Final Jeopardy: American Authors (11-9-23)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (11/9/2023) in the category “American Authors” was:

In 1950 the Swedish Academy said this Nobel Prize winner “is a regional writer” but called “his regionalism universal”

The third Champions Wild Card tournament begins today. Quarter-final No. 1 features these three champs: Charlie Fonville, a producer from Los Angeles, CA; Jen Jazwinski, a youth services librarian from Algonquin, IL; and Matt Takimoto, an elementary school teacher from Moraga, CA.

Round 1 Categories: Classical Music – Famous Former Teachers – A Little Legalese – Potpourri – Operation – Altered States

Jen found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “A Little Legalese” under the $1,000 clue with 10 clues left after it. She was in last place with $2,600, $400 less than Charlie’s lead. Jen made it a true Daily Double and she was RIGHT.

Libel & slander are both forms of this 10-letter term, often found before “of character” show

WHAT IS DEFAMATION?

Jen finished in the lead with $7,000. Matt was in second place with $4,600. Charlie was last with $3,800. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: Math Symbols – Oscar-Winning Screenplays – Changing White House Towel Monograms – Eat – Pray – “Love”

Charlie found the first Daily Double in “Oscar-Winning Screenplays” under the $1,600 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in second place with $5,400, $2,400 less than Jen’s lead. Charlie made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.

1976: William Goldman, from the book by Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward show

WHAT IS “ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN”?

Charlie got the last Daily Double in “White House Towel Monograms” under the $2,000 clue with 5 clues left after it. He was in last place with $13,600, $1,000 less than Jen’s lead. Charlie bet $5,500 and said WJW. That was WRONG.

From RWR to this show

WHO IS GHWB?

Jen and Matt finished in a tie for the lead with $15,400. Charlie was last with $8,100. All clues were shown.

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS WILLIAM FAULKNER?

William Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949 for “his powerful and unique contribution to the modern American novel,” although he did not actually receive the award until 12/10/1950. The descriptions in the clue come from Gustaf Hellström’s presentation speech, and the region he refers to is, of course, northern Mississippi, where Faulkner was born and raised. Faulkner was also the recipient of two Pulitzers for Fiction, for “A Fable” in 1954 and, posthumously, for “The Reivers” in 1962.

Perhaps Hellström didn’t want anyone to think Faulkner introduced the Magnolia State to Sweden, as he mentioned that “us Swedes” knew about Mississippi long before Faulkner, “thanks to … Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,” adding that “Mark Twain put the Mississippi River on the literary map.”

Faulkner was the only American male author nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in the 1940s who actually won. The other 3 were: Carl Sandburg (never won); John Steinbeck (won in 1962); and Ernest Hemingway (won in 1954). Although born in the U.S., T.S. Eliot was a citizen of the U.K. when he won in 1948.

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Charlie got it right. He bet it all and doubled his score to $16,200.

Jen got it right, too. She also bet it all, bringing her score up to $30,800.

Matt went with Sinclair Lewis. He lost his whole $15,400 and ended up in third place with nothing. That put Jen in the semi-finals.

2 triple stumpers from the last round:

OSCAR-WINNING SCREENPLAYS ($2000) 1983: James L. Brooks, from the novel by Larry McMurtry

PRAY ($2000) Legend says this German artist’s 1508 drawing of “Praying Hands” was inspired by his own brother

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “Official Languages”

It’s the only U.N. Member state outside Europe with Dutch as an official language show

WHAT IS SURINAME?

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