|
|
All men today on the program. I looked back on j-archive.com, and it's the first time, not counting the ToC, since October 7 (unless "Jessie Peterson" or "Ashley Shannon" are guys). And here they are:
 |
| Kiran Kedlaya |
 |
| Tim Gray (Does this guy not look like Tim Kresowik? I even remembered the latter's name.) |
 |
| Jan Zasowski |
I. Loved. This. Game. Thanks to Twitter and to a friend who saw a commercial, I knew two categories before the game started: Help Me, Fonda (ended up going 1/5) and Great Comebacks with Dan Patrick. I felt good about the game already when I heard those. I was just thinking what a fast start I had (14/15 before the first break and a sweep of Not So Fast, My Friend) when Mr. Trebek said those same words about the contestants.
The first clue after the break was the Daily Double, in Corruption Junction. Kiran found it. He had 3200, Jan had 400, and Tim had 4800. Kiran wagered everything on this clue: "Scandals in this president's tenure included the whiskey ring, the Indian ring, and the Credit Mobilier crisis." This was the only clue in the category I didn't get right. Kiran missed it, too.
The boys got to the Dan Patrick category (he read the clues) last, but there was enough time for it all. I got this triple-stumper in the category, only because of Jeopardy! In fact, I remember Mr. Trebek saying in the past that this guy was his hero, and he said it again today: "After a two year layoff, this 45 year old ex-Red Wing hit the ice for the WHA's Houston Aeros and had a 100-point season." I swept the category.
At the end of the round, Kiran had 3800, Jan had 1800, and Tim had 5800. I thought I was stoked about the Jeopardy round categories, but Double Jeopardy featured a category called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Nuns. Only a nun herself could do better on this one. I was sweeping the category when the round ended with a clue left covered! I nearly died when there was a clue about and even a picture of St. Therese of Lisieux. I spent two months in Lisieux (one month at a time over two summers). This was the clue: "Saint Therese is seen here in her habit of this order, whose name comes from a mountain range in Israel."
I also got this triple-stumper in the category: "Rubens portrayed Archduchess Isabella in the habit of the Sisters of this poor saint."
The next clue was the Daily Double, which Jan seemed to be looking for. In fact, he found one right after the other a la Roger Craig in the Tournament of Champions. This first one was in Weather. He had 7800, while Kiran had 5400 and Tim had 8200. Jan did the right thing and wagered it all on this clue: "Meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes popularized this 5-letter term for the place where warm and cold air masses meet." I thought this was pretty easy, and Jan got it, too.
So the next Daily Double was in Egyptian Mythology. This time Jan wagered 4200 of his 15600. This was the clue: " This tome was a collection of spells, charms, and magical formulas for the deceased to use in the afterlife." I didn't get this one, but Jan did.
Kiran started selecting high-value clues, even though the Daily Doubles were gone. Perhaps he was feeling pressure? When the round ended, he had 13400, Jan had 22200, and Tim had 11400. The Final Jeopardy category was Organizations. This was the clue: "On Nov. 17, 1871 Union vets dismayed by soldiers' lack of proficiency in one skill formed this organization." I wasn't all that confident with my answer when the music ended, but it was right. I considered Kiran's incorrect response. He lost 10000. It's kinda too bad, as he looked so strong yesterday. And he looked a little disappointed today that he didn't win. Tim did not have a response, and he lost everything. Jan was right and added 4601 to his total, making him the new champion. My Coryat today was 26800. Kendra's was 23000, Clayton's was 7600, and Patti's was 10200.
Today's contestants:
 |
| Kendra Anspaugh (in by far the most conservative outfit she's worn all week!) |
 |
| Mary Redling |
 |
| Kiran Kedlaya (yet another crossword guy) |
Kiran was off to such a fast start today, I had to laugh, and Kendra, who's been dominant the last two days, had to clap. He blew through the first category, Latin Body Parts, as fast as I've ever seen anyone. He certainly set the tone. I, too, swept the category, as well as -ologies later in the round.
Kendra found the first Daily Double in Stadium Food. She had 1200 and Kiran had 3400. Mary, who reminds me a lot of yesterday's Patti, had 400. Kendra wagered 1200 on this clue: "A few years back, Wrigley Field introduced the Northside Twist, a 4-pound one of these with 3 dipping sauces." She and I got it right, but she added that it "sounds delicious." Anybody else dislike pretzels of all kinds?
Speaking of Patti (from yesterday), could you believe how many people she told about her upcoming appearance? When your mailman knows, you know you can't keep a secret. And now the contestant coordinators knew about that, too. Apparently they didn't mind!
At the break, Kendra had 2400, Kiran had 3600, and Mary had 1400. At the end of the round, Kendra still trailed (unusual for her) with 5400, Kiran had 7800, and Mary had 2600.
Mary found both Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy round. The first one was in Odd Words. She had 4200, Kendra had 5400, and Kiran had 8600. I told Mary via the TV to make it a true Daily Double, as it was still early in the round. She wagered 3000, which is not that bad, on this clue: " This verb can refer to making & serving ice cream sodas or to cutting meat into long strips to be dried in the sun." The answer made sense once she said it, but I doubt I'd have come up with it.
The next Daily Double was in Science. Mary had 13600, Kiran had 11800, and Kendra still trailed with 6200. This was the clue: " It's the form of glucose that rotates a plane of polarized light clockwise." I hate to say, I don't even know what they're talking about. Mary didn't either, apparently. She lost just 1000. At the end of the round, she had 15400, Kiran had 17800, and Kendra had 9800. The final category?... Toys!!! This was the clue: "Invented in 1943, this toy was flung over tree branches by soldiers in Vietnam & used as a makeshift radio antenna." This one was an instaget for me, and I even sang the correct response, in the form of the song that I presume is associated with it. Actually, I know the song because Ace Ventura sings it in my favorite movie, "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls." That's the only place I've heard it, but I assume he didn't make it up!
Anyway, Kiran and Kendra got it right. Mary guessed "boomerang," incorrectly. Mary lost 10000. Kendra wagered 9800, which I'd not have done in third place like she was, but it didn't matter, since Kiran added 13001 and ended the game as well as he started it. We'll see him tomorrow. Maybe he will be as strong as fellow crossword-er and recent ToCer Joon Pahk?
My Coryat today was 18200. I had 4 negs. Kendra's Coryat was 9400. Kiran's was 17800. Mary's was 15000.
Recent Coryats:
11-26 (originally 12-6-05): Marianna Johnson 1200 Charles Bagot 4000 Vicky Stanton 18800 Me 18400
11-27 (originally 12-7-05): James Quintong 4800 Christi Beard 2000 Vicky Stanton 2400 Me 14200
11-28: Patti Clements Clayton Hansen Kendra Anspaugh Me 21000
I knew it had been a while since I blogged, but it really hit me in the face a little while ago when I noticed how many Coryats I had to post. So I thought I'd get those caught up. I'm at my parents', though, and my record of my own Coryats is at home. I've tweeted most of the scores. I'll add those I can't look up right now next week.
11-16: Will Valverde 17200 Ellen Lewis 10800 Emily Gifford 13600 Me 21600
11-17: Glenn Sullivan 6800 Matt Andelman 13400 Ellen Lewis 7800 Me 13800
11-18: Mellissa Ahmed 4400 Morgan Polikoff 22200 Glenn Sullivan 9000 Me 32400
11-19 (originally 12-2-05): Glenda Niemiec 5200 Michael Levitin 11200 Adam Weinstein 13400 Me 20000
11-20 (originally 12-5-05): Vicky Stanton 10600 Todd Roshak 10600 Adam Weinstein 13200 Me 26600
11-21: Caroline Wilkins 10000 Francis Lansangan 23200 Morgan Polikoff 11600 Me 28200
11-22: Abby Drwecki 14200 Peter Jury 12000 Francis Lansangan 16600 Me 31200
11-23: Katherine Philbin 10400 Steven Maio 14400 Francis Lansangan 21200 Me 21200
11-24: Ann Thurlow 10400 Sean McGuire 7000 Francis Lansangan 13400 Me 9200
11-25: James Ruchala 16600 Kendra Anspaugh 22600 Ann Thurlow 1600 Me 18200
originally 4-22-11: Brian Meacham 8400 KC Frodyma 12000 Nick Cohen 9400 Me 13600
(The first time I played this game, my Coryat score was 15000.)
So now like the previous two entries, my phone won't let me send pictures of the contestants to myself. (If anyone wants to send 'em to me, I won't say no!) It's too bad because I have something to say about each contestant's intro: Buddy Wright drew a laugh from Tom Nissley and the audience as his total from yesterday was revealed: he shrugged. Tom shrugged too, and the crowd laughed. (Good sports, these guys.) As for Roger Craig, he was wearing a white suit, which may now be his trademark!
Roger answered the first two clues of the round correctly, in USDA Forest Service. He lost that 600 when he gave an incorrect response on this third clue, though, a triple-stumper: "The shape of the Union Pacific Railroad Logo was used, and this tree in the pine family was added to create the Forest Service logo."
Roger smiled anyway. I've never, ever seen someone as relaxed as he is behind the Jeopardy! lectern. He is confidence personified. He knows that he knows his stuff.
Soon, it seemed that Roger wanted the Daily Double, and he found it right away. Tom and Buddy laughed and talked to each other. Mr. Trebek noticed, too. He said that Tom and Buddy were smiling even more than Roger! Roger looked over at his fellow contestants. I'd have dropped dead on the spot if Roger didn't wager all of his 3200. I'm typing right now, so you know he did. Tom had 1000 and Buddy had 600. This was the clue, in You Must Remember Casablanca (the movie): "After Nazi major Strasser has been shot, the command goes out to 'round up' this group, the title of another film." Roger and I got it right. At the first break, Roger had 6800, Tom had 200, and Buddy had 1000. At the end of the round, Roger had 10000, Tom had 3800, and Buddy had 1600.
I got this triple-stumper in I Married This Sports Star: " Ashley Judd, in 2001." Tom knew it was a racecar driver: He made a driving motion as time ran out for that clue. I almost swept this category (and I got the clue in this category that Jeopardy! tweeted today). I didn't get this triple-stumper at the bottom of the category, though I could see the guy's face: " Carrie Underwood, in 2010."
I got this triple-stumper in Tough Bodies of Water: "The Amana Colonies were settled on this 'stately' river in the 1850s." The correct response crossed my mind first, but I said "Ohio." I knew better and changed it before Roger gave his response.
Buddy found the first Daily Double! He had 4800, Tom had 11000, and Roger had 11600. Buddy wagered everything on this toughie in 17-Letter Words: This adjective means 'thwarting an intended goal,' like living on credit while trying to save money." Buddy and I didn't get it. But hey, Buddy found the next Daily Double, too! This time he had 3600, Tom had 14200, and Roger had 13600. Buddy said he wanted to be around for Final Jeopardy, and wagered just 600. How could he have known this would be the clue, in Have You Heard the "News"?: " Its Nov. 22, 1963 front-page headline read: 'Storm of political controversy swirls around Kennedy on visit.'" Buddy lives in Fort Worth. He crumpled down on the lectern before standing up and giving the correct response.
Roger got the last clue in the round, and hung up his buzzer as he said it. He had 15600, Tom had 14600, and Buddy had 4600. The Final Jeopardy category was 19th Century Poetry. This was the tough clue: "He wrote, 'He looked upon the garish day with such a wistful eye; the man had killed the thing he loved, and so he had to die.'" Roger and Buddy guessed the same thing, and were wrong. Tom was wrong, too. Buddy didn't lose anything, and had 6000 yesterday. Tom lost it all, but I like his wager. His total yesterday was 18800. Roger lost 14400 today, giving him a two-day total of 51200 and making him the champion. Vamos, Roger! Tomorrow night, Emily Gifford is back.
My Coryat today was 20600, but it would've been 26400 without...7 NEGS!!!! I need to fix that. Suggestions? Roger's Coryat was 13000, Tom's was 14600, and Buddy's was 10800.
It all comes down to this...It's the two-day final of the Tournament of Champions! The finalists are Buddy Wright, Tom Nissley, and Roger Craig. (As happened last week, my phone is sending random pictures to my e-mail - not pictures of the contestants - and now when I try again I get a "memory full" message even though I've deleted everything I possibly can. I only received one picture of the three finalists, so I'll try again tomorrow. Sorry.)
I got this triple-stumper in Sitcoms by Mom: "A new mom in 2011, Reagan Brinkley (Christina Applegate)." I only didn't get this one in that category, which stumped the contestants, too: " Evelyn Harper (Holland Taylor)." By the way, do you guys love Roger gestures as he responds? I do!
Last week I complained a little bit about Tom, but I'd say he's made amends. Here's another Twitter conversation from the weekend:
Buddy Wright: Have Roddick or Murray ever beat Federer?
So he's okay with Fed, and he seems to love tennis. That makes him okay by me. And speaking of tennis, Buddy got this one right in The Doctor Will "C" You Now: "Try stretching if you suffer these, like Rafael Nadal did at the 2011 U.S. Open, including at a press conference." The next clue was the Daily Double, in the same category. Buddy had 1200, Tom had 1600, and Roger had 2400. Buddy bet everything on this clue: "What's that I say? You need this type of implant in your inner ear that directly stimulates the hearing nerve." Buddy and I got it right. I swept the category.
The only other one I didn't get right before the first break was this one in the category about the "For Dummies" books: "'Allergies &' this ' for Dummies' lists famous folks with the condition, including Beethoven and Theodore Roosevelt." Tom got that one. At the first break, he had 1600, Buddy had 2400, and Roger had 3400.
I wonder if my response would've been accepted on this clue in French Fixins: "In a remembrance of things Proust, it's a small, buttery sponge cake eaten as a cookie, often dipped in coffee." I pronounced the last syllable with a long "a" sound instead of short "i" kind of sound. When I look at the spelling, I tend to think it would've been accepted.
If you accept my response to the above clue, my only neg of the round came in Petra (Jordan). I responded with "Greeks" on this clue: "The approach to Petra is through a narrow cleft, which in 312 B.C. helped it withstand the siege by the army of Antigonus of these people - he was an heir to Alexander the Great." At the end of the round, Roger had 5400, Tom had 6200, and Buddy had 3800.
Tom's slim lead was not to last - oh no. Roger found the first Daily Double in Novels (maybe Tom's wheelhouse, as he said during his interview he was working on writing one!) Roger had 9000, Tom had 7400, and Buddy had 4200. I thought Roger'd wager everything, and he did, on this clue: "Her 'Agnes Grey' appeared in 1847 under the pseudonym Acton Bell (note the initials)." I didn't give myself credit on this one, but I think I'd have gotten it if I wasn't worried about my blog notes. Roger got it right!!!
Imagine the excitement when the next clue was the Daily Double, this time in Languages. I thought Roger might wager everything again...and he did. That's $18,000. I loved how he did it, so relaxed, smiling and nodding: "I'll bet it all. Yeah." This was the clue: "Although Dutch is the official language, Sranan Tongo is spoken by most people in this South American country." I slam-dunked this one, and knew Roger would, too, when I saw it. WOW!
Now, I had to wonder what Roger said wrong on this clue in 4 straight vowels: "'The moan of doves in immemorial elms, and murmuring of innumerable bees' is an example of this literary device." It was counted right at the time, but before Final Jeopardy was read, Mr. Trebek said Roger didn't say it right and he was dinged for $4000. I couldn't figure it out until Tom live-tweeted that Roger had an "n" in the word where there should've been a "t." Like it mattered in this case. He still had 43200, while Tom had 9400 and Buddy had 11000. Roger and Tom were smiling but Buddy looked quite serious.
Mr. Trebek had mentioned to Roger that he could break the one-day record. Roger joshed, "What's the old one?" I totally got it but it was lost on Trebek, who looked off to the side and asked what the record was. Then he gave the wrong number, and I caught that, too. After the break, the audience laughed as Mr. Trebek explained that Roger himself had set the record of $77,000. That Roger!
The Final Jeopardy category was The Presidential Cabinet. This was the clue: "Seven women have been Secretary of this, the most for any department in the president's cabinet." Buddy and I missed it. Buddy lost 5000. Tom got it right and doubled his score. (I like his wager.) Roger, naturally, got it right too, and wagered 6800.
Although the winner of the Tournament seems like a foregone conclusion, the same thing could happen to Tom or Buddy tomorrow. Don't. Miss it. Whether you do or don't, come back here for the recap!
My Coryat today was 24000. Roger's was 19000, Tom's was 9400, and Buddy's was 10600. Recent Coryats:
11-10: Kara Spak 5200 Jay Rhee 10400 Buddy Wright 10800 Me 17400
11-11: Roger Craig 12400 Mark Runsvold 13400 Joon Pahk 11800 Me 26600
11-12 (originally 11-30-05): Liz Lackey 9600 Josh Danson 11400 Vik Vaz 14400 Me 22600
11-13 (originally 12-1-05): Adam Weinstein 10000 Jenn Carlson -600 Vik Vaz 14600 Me 10400
I'm not sure why, but I loved today's episode. Let's get started. Today's contestants:
 |
| Tom Nissley |
 |
| Justin Sausville |
Unfortunately, my phone does weird things sometimes. Today, as you can see, I received Tom's and Justin's pictures fine, but I got the picture of Alex's pinstripe suit (which isn't even on my phone anymore) instead of Erin McLean's. I had to erase other pictures to send a video clue from later in the episode, and when I tried to take Erin's picture again, I was told my memory was full even though I had nothing in my inbox or outbox, and no other pictures saved. So, sorry, Erin. I will try again. I had 9 clams and 6 correct responses at the first break. Erin had 1000, Tom had 2000, and Justin had 3800. This is the only one in Bond Movie by Bond Girl I got right: " 2002: Halle Berry as Jinx Johnson."
Tom found the first Daily Double. Sorry, what is it about this guy that rubs me the wrong way? Maybe it's this Twitter exchange from November 5th:
Tom: " wagered (I think) the year he was born ($1986), which just depressed my wife and I deeply. "
John Krizel: " its true. At least i can take my youth from this game."
Tom: "I will accept a trade of your 19 years for my spot in the semis. "
Me: "Do you mean that?"
Tom: "Well, to the extent that you can mean an impossible, illegal thing, yes."
(If you're interested, by the way, Tom live-tweets each ToC game at like 9:30 p.m. Central.)
It doesn't help that Tom clapped for himself when he found this Daily Double. He also cut Mr. Trebek off later today to select another clue. Also, I don't like it when contestants respond and then sigh as if to emphasize to people watching that they thought the clue was really hard, and isn't aren't they amazing for getting it right? The audience even applauded when he did that once in Double Jeopardy, and he put his hand up.
Anyway, the Daily Double was in Twins. Tom had 2600, Justin had 3800, and Erin had 1000. Tom wagered everything on this clue: "These twins and recent first daughters were named for their grandmothers." Tom struggled and came up with one of the names, but not the other. I have to feel a little bad for Tom here, because Mr. Trebek interrupted his thought with "You're halfway there," and then, "Hurry!"
I'd have swept the category except for this next clue: "First names of the pair seen here." (I said "Cheng and Ang.")
At the end of the round, Erin still had 1000, Tom had 4400, and Justin had 6600.
Speaking of Twitter, Jeopardy! tweeted this just seconds before the Double Jeopardy round started:
"On the next ! Alex tries on costumes from the Metropolitan Opera!"
I thought they must've meant tomorrow, but no. They meant today. It's a shame that I can send any more pictures right now. I have a good one of Mr. Trebek dressed as "Le Compte Ory." I felt bad for Justin on that clue, because I always, always mix up Rossini and Puccini when it comes to who wrote "William Tell." He did today, but I didn't because I had just been reading about it this afternoon, and I think it was in Ken Jennings' Trivia Almanac. No joke. Tom picked up that clue, and the next one was the Daily Double, in the same category (Operatic Costumes). Tom said this is not his category, and wagered 1000. Justin had 5600 and Erin had 1400. This was the clue: "The costume worn by this character may not seem to go with his title profession, but in his first scene he sings, 'Largo al Factotum,' and explains that he's also the apothecary, gardener, and woodmaker." Tom and I got this right. I've been struggling to learn operas (composers, plots, etc.) and I thought nothing had been sticking. Today I did pretty well, but I missed this next one and there is no excuse: "This cape was worn by Enrico Caruso as the Duke of Mantua in this Verdi opera, the role in which he made his Met debut way back in 1903." Just last night, my friend Carol was reading clues to me from a Trivial Pursuit book. I got this one right and was so excited, but she was not impressed for some reason.
Which leads me to something I've wondered about today: Last night, those Trivial Pursuit questions, for the most part, kicked my butt. But yesterday, you may recall, I felt so good about how I did watching Jeopardy! So, are they that dissimilar? Do you think playing and studying Trivial Pursuit is beneficial? A waste of time, if you're trying to learn for Jeopardy!?
Anyway, on the last clue of the category, I fell for the same trap Justin apparently did, hook, line, and sinker: "This helmet is a fitting accessory from a production of this Wagner work in which the knight's arrival in a swan boat is one of opera's great entrances." I too said "Parsifal." I probably should've gotten this one right because just this summer I went to Neuschwanstein, Ludwig II's castle in Germany. Ludwig II was obsessed with swans, and his castle shows it. In fact while we were on the tour, I wrote down the name of this opera, intending to look it up later. This clue wound up being a triple-stumper.
In another weird coincidence, I got this one right in "Red," "White," and "Blue" from something I read today (either Ken's book or a Mental Floss magazine): "These statutes forbid certain secular activity on Sundays."
The last clue in the round was a Daily Double, in Winter Olympics Mascots. Tom found it. He had a lock on the game with 24200, while Justin had 10400 and Erin had 5400. Tom wagered 2000 on this clue: "Haakon and Kristin, mascots of this city's Olympics, were named for a Norwegian prince and princess." Tom got it right. Mr. Trebek said, "Great game, Tom."
The Final Jeopardy category was French History. This was the clue: "She said, 'I told my plans to no one. I was not killing a man, but a wild beast that was devouring the French people." Justin and Tom got it right. So we will see Tom in the two-day final, starting Monday.
My Coryat today was 17000. I had 3 negs. Tom's Coryat was 29000, Justin's was 10400, and Erin's was 5400.
This is the first time since the Tournament of Champions began that I am able to blog! I feel hopelessly behind on it, but I do what I can, and I assure I've been watching closely. Happily, I plan to blog tomorrow night, as well as both days of the final.
I'll start with recent Coryats:
11-2: Charles Temple 400 Jay Rhee 10800 Tom Nissley 14400 Me 8600 (It would have been 19400 without 8 negs.)
11-3: Kara Spak 6000 Brian Meacham 8600 Roger Craig 32000 Me 25000 (2 negs)
11-4: Joon Pahk 18400 Tom Kunzen 6200 John Krizel 2000 Me 13800 (It would've been 19400 again without 9 negs again)
11-5 (originally 11-28-05): Vik Vaz 14200 Beth Doner 11600 Bill MacDonald 10800 Me 18400
11-6 (originally 11-29-05): Deena Banks 9600 Kelly Croissant 7800 Vik Vaz 12200 Me 20600
11-7: Buddy Wright 16000 Erin McLean 10800 Paul Kursky 1200 Me 16800 (5 negs)
Today was the last day of the quarterfinals. These were the contestants:
What did you think of Mr. Trebek's trippy suit?:
I have to say I don't like it.
This day was a good one for me. I answered many clues because I've been studying for a potential appearance on the show. (I'm in the contestant pool.) The day started right because I liked two of the three contestants (I'm indifferent to the other one), and I liked the categories: Classic Country Music? I have a Pandora radio station built around Conway Twitty, tailored to the likes of my friend Carol. All Saints Days? I'm Catholic. I swept that one. I doubt I'd have gotten this one without recent studies (but I'm not sure): "December 29: This man for whom it was a bad day in the Cathedral." I also came across this one while studying (but may have gotten it right anyway): "June 22: This all-seasonable sir."
Then there's this one in Abbrev.: "C.J. is short for this title held by Roger Taney and William Howard Taft." And this one in Yes-vember: "Philipp Scheidemann said 'Yes!' to this new republic on Nov. 9, 1918 from the balcony of the Reichstag."
At the first break, we had not heard from Christopher yet. Justin had 2600 and Mark had 3600. I had gotten 11 right and had 4 clams.
The last clue of the round was the Daily Double, in Yes-vember. Christopher found it. He had 2600, Mark had 6200, and Justin had 5600. Christopher wagered 1500 on this toughie: "In 1848, ladies said 'Yes!' when the USA's first medical school for women opened in this state capital." Christopher and I missed it.
I got four more clues in Double Jeopardy thanks to recent studying. This one in King of Queen: " Marie Antoinette." In Ooo, sorry: "You're 20 years late -- Lagos was replaced in 1991 as the capital of this country." And also in Ooo, sorry: "I'm afraid the Canary Islands weren't named for birds but for these." Finally, in Inside the Country: "We can have a 'ton' of fun in this northernmost Baltic state."
I got lucky on these two wild guesses: A triple-stumper in King by Queen: " Ka'ahumanu." Current TV Shows by Episode: " 'In Sickness' and 'Closing Arguments.'"
Justin found the first Daily Double in the round, in King by Queen. This one was bound to be tough, considering the category. Justin had 6800, Mark had 5000, and Christopher had 1100. Justin wagered 2200 on this clue: " Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, formerly Duchess of York." Justin got it wrong, but I don't blame him.
He found the next Daily Double, too, in Turtles and Tortoises. He had 6600, while Christopher and Mark still had 1100 and 5000, respectively. Justin wagered 1400 on this clue: "The genus Kinixys includes the only turtles with a hinge on this, the upper shell." He and I got it right.
At the end of the round, Justin led with 15200, Mark had 12200, and Christopher had 5900. The Final category was 18th Century Authors. This was the clue: "In a poem, he named himself Cadenus, an anagram of Decanus, or 'dean.'" I didn't get this right, and I don't know how it was right. But I'll look it up. Christopher missed it and lost everything. If only he could know he was well-positioned for a wild-card spot, because the other non-winning scores have been low. Mark got it right and added 11800 to his score. Justin got it right, too, and added only 3399. But it's enough for a wild-card spot. He joins Kara, Jay, and Erin as wild-cards. Tom N., Roger, Joon, Buddy, and Mark won their games. Tomorrow, Justin's back, playing Erin and Tom.
My Coryat today was 23800. Mark's was 12200, Justin's was 17600, and Christopher's was 7400.
Before I watched, I thought something special happened on today's episode, as I noticed there were more posts than usual on the Jeopardy! message boards for that early in the day. Also, I read on the thread where we post our Coryat scores that one guy had his highest score ever. So I was eager to see what was going on.
Today's contestants:
 |
| Evan Sandman |
 |
| Emily Gifford |
 |
| Dave Burnstein |
Sandman came into today's game a one-time champ, defeating Sunny Stalter yesterday.
The first category revealed today was Ballet It on Thick. I was actually kinda happy about this when I wouldn't have been before, because I just looked today at some ballet questions in the course of my Jeopardy! studies. I hadn't gone in depth, but I thought maybe it would still help. I wound up missing only this one read by Kelly, at the bottom of the category: "The Dance Theater of Harlem has brought ballet around the world, including giving China's first performance of this 1910 Stravinsky work with an elusive title character." This category was one of four where I missed only one.
Evan found the Daily Double in the ballet category before the first break. Each contestant was off to a pretty good start. Evan had 1200, Dave had 600, and Emily had 1400. Mr. Trebek said Evan looked "altogether too serious." What? If you've been watching you know that Evan often wears a goofy expression, and hasn't looked serious! (See the photo above!) In fact I noticed that Emily looked quite serious. (See her photo above.) Evan wagered everything on this clue: "Prince Siegfried finds romance is for the birds (like Odette) in this 19th century ballet." Evan got it right. At the first break, Evan had 4400, Dave had 1400, and Emily had 2000.
I was happy to get this triple-stumper in Husbandry (in fact I swept the category): "Life as Fergie knows it includes marriage to this star of 'Life as We Know It.'" I didn't notice til I replayed it Mr. Trebek's funky pronunciation of the correct response! It's two syllables, not three.
At the end of the round, Evan had 7000, Dave had 2400, and Emily had 4200.
Emily went on a tear in the Double Jeopardy round, sweeping Designing Women. She led, then by 4800. I only missed this one in that category: "Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton of this late British designer's fashion house."
Evan responded in kind by sweeping Dynasty. He led, then, by 400! The next clue was the Daily Double, in Cheers. Evan had 17400, Dave had 1200, and Emily had 17000. Evan wagered 2000. (I suspect, by the way, that all the fuss on the message boards is related to the Daily Double and Final Jeopardy wagers.) This was the clue: "Yalies once cheered, 'Brek-ek-ek-ex, ko-ax, ko-ax,' the chorus of these creatures in an Aristophanes play." I'd never have gotten this, but Evan did.
I got this triple-stumper in The Facts of Life: "Visual purple is a photosensitive pigment found in the rod-shaped cells of this part of the eye."
For some reason I thought we were out of Daily Doubles, but there was one left, in The Facts of Life. It was the last clue of the round, and Evan found it. He had 23800, Dave still had 1200, and Emily still had 17000. Oh, the drama! What would you wager? I decided on 6000, if I were in Evan's shoes, but that may not be sound. I'm dying to read the thread on the message boards! Evan wagered 4000. This was the clue: "The name of this portion of the brainstem means 'the long marrow.'" I shouldn't have missed this, but I did. Evan got it right. At the end of the round, then, he had 27800, Emily had 17000, and Dave had 1200.
The Final Jeopardy category today was Children's Lit. This was the clu e: "This classic book begins, 'The pretty little Swiss town of Mayenfeld lies at the foot of a mountain range.'" This was an "insta-get" for me, but I did question right through to the end of the 30 seconds. Dave's incorrect guess was "Swiss Family Robinson." He lost everything. (I'd probably have wagered nothing.) Emily got it right, and added 16800 to her score! Mr. Trebek and I expected Evan to get it right. Like yesterday, his face was a fake-out, but this time he missed it. He guessed "Pippi Longstocking." He wagered, incidentally 6201. But he still looked happy as he applauded for Emily!
My Coryat was 23200. Bravo once again to j-archive.com, which has today's scores posted already! Evan's was 24800, Dave's was 1200 (how appropriate!), and Emily's was 17000 (also appropriate!) I'm quite eager to see how my Coryats compare to the contestants in the next two weeks: The. Tournament. Of. Champions! Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be able to blog in-depth for the first four nights the tournament! I will try to write a quick blurb each night, though.
Recent Coryats:
10-26: Abigail Gardner 3000 Ryan McCune 10000 Gabor Vari 20200 Me 37000
10-27: Alex Johnson 3600 Sunny Stalter 14000 Gabor Vari 10600 Me 16000
10-28: John Jordan 9000 Helaine Greenfeld 6400 Sunny Stalter 8000 Me 20000
10-29 (originally 11-24-05): Wendy Stancer 7000 Ben Davis 6200 Bill MacDonald 17600 Me 12400
10-30 (originally 11-25-05): Pat Godwin 8000 Robert J. Lee 10800 Bill MacDonald 20600 Me 25400
10-31: Evan Sandman 18000 Gina Harris 10600 Sunny Stalter 13600 Me 20600
|
Posts
