Final Jeopardy: State Capitals (12-10-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (12/10/2013), in the category “State Capitals” was:

It’s the southern city in which the building seen here is located; counting the panels may help.

Current champ Craig Cornish Jr. has accumulated $46,800 over 2 days and he is going for a third win today. His opponents are: Meredith Larson, from Washington, DC; and Phil Lowe, from Raleigh, NC.

Craig found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “‘N’ the Atlas.” He was in second place with $2,600, $1,200 less than Meredith’s lead. He made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.

This largest Central American lake is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the 12-mile wide Rivas Isthmus. show

WHAT IS LAKE NICARAGUA?

Meredith finished in the lead with $7,200. Craig was second with $6,000 and Phil was last with $2,800.

Meredith found the first Daily Double in “Scientific European.” She was in the lead with $10,000, $3,200 more than Craig in second place. She bet $3,500 and she was RIGHT.

In 1943 he fled from Copenhagen to escape the Nazis & later went to Los Alamos to advise scientists working on the A-bomb. show

WHO IS NIELS BOHR?

Craig found the last Daily Double in “There’s No Place Like Dome.” In third place with $8,000, he had $9,100 less than Meredith’s lead. He bet $5,000, and thought it was the Skydome. That was WRONG.

In an April 9, 1965 exhibition game, Mickey Mantle hit the first home run in this “8th Wonder of the World.” show

WHAT IS THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME?

Meredith finished in the lead with $21,900. Craig was next with $11,400 and Phil was in third place with $8,400.

NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS AUSTIN, TX?

“Six flags over Texas” is a slogan used to describe the six countries that have had sovereignty over some or all of the current territory of the State of Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the USA. View The Six National Flags of Texas.

Phil wrote down Richmond, VA. That cost him $1,600 and he finished with $6,800.

Craig thought it was Tallahassee (FL). He bet everything and was left with nothing.

Meredith wrote down “Texas” instead of the capital city. She only bet $2,000, so she won the match with $19,900 and she is now the Jeopardy! champ.

Quite an unexpected finish! Craig was so elated to get that last clue in the Double Jeopardy! round correct, giving him one last chance to retain his title. Phil didn’t bet too much in case everyone flunked FJ! And Meredith evidently picked up on the number six clue while, somehow – who knows how? — the category got away from her. Or perhaps she wasn’t sure what Texas city was the capital?

Here’s one thing we can be sure of: Meredith and Alex Trebek will be returning tomorrow, same time, same station.