Final Jeopardy: European Museums (9-29-15)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (9/29/2015) in the category “European Museums” was:

In one of her last official acts before abdicating, Queen Beatrix reopened this museum after a 10-year renovation.

2x champ Matt Jackson is up to winnings of $51,200. In his third game, his opponents are: Alan Sherman, from Mountainview, CA; and Cam Hoang, from Minneapolis, MN.

We thought Alex Trebek would give the players a warning about Matt’s playing style. Instead he said we’re sort of on “cruise control” in the third week of the season, and that was certainly true of Matt yesterday. Funny. If we could only pick two words to describe Matt’s playing style, it wouldn’t be cruise control!

Round 1: Alan found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Decimals” under the $1,000 clue. He was in the lead with $4,400, $200 more than Matt in second place. He made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.

When it’s expressed as a decimal, pi never repeats or terminates so it’s one of these numbers that sound like they could use a little therapy. show

WHAT IS IRRATIONAL NUMBERS?

Alan finished in the lead with $9,400. Matt was second with $5,000 and Cam was last with $800.

Round 2: Matt found the first Daily Double in “General Knowledge” under the $1,200 clue on the third pick of the round. With $6,600, he was now trailing Alan by $2,800. He bet $5,000 and he was RIGHT.

This brigadier general who gave his name to a Colorado peak was killed during the War of 1812. show

WHO IS ZEBULON PIKE?

Matt found the last Daily Double in “Countries in Spanish” under the $800 clue. With $22,000, he now had a runaway and was $14,200 ahead of Alan in second place. He bet $3,000 and he was RIGHT.

Reino Unido. show

WHAT IS THE UNITED KINGDOM?

Matt finished in the lead with an unbeatable $26,600. Alan was next with $10,200 and Cam was in third place with $3,200.

ALL of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS THE RIJKSMUSEUM?

Wallpaper.com has a news article on the April 13, 2013 re-opening: “After 10 years, the colossal task of renovating Amsterdam’s famous Rijksmuseum is complete– its doors reopen to the public tomorrow…. The inauguration ceremony will see Queen Beatrix open the revamped building with an oversized, polished-bronze key and lock designed by Studio Job – the official opening ceremony, broadcast internationally, will be one of her last engagements before her abdication at the end of the month.”

There’s also an interesting retelling by David Byrne of how he got An Unexpected History Lesson at the Rijksmuseum after it reopened, with many images from his visit.

Cam got it right with “Rikjsmuseum.” Her $3,100 bet brought her up to $6,300.

Alan also got it right. He crossed out his first try, though it looked the same as his final answer. He bet $3,773, finishing with $13,973.

Matt had the proper spelling as well. His $3,400 bet gave him another $30,000 payday. His 3-day total is $81,200.

Congrats to the players on the FJ triple solve and 3 correct DDs. Otherwise, it was kind of a strange match! The category they opened with (“Fruits & Vegetables”) was a disaster. During the chat, Cam called herself a “glutton for punishment,” and the phrase came up in a clue (“In the Dictionary”), but she couldn’t beat Alan on the buzzer. The players had problems with “Roles in Common” in the second round. Then there was the 82-year old actor clue in “MM” Bop. Never mind the age thing, there are no double M’s in Philip Seymour Hoffman.

2 years ago:: TWO of the players got this FJ in “Academy Awards.”

With 3 each, “On the Waterfront” is tied with this film & its sequel for most Best Supporting Actor nominations. show

WHAT IS “THE GODFATHER”?

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