Andy here, and a happy 4th of July to everyone!
Today we get the rematch of yesterday’s tie game; Karen O’Donnell challenges co-champions Hunter Sandison and Ben Ingram!
J! round categories:
WHAT’S ON YOUR iPOD?
2 COMPLETELY UNRELATED ITEMS
RHYME TIME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
ANATOMICALLY CORRECT
POLITICALLY INCORRECT
Ben and Hunter, once again, wanted Daily Doubles; Karen wanted no part of the hunt.
I’m not sure I liked the 2 COMPLETELY UNRELATED ITEMS clues — here was $600: The team that won the Super Bowl in 2013 & the first heir to the British Crown to earn a bachelor’s degree. I think this might be a better category for Double Jeopardy, or a Tournament of Champions!
Hunter found the first Daily Double under ANATOMICALLY CORRECT $600. Sadly for me transcribing, it was a video!
Scores were:
Ben $3,400
Hunter $1,800
Karen $-200
Hunter bet $1000. His clue: A structure called the loop of Henle in each section of this organ helps the body recover water and sodium chloride from waste. Hunter’s correct response took his score to $2,800 and the game to the first break.
Ben has already decided that he’s going to buy a new bed with his winnings!
There were a lot of video clues in this opening round and it really dragged things!
A disappointing Triple Stumper (WHAT’S ON YOUR iPOD $600, delivered by Janet Napolitano): I’m a big fan of Puccini arias, like “Yes, they call me Mimi” in this opera. It might have also helped that I’ve seen “Rent”! Ben went for “Madame Butterfly”. I’m also sure I could have done without knowing that Wolf Blitzer listens to the Black Eyed Peas!
There were 4 clues remaining at the end of the round, and the scores were:
Hunter $6,600
Ben $5,800
Karen -$1,000
DJ! round categories:
A QUICK CATEGORY
HEY, “MISTER”!
WHO WROTE THAT?
4-LETTER FISH
SIMILES
AT THE DRIVE-IN
Karen was doing well in 4-LETTER FISH and got to play the first Daily Double at the bottom of that category! Scores were:
Hunter $7,000
Ben $5,800
Karen $1,800
Karen bet just $1,000. Why even go on the show if you don’t make an effort to win? Her clue: The name of this shark, a popular game fish, is from the Maori. Karen’s brain went amok for a few, she went “I have no idea”, and her score fell to $800.
Ben, as he always seems to do, has that innate knowledge of where the Daily Doubles are. His first selection of the round — A QUICK CATEGORY $1200 — brought the game’s 3rd and final betting clue. Scores were:
Hunter $7,000
Ben $6,200
Karen $800
Ben bet $3,000. His clue: This synonym for quick is also the name of a fast-flying bird that resembles the swallow. His correct response put him at $9,200.
The remainder of the clues saw all 3 contestants with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge; Ben got the key $2,000 clue in AT THE DRIVE IN to ensure his lead going into Final!
Scores going into Final:
Ben $16,000
Hunter $15,800
Karen $6,400
FJ! category: SAINTS ON THE MAP
FJ! clue: In population, it’s the largest U.S. city with the same Spanish name as a current Western Hemisphere capital
I was stuck on this clue for a good 18-20 seconds before it clicked.
Karen 6400 – 1400 = 5000
Hunter 15800 + 15800 = 31600
Ben 16000 + 15601 = 31601
Ben got that crucial 4th victory, which should help his Tournament of Champions chances quite a bit! He’ll be back tomorrow, and it’ll be Jeanie blogging it! I’ll be back next week!
ToC update:
1. Jim Coury (May 2013 College Champion)
2. Drew Horwood $138,100 (8 wins)
3. Andrew Moore $137,803 (6 wins)
4. Joshua Brakhage $103,205 (5 wins)
5. Rebecca Rider $101,600 (5 wins)
6. Mike Lewis $102,800 (4 wins)
7. Ben Ingram $53,230 (3 wins)
8. Adam Holquist $76,299 (3 wins)
9. Sara Garnett $75,403 (3 wins)
10. Salvo Candela $66,195 (3 wins)
11. John Anneken $60,112 (3 wins)
12. Tim Anderson $56,001 (3 wins)