Final Jeopardy: 19th Century Americans (3-26-21)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (3/26/2021) in the category “19th Century Americans” was:

In 1869 he moved to Yosemite Valley and was the first to say the area was formed by glacial erosion, a theory generally accepted today.

New champ Lisa O’Brien, a stay-at-home Mom from Edina, MN., won $16,100 yesterday. In Game 2, she is up against: Susan McMillan, an Arabic translator from Portland, ME; and Paul Pompetti, a system administrator from Portsmouth RI.

Round 1 Categories: History – Movie Role, TV Role – Dinosaurs – Cathay Society – Gimme the Numbers! – “Monkey” Business

Susan found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Gimme The Numbers!” under the $800 clue on the 19th pick of the round. She was in the lead with $3,600, $2,200 more than Paul in second place. She made it a true Daily Double and she was RIGHT.

It’s the difference of the number of U.S. states in 2020 vs. the number of U.S. states in 1790. show

WHAT IS 37?

Susan finished in the lead with $7,600. Paul was second with $4,800 and Lisa was last with $400. No clues went uncovered.

Round 2 Categories: Farewell to the Author – Opera Settings – Multiple-Capital Countries – This & That – No Doubt – Entertainment Add a Letter

Susan found the first Daily Double in “Farewell To The Author” under the $800 clue with 5 clues left in the round. She was in first place with $17,600 now, $10,800 more than Paul in second place. She bet $4,000 and she was RIGHT.

On his 1875 passing in Copenhagen, it was said though his eyes were closed, in children’s hearts, he would live forever. show

WHO IS HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN?

2 clues later, Lisa landed on the last Daily Double in “Entertainment Add a Letter” under the $1,600 clue. In third place with $800, she had $20,800 less than Susan’s lead. She bet $700 and, unfortunately, said the correct answer right after the buzzer, so that was WRONG. Too bad, because we’d have liked to see if they accepted her pronunciation of the Ben Affleck flick.

Add a letter to a Leslie Caron favorite and you get a Ben Affleck and J. Lo not-so-favorite. show

WHAT IS “GIGI” & “GIGLI”?

Susan finished with a runaway with $25,600. Paul was next with $7,200 and Lisa was in third place with $100. No clues went uncovered.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS JOHN MUIR?

From William E. Colby’s introduction to “Studies in the Sierra” by John Muir: “One of John Muir’s greatest achievements, in a life filled with remarkable accomplishments, was his early recognition and announcement of the important part played by glaciation in the origin of Yosemite Valley. He first visited the valley in April, 1868, and returned in November, 1869, to live there for the next several years. By the following August he had definitely concluded that a great system of glaciers converging in the Yosemite was responsible for the creation of this mighty gorge with its superb cliffs and falls.”

An old clue from 2015: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 125th ANNIVERSARY ($1600) In 1903 this naturalist took Teddy Roosevelt on a personal tour of Yosemite, leading to further federal protected areas

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Lisa wrote down “Ansel Adams”, perhaps thinking of his Yosemite photography series. She lost her $100 bet and finished with $0.

Paul went with “Pike”. That cost him $6,999 and left him with $201.

Susan got it right. She bet $10,000 and won the game with $35,600. Susan McMillan is the new Jeopardy! champion.

Reversal: FAREWELL TO THE AUTHOR ($1600) In 1881, some 30,000 mourners turned out in St. Petersburg for the funeral of this man (image), one of the greatest writers of all time – Lisa rang in and tried mightily to give an acceptable pronunciation for Dostoevsky. My closed captioned came up with Dostoyevsky for her final response, which is a spelling seen often enough, and it sounded like that was what she said, although the “Dos” part sounded like “Doyss”. The judges “listened carefully” to the tape and rejected it. (blows raspberry) Lisa had $2,800 and took a $3,200 hit. She was left with negative $400, not a good place to find yourself when there are only 5 clues left in the round!

A triple stumper from each round:

MOVIE ROLE, TV ROLE ($1000) LBJ in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” & “Ray Donovan”

OPERA SETTINGS ($2000) “Porgy and Bess” is set in an area known by this “fishy” name

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: NONE of the players got this FJ in “Holidays & Observances”

This day created in the U.S. In 1872 is observed in Florida & Louisiana in January, but Maine & Alaska hold it in May. show

WHAT IS ARBOR DAY?

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