Final Jeopardy: Composers (2-21-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (2/21/2025) in the category “Composers” was:
Yale takes credit for starting a commencement tradition when it gave this composer an honorary doctorate in 1905
2023 HS Reunion 2nd runner-up Maya Wright, a grad student from Atlanta, GA; 2011 ToC winner Roger Craig, an applied scientist from Arlington, VA; and 4x champ John Focht, a baseball software team lead orig. from El Paso, TX.
Round 1 Categories: Sayeth the Bible Book – A.P. History – Hobbies & Pastimes – Are You Into Astrology? – It’s Country Music, Y’all – Idioms
Roger found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Are You Into Astrology?” under the $400 clue with 7 clues left after it. He was in last place with $800, $7,000 less than John’s lead. Roger bet $1,000 and he was RIGHT.
Think of the 4-letter acronym describing Muhammad Ali & it makes sense this was his sign show
John finished in the lead with $7,800. Maya and Roger were tied in second with $2,200. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Prologues – Moving Words – Flowers – Old Stuff – Their Oscar-Winning Role – “G”eography
Roger found the first Daily Double in “Moving Words” under the $1,600 clue on the 13th pick of the round. He was in second place with $9,000, $5,200 less than John’s lead. Roger bet it all, did some finger counting, and he was RIGHT.
12-letter word for the group of people walking down the aisle at the start of a wedding show
Roger found the last Daily Double in “Prologues” under the $1,600 clue on the 17th pick of the round. He was in the lead place with $18,000, $5,000 more than John in second place. Roger bet $12,000 and he was RIGHT.
His intro to “Nobody Knows My Name”: “In America, the color of my skin had stood between myself & me; in Europe, that barrier was down” show
Roger finished in the lead with a runaway $36,000. John was second with $13,800 and Maya was last with $1,400. All clues were shown.
ALL of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHO IS EDWARD ELGAR?
The May 2005 edition of the Yale Bulletin reported on the 100th anniversary of the first performance of “Pomp and Circumstance” at a 1905 Yale graduation in Woolsey Hall. An honorary doctorate of music was awarded to composer Edward Elgar that year. The chorus from Elgar’s “Light of Life” was performed during the graduation ceremony and “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D Major” was performed as the graduates left the stage.
Two years later, Princeton made Elgar’s music part of their graduation ceremonies. Other prestigious universities followed Yale’s example and by the 1920s, “Pomp and Circumstance” became known as “the graduation march”.
Maya bet $47 and finished with $1,447.
John bet $915 and finished with $14,715.
Roger had the third right response but he didn’t bet anything, winning the semifinal spot on the strength of his $36,000 runaway.
Reversal: Roger got a thumbs up on his response to the $200 clue in Idioms. (See the Sneak Peek clues.) Coincidentally, I used that phrase in the WoF post before I saw the game.
A triple stumper from each round:
A.P. HISTORY ($1000) Alexander Pushkin dramatized Russian history in this play about a 17th century czar
FLOWERS ($2000) These flowers named for the shape of their snout are a favorite in gardens
2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “THE ANCIENT WORLD”
The ancient writer Galen said books on ships arriving to this city’s port were seized, originals kept & copies returned show
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0/3 on DD, and missed FJ. But, in the words of dear departed Alex, “Ooh, so close!”
You live by the sword, you die by the sword, but, today, Roger cut and dried! I’m happy to hear that John is doing better. I understood the heat/cold intolerance, and I have guessed that the J! set is COLD.
I concur, Maya seemed out of her weight class. That’s too bad, because, when she did ring in, she sounded clear and confident.
These games, though, remind me how I liked the “wild cards”, so there was some planning.
Poor Maya was out of her league here. Roger owned the 2nd round. He was one of my all-time favorites until he unexpectedly flamed out in the All-Stars (I think that was the tournament. His all-in DD wagers did him in.) As I recall, 20x winner Julia Collins also disappointed in that series. When the 45 Decades players were revealed, I predicted the final 3 would be Ken, Brad, and Roger, and indeed they were.
Not my night. Got the 3rd DD, the Meg Ryan flower, and not much else of consequence. Didn’t realize the emphasis on “commencement,” so guessed Scott Joplin. I played in the HS band and knew who wrote the FJ reference.
What a game for Roger. He started off rough and was behind John for halfway through the game until he found both daily doubles, wagered big and was able to put the game away. Roger mentioned in the chat that he met up with Julia almost 10 years ago in New York and they have been married.
Sorry, isn’t it Edward Elgar? And kudos to Roger – marrying Julia Collins!? Wow indeed!
Yes, Sam, looks like his last name reminded me of Edgar, but I had Edward in the explanation. Weird!
That’s the Roger I vaguely remember.
Wow! Roger Craig announced during the chat that he is now married to Season 30 20x champ Julia Collins. Congrats, Roger and Julia. Imagine if they have a child — he or she may grow up and beat Ken Jennings’ record. 😲
I was so happy to hear that! Two of my favorite players.
And that’s another woman I won’t be getting! (Regrets to Young MC and “Bust A Move”)