Andy here with a recap!
A few things have happened to me since my last recap.
No joy in Mudville this year, apparently: Jeanie let me know on Tuesday that some people had posted about Toronto audition invitations going out. I suppose there’s still time for a surprise and an invite, but I’m not holding my breath for it…
Meanwhile, I just saw the cover of my book for “A’s Bad As It Gets: Connie Mack’s Pathetic Athletics of 1916” – here’s a picture of it!
Okay, on with the show. Scott Singer and Cecily Squier are the challengers for Rachel Eastwood, who won $20,000 yesterday!
J! round categories:
ANNUAL EVENTS
SPORTS BIOGRAPHIES
5 DIFFERENT VOWELS IN 1 WORD
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
“HOW”
CAN I LIVE WITHOUT YOU
Scott went straight after Daily Doubles as soon as he gained control, and most of the early part was a battle between Scott and Rachel! The Daily Double managed to avoid Scott’s search for the time being, though! Scores at the end of the first break:
Scott $3,000
Rachel $2,200
Cecily $1,200
Amusingly enough, Scott’s Daily Double hunt took him away from ANNUAL EVENTS, and the $400 clue had the Daily Double! To add insult to injury, it was Cecily who got to play it! Scores were:
Scott $3,000
Rachel $3,000
Cecily $2,200
There is no better opportunity to make it a True Daily Double. You’re dealing with an easier clue at $400, you’ve had trouble getting in, and if you do get it wrong, you still have time to catch up.
But no.
Cecily bets $1,000. Her clue: The Cereal Festival, with “the world’s longest breakfast table”, is an annual event in this Michigan city. Her immediate correct response put her at $3,200 — and left another $1,200 on the table.
When I started playing Scrabble, there were tournaments there that always made reference to cereal; this was a very easy Daily Double for me.
When playing along with the game, I did get tripped up on a few of them by forgetting the categories! That’ll hurt a Coryat score a bit!
By the end of 30 clues, the scores were:
Rachel $7,000
Cecily $5,400
Scott $4,400
DJ! round categories:
SUPREME COURT CASES
THE QUOTABLE DICKENS
MOVIE COUPLES
AFRICA
BEHIND BARS
GIVE ME A “C”
Scott knew what he was doing, the first selection of the round — SUPREME COURT CASES $2,000 — revealed a Daily Double! He bet $3,000. His clue: The court has OKed the requirement to buy health insurance, as it “may reasonably be characterized as” this.
His correct response put him at $7,400!
Meanwhile, all 3 players had success playing through SUPREME COURT CASES, MOVIE COUPLES, and AFRICA, with no Daily Double! Meanwhile, all 3 players had their scores over $10,000!
A costly neg for Scott, under GIVE ME A “C” $2000 (In FICA, on your pay stub) – he left off the S!
Scott did get to play the final Daily Double, though,under SUPREME COURT CASES $1600. After receiving some extra money back after they ruled an earlier neg correct, the scores were:
Rachel $20,200
Scott $13,800
Cecily $11,800
There was a $400 and $2,000 clue left on the board. Scott thought, and bet $9,000. His clue: “I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone – his correct response put him at $22,800. Absolute perfection.
After those remaining two clues, the scores were:
Scott $22,800
Rachel $20,200
Cecily $12,200
FJ! category: AMERICAN WOMEN
FJ! clue: Referring to a 1955 incident, she said “our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it”
Cecily 12200 + 11000 = 23200
Rachel 20200 + 9800 = 30000
Scott 22800 + 17601 = 40401
Scott is the returning champion, and he’ll be back tomorrow.
Okay, I have to say. Watching Scott play this game today makes me feel less disappointed about not getting an audition. I wish more contestants played the game as well as he did today. It’s not often I pause the tape in order to applaud, but today was one of those days. Especially in Double Jeopardy! A tip of the cap!