Final Jeopardy: Contemporary Authors (4-28-25)

The Final Jeopardy question (4/28/2025) in the category “Contemporary Authors” was:

At the start of his writing career, his wife told him, if it didn’t work out, at 6’4″, he could be a reacher in a supermarket

6x champ Liam Starnes, an undergraduate student from Barrington, IL, racked up $123,584 by the end of last week. In Game 7, he is up against: Erin Morin, a digital pre-press specialist from Aldie, VA; and Steve Icsman, a retired teacher orig. from Sandusky, OH.

Round 1 Categories: Quotable Fictional Characters – Holding Space – The “Co” Co. – Television – Wonders – Never Cease

Erin found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Quotable Fictional Characters” under the $400 with 9 clues left after it. She was in second place with $3,200, $2,000 less than Liam’s lead. Erin bet $2,000 and she was RIGHT.

Just think lovely wonderful thoughts… and they lift you up in the air”, explains this eternal youth show

WHO IS PETER PAN?

Liam finished in the lead with $6,400. Erin was second with $5,600 and Steve was last with $600. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: The 1970s – American Lakes & Rivers – Science & Nature – A Complete Unknown – Drinking Songs – “MB”, Eh?

Liam found the first Daily Double in “American Lakes & Rivers” under the $1,200 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $9,600, $4,000 more than Erin in second place. Liam made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.

This river that flows through a valley of the same name is the main tributary of the Potomac show

WHAT IS THE SHENANDOAH?

2 clues later, Liam landed on the last Daily Double in “Science & Nature” under the $1,200 clue. He was in the lead with $20,800, $15,200 more than Erin in second place. Liam bet $3,000 and guessed obsidian. That was WRONG.

This hard, dark-colored volcanic rock is the most common type found in the Earth’s crust show

WHAT IS BASALT?

Liam finished in the lead with $25,400. Erin was second with $14,800 and Steve was last with $5,400. All clues were shown.

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Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS LEE CHILD?

Lee Child is the pen name of 6’4″ British author James Grant. He created the character of adventurer Jack Reacher in a series that has sold over 100 million copies and spawned 2 films and a TV series. The clue gives you the raison d’être behind Jack Reacher’s name, but it’s not the only instance of family jokes affecting Grant’s writing career.

In a 2018 interview with the Sunday Times Driving, Grant revealed that a train passenger’s mispronunciation of Renault’s Le Car as “Lee Car” led to a family joke, prefixing everything with “Lee”, including his daughter. She began life as “Lee Baby” and grew into “Lee Child.” Ironically, at the time of that interview, Lee Child had never owned a Renault Le Car.

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Steve came up with Percival Everrett. He bet zero so it didn’t cost him a thing. He finished with $5,400.

Erin got it right. She bet it all and finished with $29,600.

Liam started out with Jack, crossed that out and wrote down Grisham. He lost $4,201 and finished with $21,199. That made Erin Morin the new Jeopardy! champ.

2 triple stumpers from A COMPLETE UNKNOWN:

($400) In Virginia in November 1921, the first burial took place at what was then called this

($1600) Errol Morris’ 2013 documentary “The Unknown Known” focused on this man

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: NONE of the players got this FJ in “18th CENTURY LITERATURE”

The first name of this title character is from Hebrew for “devoted to God”; his last name suggests he can be easily duped show

WHO IS LEMUEL GULLIVER?

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