Final Jeopardy: Composers (2-2-26)

The Final Jeopardy question (2/2/2026) in the category “Composers” was:

This composer whose most famous work shows a Spanish influence said, “My parents met in Madrid”

It’s the first final game of the 2026 Tournament of Champions, featuring: Scott Riccardi, an engineer from Somerville, NJ;; Paolo Pasco, a puzzle writer from San Diego, CA; and TJ Fisher, a marketing specialist from San Francisco, CA.

Round 1 Categories: On the Border – Literary Biography – Rugs Not Drugs – Apt Anagrams – The Fielder Method – Short N’ Sweet

Scott found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Literary Biography” under the $600 clue on the 7th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $1,600, $1,000 more than Paolo in second place. Scott bet the whole thing, and he was RIGHT.

Richard Lingeman subtitled his biography of Sinclair Lewis “Rebel from” this title road show
WHAT IS MAIN STREET?

Scott finished in the lead with $5,400. Paolo was second with $4,800, and TJ was last with $4,600. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: The 17th Century – Character Creators – Religion – Schooling You in Massachusetts – Best Supporting Actor Oscar Winners – What a Word!

Paolo found the first Daily Double in “What a Word!” under the $1,200 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $7,200, $1,800 more than Scott in second place. Paolo made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.

Plausible but misleading argument is called this, from thinkers whom Plato depicted as devious word-jugglers show
WHAT IS SOPHISTRY?

Paolo got the last Daily Double in “The 17th Century” under the $1,600 clue on the 12th pick of the round. In the lead with $18,000 now, he had $10,600 more than Scott in second place. Paolo bet $4,000 and he was RIGHT.

In this revolt of 1680, the village-dwelling Native Americans of the same name drove the Spanish out of New Mexico show
WHAT IS THE PUEBLO REVOLT?

Paolo finished in the lead with a runaway $25,600. Scott was in second place with $8,200. TJ was last with $7,800. All clues were shown.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS MAURICE RAVEL?

Musecool says bolero is traditionally a Spanish dance. It inspired French composer Maurice Ravel’s most famous composition, “Boléro”, although “Ravel’s piece is a distinct orchestral work that reimagines the bolero rhythm in a modern, symphonic context.” Ravel’s father was Swiss by birth and his mother was Basque. They met near Madrid in Spain and married in Paris in 1873. Ravel’s mother spoke fluent Spanish as well as her native language and it’s believed that she put young Maurice to sleep with Spanish lullabies.