Ken Drops The Mic

Posted By: Andy Saunders April 4, 2014

Andy here with another recap!

Today’s contestants:

J! Round categories:
THE LONG & THE SHORT OF IT
FAIRLY RECENT NEWS
PHILOSOPHERS
MUSIC OF THE 2000s
small state capitals
OUR OLD PAL WATSON

Michael went straight into OUR OLD PAL WATSON, saying “Sorry, Ken”. Not sure I’d want to tickle the sleeping dragon, to be honest! In that category, I’m surprised that a clue about golfer Tom Watson was valued at $200 and Emma Watson, given her role as Hermione, was valued at $600!

After a Triple Stumper at MUSIC $800 (In 2001 this guy, real name Matthew Shafer, had a “relatively” big hit with “Follow Me”), our players went over into State Capitals! I was able to get the category run when they went back to Music, though!

Scores after 15:
Ken $4,200
Vinita $2,400
Michael $1,400

Vinita still drives the Volvo she won from the college tournament! Makes sense. Volvos are good cars!

Alex said the following: “Ken Jennings holds a record of 74 consecutive wins on “Jeopardy!” and I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb when I say that record will stand forever, Ken.”

Apparently Alec Baldwin had some advice for Ken: spend it all on things for himself!

Michael’s junior high school’s quiz bowl team, which he founded four years ago, is four for four in qualifying for nationals!

Coming out of the break, the Daily Double in the round was found at the bottom of FAIRLY RECENT NEWS. Ken’s to play, the scores sat at:

Ken $6,400
Vinita $3,000
Michael $600

Ken bet $3,600. His clue: After this leader’s death in 2013, Citgo facilities across the U.S. flew their flags at half-staff. Ken’s correct response put him at $10,000!

After 30, the scores sat at:
Ken $10,400
Vinita $3,600
Michael $400

DJ! round categories:
ISOTOPES
EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
I’M JUST PLUM CRAZY!
10-LETTER WORDS
IN THE BOOKSTORE
THE AUSSIE POSSE

Ken made his big move when he found the first Daily Double, under IN THE BOOKSTORE $800. Scores:

Ken $11,200
Vinita $2,800
Michael $2,800

Ken: “Uh…I might hate myself in the morning here.” He bet $8,800 though! It’s an $800 clue. That’s what you do on those second row Daily Doubles! His clue: “The Bully Pulpit” is about the golden age of journalism & the relationship of these 2 Presidents. His correct response put him at $20,000! “Clear conscience…”, said the leader.

It was Michael who got to play the final Daily Double, at the bottom of ISOTOPES! Scores:

Ken $20,000
Michael $5,200
Vinita $4,400.

Michael did what he had to do: the True Daily Double. His clue: The 60 isotope of this element has replaced radium in cancer treatment because it’s safer. Sadly, Michael went for “barium” and fell to $5,200.

Michael did get a few clues on the way in, and retook second place from Vinita before the end of the round! Meanwhile, Ken lay his buzzer down in such a fashion that was described by many as a “mic drop”.

Ken had a better description:

And a third bonus tweet, just because I thought it was so fun:

Scores going into Final:
Ken $26,800
Michael $4,800
Vinita $3,600

Before Final, Alex announced the following: “A brief word of explanation about a player who was very successful on Jeopardy! He won 19 games — second only to our ken jennings here today — Dave Madden. Due to a rather complex contract situation, he felt he could not accept our invitation to participate in this “Battle of the Decades” tournament. That’s too bad, because he will be missed.”

I believe that Dave Madden’s National History Bee & Bowl uses the same Standards & Practices people that Jeopardy! does, and that was the reason behind this “complex contract situation”.

FJ! category: 19th CENTURY POLITICS

FJ! clue: In 1884 George Pillsbury became mayor of this city

(Alex made a Pillsbury Doughboy impression. Twice.)

Vinita 3600 – 2000 = 1600
Michael 4800 – 2400 = 2400
Ken 26800 – 3200 = 23600

The last spot will be determined tomorrow. Jeanie will have coverage!

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