants EXCEPT Shane, were all
D I R T B A G S
So Happy Adam won, all the other contestants except Shane were crybaby DIRTBAGS.