All men today on the program. I looked back on j-archive.com, and it’s the first time, not counting the ToC, since October 7 (unless “Jessie Peterson” or “Ashley Shannon” are guys). And here they are:
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| Kiran Kedlaya |
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| Tim Gray (Does this guy not look like Tim Kresowik? I even remembered the latter’s name.) |
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| Jan Zasowski |
I. Loved. This. Game. Thanks to Twitter and to a friend who saw a commercial, I knew two categories before the game started: Help Me, Fonda (ended up going 1/5) and Great Comebacks with Dan Patrick. I felt good about the game already when I heard those. I was just thinking what a fast start I had (14/15 before the first break and a sweep of Not So Fast, My Friend) when Mr. Trebek said those same words about the contestants.
The first clue after the break was the Daily Double, in Corruption Junction. Kiran found it. He had 3200, Jan had 400, and Tim had 4800. Kiran wagered everything on this clue: “Scandals in this president’s tenure included the whiskey ring, the Indian ring, and the Credit Mobilier crisis.” This was the only clue in the category I didn’t get right. Kiran missed it, too.
The boys got to the Dan Patrick category (he read the clues) last, but there was enough time for it all. I got this triple-stumper in the category, only because of Jeopardy! In fact, I remember Mr. Trebek saying in the past that this guy was his hero, and he said it again today: “After a two year layoff, this 45 year old ex-Red Wing hit the ice for the WHA’s Houston Aeros and had a 100-point season.” I swept the category.
At the end of the round, Kiran had 3800, Jan had 1800, and Tim had 5800. I thought I was stoked about the Jeopardy round categories, but Double Jeopardy featured a category called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Nuns. Only a nun herself could do better on this one. I was sweeping the category when the round ended with a clue left covered! I nearly died when there was a clue about and even a picture of St. Therese of Lisieux. I spent two months in Lisieux (one month at a time over two summers). This was the clue: “Saint Therese is seen here in her habit of this order, whose name comes from a mountain range in Israel.”
I also got this triple-stumper in the category: “Rubens portrayed Archduchess Isabella in the habit of the Sisters of this poor saint.”
The next clue was the Daily Double, which Jan seemed to be looking for. In fact, he found one right after the other a la Roger Craig in the Tournament of Champions. This first one was in Weather. He had 7800, while Kiran had 5400 and Tim had 8200. Jan did the right thing and wagered it all on this clue: “Meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes popularized this 5-letter term for the place where warm and cold air masses meet.” I thought this was pretty easy, and Jan got it, too.
So the next Daily Double was in Egyptian Mythology. This time Jan wagered 4200 of his 15600. This was the clue: “This tome was a collection of spells, charms, and magical formulas for the deceased to use in the afterlife.” I didn’t get this one, but Jan did.
Kiran started selecting high-value clues, even though the Daily Doubles were gone. Perhaps he was feeling pressure? When the round ended, he had 13400, Jan had 22200, and Tim had 11400. The Final Jeopardy category was Organizations. This was the clue: “On Nov. 17, 1871 Union vets dismayed by soldiers’ lack of proficiency in one skill formed this organization.” I wasn’t all that confident with my answer when the music ended, but it was right. I considered Kiran’s incorrect response. He lost 10000. It’s kinda too bad, as he looked so strong yesterday. And he looked a little disappointed today that he didn’t win. Tim did not have a response, and he lost everything. Jan was right and added 4601 to his total, making him the new champion. My Coryat today was 26800. Kendra‘s was 23000, Clayton’s was 7600, and Patti’s was 10200.