Final Jeopardy: Historical Fiction (1-29-24)
The Final Jeopardy question (1/29/2024) in the category “Historical Fiction” was:
Stan Lee said the alias-using title character of this novel set during the French Revolution “was the 1st super-hero I…read about”
Today’s Champions Wildcard contestants are: Lloyd Sy, a professor of American literature orig. from Rockford, IL; Andy Tirrell, a political science & international relations professor from San Diego, CA; and Martha Bath, a retired CPA from Seattle, WA.
Round 1 Categories: The Country That Borders Both – Where There’s a Will – Women in Sports – 19th Century Authors – Going to the Dogs – It Ends with “U”
Andy found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “19th Century Authors” under the $400 clue with 5 clues left after it. Everybody was tied with $3,800. Andy made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.
The Riverboat in Frontierland at Disneyland is named for him show
Andy finished in the lead with $8,200. Martha was in second place with $4,200. Lloyd was last with $3,400. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Myth Around & Find Out – TV Theme Songs – Lost in Space – “D.D.” – Historic Names – Booze Clues
Martha found the first Daily Double in “Booze Clues” under the $2,000 clue on the 3rd pick of the round. She was in second place with $5,400, $3,000 less than Andy’s lead. Martha bet $2,000 and she was RIGHT.
Originally a celebratory drink among hunters, this German herbal liqueur features a stag on its green bottles show
Lloyd got the last Daily Double in “Lost in Space” under the $1,600 clue on the 18th pick of the round. After a $3,200 reversal (see below), Lloyd still had the lead with $14,200, $2,600 more than Andy in second place. Lloyd bet $2,000 and he was RIGHT.
This astronaut who remained in orbit during a 1969 moon landing lost a camera during an earlier mission in 1966 show
Lloyd finished in the lead with $19,800. Andy was in second place with $16,800. Martha was last with $11,200. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS “THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL”?
A 2022 article in The Guardian quotes Stan Lee’s memory that Sir Percy Blakeney, aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, was his first acquaintance with a superhero. The Pimpernel made his first appearance on the London stage before Baroness Emma von Orczy published the 1905 novel. The famous Pimpernel poem appears in the novel and various movies, like this 1982 version starring Anthony Andrews:
Andrew’s delivery is more flamboyant than Leslie Howard’s in the 1934 classic, but I don’t know why the first line was changed to “They seek him” from “We seek him” in the novel. The Guardian’s article also names other early 20th century characters with secret identities who showed up after the Scarlet Pimpernel, such as Zorro (1919), the Shadow (1931) and the Spider (1933).
Martha thought it was “A Tale of Two Cities” character Sydney Carton. She lost $4,000 and finished with $7,200.
Andy got it right. He bet $6,001 and finished with $22,801.
Lloyd thought it was the Count of Monte Cristo. That cost him $14,000 and left him with $5,800. It also handed the game to Andy Tirrell, who is now headed to the finals.
Reversal: “D.D.” ($1600) This 18th century guy was a novelist, journalist & pamphleteer – Ken told Lloyd he was right when Lloyd responded with “Dafoe”, but both names were required as the category (“D.D.”) was in quotes. Lloyd ended up losing $3,200 because Ken didn’t ask him to be more specific. It did not affect the game’s outcome but, really, they should only have taken away $1,600 since that was Ken’s fault.
A triple stumper from each round:
WHERE THERE’S A WILL ($1000) This diarist & naval official left his model ships to William Hewer & his library to Cambridge U., where it’s still more or less intact
BOOZE CLUES ($1600) Calling itself “America’s original craft vodka”, it’s been produced in Austin since 1995
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “U.S. Museums”
Named for a benefactor, it was established in 1893 to house artifacts from the nearby World’s Columbian Exposition show
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I got FJ nearly instantly – Sir Percy Blakeney! Read the books (30 years ago), saw the movie on TCM.
The vodka I knew, because it is advertised ALL THE TIME on the radio here (upstate NY). The British game show I guessed, although I’ve never ever heard of it.
As to Lloyd and the reversal, at first, I was thinking that was right. However, as I recollect, Ken could have said “more specifically”. But, then again, it is incumbent on the players to know the category titles, and, in this case, I don’t know if he is allowed to prompt.
Ken admitted he was too quick to accept the response
“Tale of 2 Cities” came to mind till I quickly realized there was no title character, so I shifted to “Count of Monte Cristo.” I went down the tank along with Lloyd, and was surprised when the Lit professor missed it.
Knew the vodka maker because I’ve sampled it a few times, am on their email list, and about 5 years ago won a holiday-themed hoodie with their name plastered all over it.
Slightly disappointed that this really smart threesome didn’t know the show with the “Love Is All Around” theme. But that was 50 years ago.
Howard, This was not a fj clue I expected to be in Lloyd’s wheelhouse. There are various categories of Literature courses in colleges/universities. American Literature focuses on American authors only. See VJ’s description of Lloyd’s area of expertise above. You can look up his academic background on the Yale University website.
Btw, the fj clue fit Andy perfectly which is why he probably got it correct. Note the word “International” in his title as a professor. He is more likely to be interested in and up to speed on foreign literature.
It was a great game, and I performed about average. No, I didn’t get the FJ correctly.
After I saw who was in this game, I was rooting for Martha and I thought she would get FJ right. But it was too late to change my prediction.
It was quite a well-played match all the same, esp with that 3-way tie when Andy got the first DD and Lloyd losing $3,200 but still finishing in the lead!
I knew zilch about that British game show or the vodka.