Final Jeopardy: American Immigrants (10-4-23)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (10/4/2023) in the category “American Immigrants” was:
His 1904 Will stipulated that “all the sums hereinbefore specified for prizes shall be used for prizes only”
The Champions Wild Card quarter-finals continue today with these three champs: Evan Roberts, a chemistry teacher from Louisville, KY, Kendra Blanchette, a registered dietitian from Elk Grove, CA, and John Bussard, a marine aviator orig. from Ringoes, NJ.
Round 1 Categories: Earth Science – Please Bear with Me – We Try to Stay Neutral – Art for Art’s Sake – State of the Estate – Mirror Words
Kendra found the first Daily Double in “We Like to Stay Neutral” under the $600 clue on the 14th pick of the round. She was in the lead with $2,600, $400 more than John in second place. Kendra bet $1,600 and she was RIGHT.
Soon after a beating by France at Marignano in 1515, this country decided expansion was out & neutrality was in show
Kendra finished in the lead with $6,200. John was in second with $5,800. Evan was last with $4,000. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Where’s the Problem? – How’s the King Taking It? – Waxing Philosophical – Animal Verbs – Looney Tunes – Merry Melodies
Kendra found the first Daily Double in “How’s the King Taking It?” under the $800 clue on the 10th pick of the round. She was in the lead with $12,200, $4,600 more than Evan in second place. Kendra bet $5,000 and she was RIGHT.
On March 7, 1774 George III complained of “outrageous proceedings at” this city, especially in its harbor show
John got the last Daily Double in “Merry Melodies” under the $2,000 clue with 7 clues left after it. He was in second place with $9,000, $12,200 less than Kendra’s lead. John bet $6,000 and he was RIGHT.
This 19th c. composer’s Mazurka No. 9 (Op. 7 No. 5) is one of the peppier ones show
Kendra finished in the lead with $23,200. John was second with $14,200 and Evan was last with $6,000. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHO IS JOSEPH PULITZER?
Joseph Pulitzer emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1864 and became a citizen in 1867. He went from rags to riches, becoming a nationally known newspaper publisher and a politician. When Pulitzer made his Last Will and Testament in 1904, he made provisions for college scholarships for New York City public schools students and an endowment for a school of journalism at Columbia University. He also set out a number of awards for the various annual prizes we know as Pulitzers. Strict provisions were also set up to govern these bequests, including the one in today’s Final Jeopardy! clue. The Pulitzer Prizes website has a page with these provisions.
Pulitzer died in 1911 and the Columbia School of Journalism opened in 1912. The first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded in 1917. Curiously, the No. 10 prize was for “the best American biography teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people, illustrated by an eminent example” but it couldn’t be about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.
Evan thought it was Alfred Nobel. He bet and lost his whole $6,000.
John got it right but he didn’t bet a nickel. His score remained $14,200.
Kendra also thought it was Nobel. She lost $5,201 but won the game with remaining $17,999. Kendra Blanchette is the third semi-finalist.
A triple stumper from each round:
ART FOR ART’S SAKE ($1000) The unique modern stylings of this abstract Dutchman are seen in his “Broadway Boogie Woogie”
MERRY MELODIES ($1600) This composer also known for ballets composed a merry waltz for his opera “Eugene Onegin”
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Mythology”
The Hippocrene Spring, sacred to the Muses, was so named because this offspring of Medusa brought it into being show
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Ok, now I’ve officially seen it all. The first 2 DDs were gimmes, the last one not. John’s courageous wager put him right back in contention. So what did he do? He bet zero in FJ and got it right. There was NO POSSIBLE WAY he could have won that way. Kendra was certain to wager $5201, so even if she missed, which he had to hope for, his zero wager left him way short. Someone who’s been on the show before should know how to wager. He should have wagered everything, or at least $9001. Unbelievable.
I thought FJ was pretty much a cinch, but I have a background in journalism. It was not going to be Nobel. He wasn’t American, and was a too-obvious choice.
As usual, the stumpers were difficult, but I did nail the abstract Dutchman, the ancient guy from “Die Hard” (which I’ve never seen), and this philosopher who had the foundation.
As always, Howard, concur, strongly. I thought in my mind of “maddeningly bad wagering strategy”. It’s the last shot, period, full stop. You ain’t never, ever, ever coming back. This, in itself, was “manna from heaven”. Maybe that’s why he’s an NFO (backseat guy) and not a Naval Aviator? (not really, that’s not how it goes)
Art for Art’s Sake is a literal translation of the motto of MGM – “Ars Gratia Artis”. I got the first one because I just knew it, but I also got the next 4, because my wife is an artist! I was especially proud of the $2k TS.
I got FJ right after a moment of thinking. First Nobel prizes were 1901, and ol’ Alfred didn’t come to the US. Then, just a run through others, and Pulitzer was obvious.
I didn’t get the philosopher with the foundation.
Not only was the first Nobel Prize in 1901 but by 1904 Alfred Nobel was long gone from this earth. I’m thinking the contestants have been having a reading comprehension problem. As you correctly stated Alfred Nobel has never been an American Immigrant. I’m hard pressed to understand what the contestants were thinking from wagering to reading comprehension. I got the response immediately simply using the process of elimination. There was no way the fj response could have logically been anyone except Pulitzer given the timeframe in the clue.
I agree with you about the marine’s poor wagering. People really need to prepare ahead of time for these waging scenarios. The players got second chances, but third chances I hope are out of the question. Brand new people such as myself need first chances.
I read last night that there will be no shows with new contestants until sometime around April. They locked themselves into recycled questions and contestants for this never-ending tournament. Ken is on board through Dec.18. They’re not saying who will host after that. Mayim probably didn’t endear herself to the producer when she refused to cross the picket line.
I thought it was because she was a member of SAG-AFTRA. I mean, I am def not one of her fans, but, I have to respect that.