Final Jeopardy: Inspired By (5-14-26)

The Final Jeopardy question (5/14/2026) in the category “Inspired By” was:

This 1982 No. 1 hit was inspired by “Splendor in the Grass”, a classic film about the failed expectations of teens Wilma & Bud

6x champ Tristan Williams, a data scientist orig. from Lincoln, NE, is up to $113,699 now. In Game 7, his opponents are: Nishi Kantamneni, a platform engineer orig. from Pleasanton, CA; and Anne Benjaminson, a foreign service officer orig. from New York, NY. Will Tristan remember to bet that extra $1 today, or will he go home?

Round 1 Categories: Eye on Asia – Warning-Worthy Weather – Ambrose Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary – Small Business – A Last Time for Everything – The End of the Reality Show

Tristan found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “A Last Time for Everything” under the $400 clue with 3 clues left after it. He was in second place with $4,000, $1,200 less than Anne’s lead. Tristan bet $3,000 and he was RIGHT.

In 1957 Mike Stepovich was sworn in as the last governor of this territory, not yet a state; he was also the first born there show

WHAT IS ALASKA?

Tristan finished in the lead with $7,000. Anne was in second place with $5,600. Nishi was last with $2,000. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: It’s All History – Book Recommendations – In the Nick of Time – Travel & Tourism – She Directed It – Good Hang

Tristan got the first Daily Double in “It’s All History” under the $1,200 clue on the 5th pick. He was in the lead with $9,800 now, $2,600 more than Anne in second place. Tristan bet $5,000 and said Suleiman. That was WRONG.

A failed attempt to convert a chieftain to Christianity led to this man’s death at the Battle of Mactan in 1521 show

WHO IS FERDINAND MAGELLAN?

Tristan got the last Daily Double in “Good Hang” under the $1,200 clue on the 14th pick of the round. In second place with $6,000, he had $2,200 less than Anne’s lead. Tristan bet $3,000 and he was RIGHT.

In the atrium of the East Building the National Gallery in Washington hangs a large & gently spinning work by this American artist show

WHO IS CALDER?

Tristan finished in the lead with $12,200. Anne was in second place with $9,600. Nishi was last with $4,400. All clues were shown.

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Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS “JACK & DIANE”?

“Splendor in the Grass” is a 1961 classic film starring Natalie Wood (Wilma Dean) and Warren Beatty (Bud), adolescent sweethearts caught up between their passions and the societal pressures of the late 1920s. Even before the 1980s, the film inspired 2 songs: “Splendor in the Grass” (1966) by Jackie de Shannon; and “Hey, Deanie” (1977), a No. 7 hit for Shaun Cassidy, written by Eric Carmen.

As for “Jack & Diane”, you’ll find articles claiming John Mellancamp wrote it after seeing the 1961 film. The problem is Mellencamp has changed his story about that song more times than he’s changed the name he records under. He claimed it first had a connection to Tennessee Williams’ “Sweet Bird of Youth”, then it was about an interracial couple. In some versions, it was his idea to change to white kids. In others, the record company forced him to do it. Medium’s article “… ‘Jack and Diane’ were meant to be Black” will guide you through that maze. “Splendor in the Grass” isn’t mentioned at all. Perhaps, someone made that connection due to the 1981 remake of the film.

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Nishi wrote down “idk but thanks for having me.” She lost $2,700 and finished with $1,700.

Anne was going for “Summer of ’69” but only got as far as the 6. She bet and lost her whole $9,600.

Tristan got it right. He bet $7,001 (yay! there’s that extra buck) and won the game with $19,201. Tristan’s 7-day total is $132,900.

A triple stumper from each round:

THE END OF THE REALITY SHOW ($1000) Seeking legendary treasure with modern tech: “The Curse of” this place

SHE DIRECTED IT ($2000) The first woman to direct a superhero movie with a $100 million budget, 2017’s “Wonder Woman”

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “THE EARLY 20th CENTURY”

Before entering history, this man visited the grave of Bogdan Zerajic, who had died just a few years earlier show

WHO IS GAVRILO PRINCIP?

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