Hopefully the title of this entry gets the correct response to this clue in That’s Entertainment out of your head. (You’re welcome): “‘It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk’ — time for this Lady Antebellum hit, a big winner at the Grammys in 2011.” Was anyone else more than a little surprised that ubiquitous smash was a triple-stumper? Maybe listening to the radio is not such a bad thing. But I am listening only to NPR right now as I study for a potential (someday) Jeopardy! appearance. And it is boring as heck. By the way, I wondered today, is it necessary to listen to classical music to learn about it?
Today’s game was a thriller, to continue with the music theme. The contestants:
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| Nick Condon |
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| Lisa Longo (yet another stay-at-home mom) |
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| Stewart Tuttle |
Nick, now a three-day champion, found the Daily Double before the first break in the Jeopardy round, in 80s TV. I was sweeping it to that point. Nick had 1400, Stewart had 2400, and soft-spoken Lisa had 1200. I knew Nick had prepared for his appearance and would know how to wager, so I started writing that he was making a true Daily Double before he said he was. This was the clue: “This 80s detective show used the same production facilities in Hawaii that were used for the old ‘Hawaii Five-O.'” Did anyone else besides me say “Miami Vice”? Nick got it right and doubled his score. At the first break, he had 2800, Stewart had 3200, and Lisa had 2200.
I liked Stewart’s story of getting his hearing back after a doctor somehow used bones from a cadaver bank. I also liked Mr. Trebek’s line, something like, “You have to give up a lot to donate there.”
I swept It’s “Al” Delicious (weird category name) before the Jeopardy round ended. Nick ended the round with 5800, Stewart had 6400, and Lisa had 2800.
Even though Stewart seemed to be looking for it, Nick found the first Daily Double of the Jeopardy round, in & In Other News…. I gave incorrect responses to the two previous clues, but Nick got them. (Stewart missed the clue just before this Daily Double.) Nick had 14200, Stewart had 5200, and Lisa had 2400. Nick wagered 4000 on this clue, which I thought was pretty easy: “In 1914, James Joyce finally found a publisher for this collection of stories about the people of his native city.” Nick got it right.
Stewart seemed like he was still looking for a Daily Double. He had a couple of good gets in the meantime (Niger River? Volstead Act?) He had 11600 when he did find the next Daily Double, in Legislative Legacies. Nick had 17800 and Lisa had 5200. Huge pat on the back for Stewart: He wagered 10000. This was the clue, another softball: “Galusha Grow was the father of this 1862 law giving western land to anyone who’d settle and improve it.” Stewart got it right. Oh, the drama!
I swept Double the W before the round ended. Nick ended with 18200, Stewart had 22400, and Lisa had 5600. The Final Jeopardy category was 20th Century Novels. This was the clue: “Penned by a British author, it became a No. 1 bestseller in the U.S. in 1959, 31 years after it was initially banned.” Lisa did not write anything, and she lost all but a dollar. I’d never heard of Nick’s response “Tropic of Capricorn,” even though Mr. Trebek said he thought someone might come up with that. Unfortunately it was wrong, and Nick lost 9799. He absolutely did the right thing in terms of the wager: It appears he was expecting Stewart to wager just enough to beat Nick if he doubled. It doesn’t make sense for Nick to try to double, because he will lose even if he does, and if he misses? He still loses because he will have 0. Therefore he wagered enough to beat Stewart if Stewart gets the Final wrong. Stewart didn’t get the Final wrong, though. He did wager 14100 (a little more than necessary to beat Nick if Nick doubled), and becomes the new champion with quite a payday. Stewart was good but also pretty lucky. He twice, I think, rang in only to just stare. My Coryat today was 21800. Stewart‘s was 13200, Nick’s was 15800, and Lisa’s was 5600.
I’ve had a couple more thoughts about my audition (okay, maybe more than a couple!) – I know Stephen said try not to think about what I’d have done differently, but I do wish I’d said something else when they pressed me on what I’d do with Jeopardy! winnings: My friend and I, a week or two before the audition, talked about opening a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise, as weird as that sounds. We even went to the site together to see what we’d have to do. Turns out we need a ton of money. Huh, imagine that! Anyway it would’ve made for a more colorful answer than the lame one I gave, and it is true anyway.
Secondly, a piece of the interstate is closed now on the way to Kansas City from Lincoln. So I’m thanking God it was still open on the day of my audition, and hoping all works out there.
Third, I want to add that I actually hope they will pick me on the late side of the 18 months – I have my work cut out for me, and I just want to succeed. Former contestant Karl Coryat says it could take a year or two to prepare.
By the way, does any boardie remember how to find Ten Pound Hammer’s blog? I thought I’d try to invite him to leave his oh-so-popular comments here. 🙂
Finally, a co-worker found this article and thought it might be good fodder for the blog. I’ll just throw it out there in case anyone wants to comment there or here. (“Men vs. women” is not really my thing.)
