Final Jeopardy: Famous Buildings (9-12-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (9/12/2025) in the category “Famous Buildings” was:
In 1588 a 10th chapel was added to this building to honor a Yurodivy, or “holy fool”, who was canonized that year
2x champ Paolo Pasco, a puzzle writer orig. from San Diego, CA, has now won $54,197. In Game 3, his challengers are: Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley, an asst. professor from Waco, TX; and Jeff Freymann, a retired radio producer & part-time composer from Berkeley, CA.
Round 1 Categories: Where in the World…? – Just One Team – Take a Number in the Bookstore – A How-To Category – Big Piles – Real “O.G.”S
Paolo found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “A How-To Category” under the $600 clue on the 8th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $2,200, $600 more than Saralyn in second place. Paolo bet made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT with a last-second guess!
How to become the President of the U.S.? Have this job if the President, Veep, & Speaker of the House are unable to do the gig show
Paolo finished in the lead with $7,600. Saralyn was second with $4,400 and Jeff was last with negative $600. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: When in the World…? – Acid Test – Movie Sequels – Non-Geographical Flags – 12-letter Words – Aria of Effect
Paolo found the first Daily Double in “Acid Test” under the $1,600 clue on the 16th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $16,800, $10,400 more than Saralyn in second place. Paolo bet $3,400 and he was RIGHT.
This acid is produced when your body breaks down glucose during exercise, but it’s not what makes your muscles sore show
3 clues later, Paolo landed on the last Daily Double in “When in the World…?” under the $1,600 clue. He was in the lead with $22,200 now, $15,800 more than Saralyn in second place. Paolo bet $500 and he was RIGHT.
In late April 1865 this play was performed for a specific audience: Edwin Stanton & a crew of investigators show
Paolo finished in the lead with a runaway $25,500. Jeff was second with $8,600 and Saralyn was last with $6,400. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS ST. BASIL’S CATHEDRAL?
St. Basil’s Cathedral is a major tourist attraction in Moscow’s Red Square, built in 1555-1561 by Ivan the Terrible. Basil the Blessed was one of Russia’s “holy fools” who dedicate their lives to poverty in the service of Christ. Basil was known and revered throughout Moscow in his lifetime as a prophet. After he was canonized in 1588, a 10th church was added to the cathedral to house his relics, and the entire cathedral became known as St. Basil’s. There are other Eastern Orthodox saints named Basil, but only Basil the Blessed is among the 7 most venerated saints in Russia.
Don’t miss some amazing photos of St. Basil’s Cathedral doppelgangers on Gateway to Russia.
Saralyn thought it was the Hagia Sophia in Instanbul. She lost her $6,000 bet and finished with $400.
Jeff went with Notre Dame, (presumably in Paris). That cost him $1,400 and left him with $7,200.
Paolo got it right. He bet $44 and won the game with $25,544. Paolo’s 3-day total is $79,741.

A triple stumper from each round:
TAKE A NUMBER IN THE BOOKSTORE ($800) The afterlife is more than just a place in Mitch Albom’s bestseller about this title group of folks “You Meet in Heaven”
MOVIE SEQUELS ($2000) Films based on this anime series include “Mugen Train” & now one with Tanjiro facing foes at “the Infinity Castle”
2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “ASTRONOMY”
The only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system, it’s named for an ancient deity of planting & harvests show
IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE SHOW OR COMPLAINTS, PLEASE SEND YOUR FEEDBACK DIRECTLY TO JEOPARDY!
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made from Amazon.com links at no cost to our visitors. Learn more: Affiliate Disclosure.

The Secretary of State is next in line after the President Pro Tempore
Order of presidential succession
Yes, the President Pro Tempore is next in line from the Speaker of the House, and then comes the Secretary of State.
Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State
Remember the time when Secretary of State Alexander Haig told the press: “I’m in charge of the White House…..”? That was soon after President Reagan was shot in 1981. Well, this occurred during the height Cold War, and in actual fact, the former 4 star general may have been temporarily in charge for all intents and purposes. Of course, the press pounced on that remark for all that it was worth.
2/3 on DD and missed FJ. I said “the Kremlin”. I thought Sec of State was next in line!
I am happy that Paolo won again. I thought the bow tie was the “kiss of death”!
Ken was hilarious when he said, “Now I get to say it”! It certainly wasn’t “a hoe”!
Yes, I thought that the Secretary of State was next in line too. You know, this certainly wasn’t the first time that something like that came up, and probably won’t be the last. I mean, just about every contestant misses it
Missed the show tonight. Was thinking Russia for FJ but guessed St. Peter’s. Definitely got the 3rd DD, changed from right to wrong answer for the first. Cleaned up on a lot of the stumpers: Mitch Albom title; McKinley city (I was there in April); all 4 in Just One Team; menu adjective; 4-letter gambling term; radiant energy.
It was another great game, and I performed slightly above average. Regarding the FJ, I went with St. Peters Cathedral in St. Peters Square. Yeah, I know, it’s referred to as St. Peters Basilica. In any case, I missed the FJ.