Final Jeopardy: Shakespearean Geography (11-21-14)
The Final Jeopardy question (11/21/2014), in the category “Shakespearean Geography” was:
Of the 5 cities mentioned in Shakespeare’s play titles, it’s the only one not found in Europe.
It’s been quite a trip but we have finally arrived at the last match of the 2014 Tournament of Champions. The finalists are bringing yesterday’s score to add to whatever they rack up in this match: Ben Ingram $25,600; Arthur Chu, $15,600; and Julia Collins, $6,400.
Round 1: Arthur found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “You Do Know Him from Adam” under the $800 clue right after answering the first clue chosen by Ben correctly. Yes, it was the second clue of the round and he was the only one with any money –$600. He bet the $1,000 allowance and he was RIGHT.
In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam he’ll return to dust; in Exodus 8:17, this brother’s rod turns dust to lice. show
Arthur finished in the lead with $4,200. Ben was right on his heels with $3,800 and Julia was last with $1,200.
Round 2: Arthur found the first Daily Double in “McWriter” under the $1,600 clue. He was in the lead with $7,000, $3,000 more than Julia in second place. He made it a true Daily Double and thought it was a “web”. That was WRONG.
In 1962 Marshall McLuhan wrote, “electronic interdependence recreates the world in the image of a global” this. show
Arthur found the last Daily Double in “Peaks & Valleys” under the $1,600 clue. He was now in third place with $2,800, $4,800 less than Julia’s lead. He made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.
The Barossa Valley just north of this capital of South Australia is known for its vineyards & great wines. show
Arthur finished in the lead with $10,400. Julia was next with $7,600 and Ben was in third place with $6,600.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
“Phoenician Tyre [now in Lebanon] was queen of the seas, an island city of unprecedented splendor. She grew wealthy from her far-reaching colonies and her industries of purple-dyed textiles. But she also attracted the attention of jealous conquerors among them the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great.” (MiddleEast.com: Tyre)
The European cities in Shakespearean titles are: Athens, Venice, Verona and Windsor. Here’s a link to all of Shakespeare’s settings.
Ben wrote down Windsor and crossed it out in favor of Cairo. He lost his $4,201 bet. That left him $2,399 to add to yesterday’s $25,600 so he finished with $27,999.
Julia had no guess. That cost her $2,000 and she was left with $5,600. That and her $6,400 from yesterday made her 2-day total $12,000.
Arthur wrote down Thebes. He bet everything he had so he ended up with nothing to add to yesterday’s $15,600.
So Ben Ingram is the 2014 Tournament of champions winner, taking home the $250,000. Arthur won $100,000 and Julia won $50,000.
Alas, Ben did not get his 13th Final Jeopardy correct and is now 12/13. It’s still a great record and he can buy a Pericles audiobook to listen to in his big bed. Here is the post-game chat, which includes the results beginning with Arthur’s answer:
2 years ago:: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Biographies About Authors”
Chapters in a biography on this author include “Declaring His Genius” and “A Late Victorian Love Affair”. show
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For all of the DD advocates, take note. No need to skip around the J board looking for DDs to win on Jeopardy. Why do I feel this way? I watched a contestant who played last night and tonight win the TOC tonight for the winning prize of $250, 000. He did not hit a DD either night but won the tournament. Furthermore, he was in 3rd place both nights going into fj.
Listen to Alex Trebek. The man has been hosting the show 30 years and told the contestants during the after game chat he didn’t know why they hopped around the J board. Start with the easier questions at top so you know what the clues are like, work your way down the board, and it builds your confidence. Makes good sense to me.
Ben was cautious and methodical. He answered only what he felt comfortable with. In the second round he did not respond to many clues. He let his game rivals have a run at it while he stayed calm. His style of play was a good strategy in my opinion.
I’m so glad Chu lost because it proves you don’t have to play the game as a sociopathic maniac in order to win. It can lead to you losing just as easily, especially with those obnoxious “true Daily Doubles.”
Julia forever!
well, as predicted, arthur went wild in dd and fj.but even if he had been right at the 7 K dd, it would not have been enough for a runaway. (24.400 today plus yesterday’s 15.600= 40 K maximum), ben had 25.600 plus 6.600= 32.200, so well within striking distance. but since nobody got it right and arthur would have been in the lead, he would probably have bet to win.
perfect bet by ben in that situation and it was good enough to win since arthur did not come up with the correct city.overall a deserved win by ben imo. i am somewhat, actually pretty surprised that nobody got fj! funny thing, the city still exists today, some 80 km south of beirut.
I love to see those arrogant “true Daily Doublers” go down in flames, especially this one today!
Like Ben said, I always thought the play was just called “Pericles.” Trebek called “Pericles of Tyre.” Wikipedia has it as “Pericles, Prince of Tyre.”
Julia (our family fav), I know you like to travel. Try Half Moon Bay in California. I will show you the beautiful town on the Pacific ocean. I can be reached at the fire department.
So glad Arthur Chu did not win!
i bet you are not the only one…
So glad Ben won. He was my fav. Congrats, Ben.
Jacob, on the doctor in the Joe McGinniss clue, a couple of years ago I wrote a post about it and McGinniss sent me email thanks for pointing out his NYT article. (McGinniss died earlier this year. The doctor is still in prison, won’t get another parole hearing till 2020).
Wow!
yeah, McGinniss did not live to see his prediction that the doctor would not prevail come true (that happened this past July).
ditto.