The Teachers Tournament continues today. Today’s contestants:
 |
| Elisabeth Raab |
 |
| Lori Kissell |
 |
| Matt Polazzo |
My desktop computer is still down, and I’m at McDonald’s again. I was amused, then, by this clue in the Jeopardy round, in Billions and Billions: “In 1994, it began boasting of ‘billions and billions served.'” I don’t know, but I’m afraid I may have lost everything on my computer, including (and most painfully) my music. I’ll probably get my computer back tomorrow, and I’ll let you know.
On a happy note, I see David Madden online right now, and I can’t wait to tell him I have a Jeopardy! audition, and on what I think is his birthday! And I just got a confirmation of my audition while I’m sitting here!
At the first break, I wondered if the third podium was lucky, as Elisabeth had 5600 while Matt had 2400 and Lori had 1000. Elisabeth had found the Daily Double in “Y”s Up. At the time she had 2800, while her opponents had the same amounts they’d have at the first break. Elisabeth wagered only 1000. (I’d have wagered it all.) She got this clue right: “It’s right below Saudi Arabia.” I have trouble believing many people would miss this, spotted the “y.” With my correct response on this one, I swept this category. I also swept An Apple for Teacher, and before the round was over, Job Description.
Did you guys know this triple-stumper in The New York Times Movies?: “A.O. Scott said this film about Aron Ralston ‘pins you down, shakes you up, and leaves you glad be alive.'” I balked at first over the number in the title, but I had it right.
At the end of the Jeopardy round, Lori trailed 3000, Matt had 4800, and Elisabeth had 8800. Lori picked up steam in the Double Jeopardy round, finding both Daily Doubles and getting them right. Oh, and she answered other clues right, too. LOTS of ’em. The first Daily Double was in Do Ask. She wagered 2500 of her 5400. Matt had 6000 and Elisabeth had 8800. This was the clue: “The answer to this poetic question: ‘To the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.'”
The second Daily Double was in Reed-ing. By this time Lori had 16700, while Matt had 9600 and Elisabeth had 11200. Lori wagered 1500 on this clue: “In 1920, American communist and author John Reed died of typhus in this foreign capital.”
Did anyone else laugh when Mr. Trebek tried to spell the response to this clue in School of Rock?: “The title teacher in this Swedish group’s ‘When I Kissed the Teacher’ was just trying to help with geometry.” He got carried away and went, “A-B-B-B-A.” It makes me laugh even now.
My Coryat score today was 25400. As I was figuring my Coryat today before today’s Final Jeopardy, I noticed all three of my scores this week were pretty good, and I was wondering whether the clues this week were easier. I rolled my eyes then when the Final clue was revealed: “Just 10 sentences, this speech is wrong on one point: it is long remembered.” Really, Jeopardy!? What do you guys think, are the clues easier this week? Or maybe I’m just getting smarter? 😉
Anyway, all three contestants got it right, naturally. Elisabeth, who seemed inordinately proud of her school during her interview, wagered 4000 of her 12400. Matt wagered 5001 of his 14800, putting his one dollar ahead of Lori until she added 9900 with her correct response. Lori is into the semifinals for sure, then, and the scores of the other two look pretty good. Lori‘s Coryat was 18600, Elisabeth’s was 12400, and Matt’s was 14800.
My strongest categories, besides the ones I swept that I already mentioned, were The New York Times Movies and the one in Double Jeopardy about the early 20th century. My weakest category was Sister Cities.
I’m making an exception today and publishing this entry before 9:30. I’ve had trouble with Blogger not publishing scheduled entries, and I don’t want to take any chances today because there will be nothing I can do if it does not publish when I schedule it.
