Final Jeopardy: Government & Public Awareness (12-24-24)
The Final Jeopardy question (12/24/2024) in the category “Government & Public Awareness” was:
As individuals, only Santa Claus & this public service ad icon introduced in 1944 have their own zip codes
3x champ Laura Faddah, a manager from Memphis, TN, has now won $30,200. In Game 4, her challengers are: Harry Jarin, an emergency services consultant from Edgewater, MD; and Jenna Hayes, an attorney from New York, NY.
Round 1 Categories: 19th Century Novels – Science Timeline – Air Travel – Just Peachy – Dumb – Waiter
Jenna found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “19th Century Novels” under the $800 on the 9th pick of the round. She was in last place with $600, $800 less than Laura’s lead. Jenna bet $1,000 and she was RIGHT.
Not too bad for a title, too: Steven Crane wrote that Henry “wished that he, too, had a wound, a” these four words show
Jenna finished in the lead with $6,800. Harry was second with $3,600 and Laura was last with $2,000. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Nicknames of Historic Women – Inscrutable Words – International Geographic – When It’s Time to Rhyme – Read Flags – Holiday Entertainment
Jenna found the first Daily Double in “International Geographic” under the $1,200 clue on the 3rd pick of the round. She was in the lead with $8,000, $4,400 more than Harry in second place. Jenna bet $3,000 and she was RIGHT.
These mountains extend more than 1,200 miles through Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia show
Harry found the last Daily Double in “Red Flags” under the $2,000 clue on the 9th pick of the round. He was in second place with $8,800, $2,200 less than Jenna’s lead. Harry was a bit skeptical of the category. He only bet $2,000 and said Piet Mondrian but that was WRONG.
A book put out by MoMA highlights this artist & his deceptively straightforward paintings of flags show
Jenna finished in the lead with $18,200. Harry was second with $13,200 and Laura was last with $5,200. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHO IS SMOKEY BEAR (or SMOKEY THE BEAR)?
The U.S. Postal Service launches Operation Santa on an annual basis in September to streamline letters to Santa Claus. The operation first started in 1912, but at that time, letters were turned over to local charities and they didn’t have zip codes. A 2019 USA article doxxed Santa’s home address: 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888.
Smokey Bear, or Smokey the Bear as he is often called, was introduced in 1944. In 1953, kids could write to Smokey Bear Headquarters, Washington, D.C. to get an official Junior Forest Ranger card. Smokey got so much mail, that the Postal Service assigned a special zip code for his mail in 1964. Decommissioned in 2010, Smokey’s zip code was reinstated in 2014. Unlike Santa, Smokey doesn’t have a street address. You just write to Smokey Bear, Washington, D.C. 20252.
Laura got it right. She bet $5,000 and finished with $10,200.
Harry thought it was Uncle Sam. He lost $13,199 and ended up with $1.00.
Jenna came up with Rosie the Riveter. She lost $9,000, dropping down to $9,200. So, before our astonished eyes, Laura remained the champ with a 4-day total of $40,400. Wow!
A triple stumper from each round:
DUMB ($800) Calling someone this “Hellraiser” villain is an insult that will torment them forever
NICKNAMES OF HISTORIC WOMEN ($2000) For helping advance women in the Navy, this 4-term, 3-name Maine senator was the “Mother of the Waves”
2 years ago: ALL of the players got this FJ in “CHILDREN’S BOOKS”
Its title character is told “By the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off… your eyes drop out & you get… shabby” show
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Funky wagering by opponents in prior shows, and plain ol’ luck enabled Laura to win again. I thought FJ was a cinch and that at least two would know it. Jenna had that game in her hands, although Harry gamely stayed in touch.
Knew the first two DDs. Also the 3-named Maine senator, whom I knew they would not get. I was “dumb”-founded that no one knew the wooden coins. Saw the Nicholson film when it came out, still a personal favorite. The rhyming, 6-letter word from German was very gettable.
Laura came from behind, and remained the champion thanks to her correct response in FJ. As for me, I went with the United States Postal Service for FJ. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
I guessed Smokey but also thought it could of been Uncle Sam or Rosie since the date was the 40’s.
With 20 correct responses, Jenna has to be a candidate in next season’s postseason for Second Chance in 2026. She played so well, led all the way from start to finish and had no incorrect responses only to miss Final and Laura got lucky again. She is one win away from qualifying for the Tournament of Champions in 2026. Merry Christmas Eve!