Final Jeopardy: 19th Century Authors (5-21-15)

The Final Jeopardy question (5/21/2015), in the category “19th Century Authors” was:

In an essay, he wrote, “I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

5x champ Andrew Haringer now has $96,599 in winnings and a sure spot in the Tournament of Champions. Today he is up against these two players: Laurie McNeill, from Orlando, FL; and Choyon Manjrekar, from Providence, RI.

Alex Trebek started off talking about the California state taxes that are taken out of winners’ money. They have to settle with the Federal government themselves. Andrew, he said, will have his California taxes offset when he has to pay his Canadian taxes because there is reciprocity between the two countries.

Round 1: Choyon found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “The 20th Century” under the $600 clue. He was in second place with $2,200, $800 less than Andrew’s lead. He bet $1,200, and he was RIGHT.

This trial opened on July 10, 1925 with William Jennings Bryan arguing for the prosecution. show

WHAT IS THE SCOPES TRIAL?

Andrew finished in the lead with $5,000. Choyon was second with $4,600 and Laurie was last with $800. After the commercial break, Laurie was awarded $1,200 for her Duchesse silk reply, previously judged wrong. She was still in third place but now had $2,000.

Round 2: Choyon found the first Daily Double in “Place Names” under the $1,200 clue. He was in the lead with $11,000, $400 more than Andrew in second place. He bet $3,000 and he was RIGHT.

Originally, the Atlantic referred to the sea near this mountain range but was later applied to the entire ocean. show

WHAT ARE THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS?

On his very next pick, Choyon found the last Daily Double in “Odd Words” under the $1,200 clue. In the lead with $14,000, he was now $3,400 ahead of Andrew in second place. He bet $2,000 and he was RIGHT.

“Oculogyric” refers to this gesture of indifference or disbelief, a favorite of teen know-it-alls. show

WHAT IS ROLLING YOUR EYES?

Choyon finished in the lead with $18,800. Andrew was next with $11,800 and Laurie was in third place with $7,600.

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS HENRY DAVID THOREAU?

The quote in the clue comes from “Economy,” the first chapter in “Walden,” where Thoreau sets up house and extols the virtues of simplicity. He even throws three pieces of limestone out the window because he was “terrified” at the prospect of having to dust them. Later on in the same chapter, the pumpkin seat made another appearance after Thoreau got himself some chairs: “None is so poor that he need sit on a pumpkin. That is shiftlessness. There is a plenty of such chairs as I like best in the village garrets to be had for taking them away.” Google Books: Walden

Laurie thought it was Mark Twain. She lost her $5,000 bet and finished with $2,600.

Andrew got it right. He bet it all and finished with $23,600.

Choyon also got it right. He bet $5,000 so he won the game with $23,800 and he is the new Jeopardy! champ.

During the chat, Choyon related how he proposed to his wife, Nicole, with a pizza that said “will you marry me” on it in barbecue sauce. She accepted his proposal and the pizza.

A PUSSYCAT POT-PURREE triple stumper ($1600) The theme song to this 1965 Peter Sellers film states, “I’ve got flowers and lots of hours to spend with you”

2 years ago:: ALL of the players got this FJ in “Disney Songs”

This 1964 song was inspired when one of the writer’s sons took the oral polio vaccine. show

WHAT IS “A Spoonful of Sugar”?

We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made from Amazon.com links at no cost to our visitors. Learn more: Affiliate Disclosure.