Final Jeopardy: Presidents & Films (12-23-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (12/23/2013) in the category “Presidents & Films” was:

Jimmy Carter held 480 screenings at the White House; his first was this film set in 1970s Washington, D.C.

New champ Jon Choi won $11,900 on Friday when he was the only one to get the final question. Today he takes on these two players: Larry White, from Hatboro, PA; and Kristina Lukach, from Shrewsbury, MA.

Larry found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “It’s Magic Time” under the $600 clue. He was in the lead with $2,600, $1,400 ahead of Jon in second place. He bet $2,000 and he was RIGHT.

Leonardo DiCaprio hosted a 1996 “Street Magic” TV special by this man now known for his endurance stunts. show

WHO IS DAVID BLAINE?

Larry finished in the lead with $5,600. Kristina was second with $2,200 and Jon was last with $1,200.

Larry found the first Daily Double in “Radio Astronomy” under the $2,000 clue. He was in the lead with $9,200, $7,000 ahead of Kristina in second place. He bet $5,000 and he was RIGHT.

In the last decade alone, Green Bank’s Byrd telescope has discovered more than 100 of these rapidly spinning stars that act like interstellar lighthouses, emitting strong bursts of radiation at regular intervals. show

WHAT ARE PULSARS?

Jon found the last Daily Double in “Solve the Mystery Title” under the $1,600 clue. In second place with $4,800, he had $13,400 less than Larry’s lead. He bet $1,000 and guessed “Diamonds.” That was WRONG.

By Kathy Reichs, “____ Are Forever” and “206 ___”. show

WHAT ARE BONES?

Larry finished in the lead with $20,200. Jon was next with $3,400 and Kristina was in third place with $2,200. It’s no mystery who will be winning this one (even if you didn’t see the Hometown Howdies yet).

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS “ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN”?

“Starting with All the President’s Men — about the Watergate scandal that ultimately brought him to office — Jimmy Carter held 480 screenings at the White House over four years, one every three nights on average, and more films than Reagan watched in his two terms. The devout Baptist started off insisting that only family films be shown, but eventually relented and became the first president to watch an X-rated film at the family theatre: Midnight Cowboy.” (White House Family Theatre)

Notes: Gerald Ford was actually the man who took over when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in August of 1974. Carter was the next elected president. Dustin Hoffman co-starred in both “All the President’s Men” and “Midnight Cowboy.”

Kristina thought it was “The American President.” She bet it all and finished with nothing.

Jon got it right and added $1,200 to his score, to finish with $4,600.

Larry also got it right. His $5,000 bet brought his win today up to $25,200, and he will be the new champ tomorrow.

We really thought everyone would get this FJ! But two contestants getting it is an improvement for sure. There has not been a triple get on an FJ since December 11th!