These are a few of My Favorite Things

     Today’s contestants:

Damian Yu

Judy Neuwirth

Ian Leggin

     I too fell for the “yellowfin” trap that Damian did on this clue in & “Low” Thing“: “‘Colorful’ favorite around the sushi bar that’s also known as buri.”  He found the Daily Double in the Jeopardy round, in Fear.  This was the clue: “Ergophobia.”  He got it wrong, but I got it right.  I swept this category, in fact.
     I wasn’t wrong today when I responded “Alabama” to this clue in National Forest States: “Tuskegee National Forest.”
     At the first break, Damian had 3600, Ian had 1400, and Judy had 800.
     My Favorite Things (about the lyrics to the “Sound of Music” song) was an easy category for me!  I slam-dunked every clue.
     Were you guys surprised when the most obvious thing about Hunter S. Thompson was the fourth clue down in the category?: “Thompson created this highly personal style of journalism that shares its name with a muppet.”
     At the end of the Jeopardy round, Damian had 4700, Ian had 5200, and Judy had 3400.  Judy found the first Daily Double in the Double Jeopardy round, in Small Words.  She had 6200, Damian had 10700, and Ian had 8400.  She risked only 1200 on this clue: “Derived from a 1726 novel, this adjective can describe someone very small or petty in outlook.”  She and I both missed it, but it was the only one I missed in the category.
     Ian was a Wisconsin state geography bee champion, but sadly, you wouldn’t have known it today.  He missed a few he should’ve gotten if he ever had that title, including this Daily Double in Travels of Marco Polo.  He had 8800, while Damian had 10700 and Judy had 5000.  Ian lost 2000 on this clue: “After the Polos crossed the Pamir mountains, they followed this ancient trade route that led them into China.”  I thought that one was pretty easy, actually.
     Speaking of that category, I’d heard this triple-stumper recently but I think I’d have gotten it anyway: “On Sumatra, Polo saw this animal he described as a unicorn having feet like an elephant and nearly as large.”  Even Mr. Trebek seemed to say, “Duh.”
     My sister texted me to say she was surprised these two were triple-stumpers, both in Philosophy.  I suspect the contestants had a hunch but were afraid to pull the trigger, as was the case with me: “In 1901 Jacques Maritain vowed to do this if he didn’t find the meaning of life within a year; he lived until 1973.” and “The classic ‘problem of the many’ is this in the sky: which droplets are part of it, and where does it start and end?”
     My sister was also surprised that two people got the Final right.  Now, I just went to the movies today.  (“Super 8,” and don’t waste your time.)  Had I not seen a preview for this movie, I’d not have gotten this right today, I’m pretty sure.  The Final Jeopardy category was Comic Book History.  Damian had 12700, Ian had 7200, and Judy had 6200.  This was the clue: “On the cover of the 1941 first issue of this comic book, the title hero punches Hitler in the jaw.”  Damian got it right, as did Ian.  Ian added 5201 and Damian added 1701, making Damian your champion again.
     My Coryat today was a disappointing 19000.  Damian‘s was 13200, Ian’s was 9200, and Judy’s was 7400.