Today’s Final Jeopardy – October 23, 2019


Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category 1930s Novel Characters) for Wednesday, October 23, 2019 (Season 36, Episode 33):

Prior to a murder in a 1934 book, he says he hasn’t been a detective since 1927 & that his wife inherited a lumber mill

(correct response beneath the contestants)


Today’s contestants:

Nick Rodriguez, a database administrator & composer from Farmingdale, New York
Nick Rodriguez on Jeopardy!
Allyson Samiljan, a communications & special events director from Wellington, Florida
Allyson Samiljan on Jeopardy!
Martha Bordogna, an attorney from Indian Trail, North Carolina (1-day total: $16,400)
Martha Bordogna on Jeopardy!

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Correct response: Who is Nick Charles?


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More information about Final Jeopardy:

If in six months we find that the amount of prize money that Jeopardy! has given away has fallen significantly, I think that we can point to Final Jeopardy! clues like today’s. Frankly, I’d like to know who in the writer’s room got this one in order to let it through. I would also say that a significant part of the viewing audience will see “1934” + “murder” and go to Hercule Poirot without really thinking.

In Dashiell Hammett’s final novel The Thin Man, Nick Charles has retired as a detective after settling down, having married Nora (who had inherited the lumber-mill), but was pressed back into service to investigate a murder. It was later adapted into a six-part film series and a television series that aired on NBC from 1957 to 1959.


Since Alex Trebek’s diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, many community members have been raising money. The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store is as well! All proceeds from any “Keep The Faith And We’ll Win” shirt sold will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. To date, over $440 has been raised.)


Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Tonight’s results are below!

Scores going into Final:
Allyson $14,700
Nick $11,800
Martha $9,800


Tonight’s results:
Martha $9,800 – $7,000 = $2,800 (Who is Dick Tracy?)
Nick $11,800 – $7,801 = $3,999 (Who is Sam Spade)
Allyson $14,700 – $5,200 = $9,500 (Who is ?)


Allyson Samiljan, today's Jeopardy! winner (for the October 23, 2019 game.)


Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Allyson $7,400
Nick $3,800
Martha $2,200



Opening break taken after: 15 clues


Daily Double locations:
1) I BLESS THE RAINS $800 (14th pick)
Martha 1400 +800 (Nick 3800 Allyson 2000)
2) INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS $1200 (7th pick)
Allyson 9000 +2500 (Nick 5800 Martha 5000)
3) THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON $1600 (19th pick)
Nick 10600 -2000 (Allyson 14300 Martha 5400)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 66


Unplayed clues:
J! round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total $ Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 88 (2.67 per episode average), 1 Daily Double

Game Stats:
Allyson $13,400 Coryat, 16 correct, 0 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer, 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Nick $13,800 Coryat, 19 correct, 3 incorrect, 36.84% in first on buzzer, 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Martha $9,800 Coryat, 15 correct, 4 incorrect, 28.07% in first on buzzer, 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $37,000
Lach Trash: $10,200 (on 9 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $6,800


Martha Bordogna, final statistics:
37 correct, 8 incorrect
3/4 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
32.46% in first on buzzer (37/114)
1/2 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: -$2,700)
1/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,500

Allyson Samiljan, statistics to date:
16 correct, 1 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $2,500)
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $13,400

Allyson Samiljan, to win:
2 games: 47.315%
3: 22.387%
4: 10.592%
5: 5.012%
6: 2.371%
Avg. streak: 1.898 games.

Andy’s Thoughts:

  • It worked out in this case, but I felt that Allyson’s Final Jeopardy! wager was, counterintuitively, unnecessarily risky, as Nick was in a position where “bet everything” was plausible (due to Allyson having more of a lead over Nick than Nick had over Martha). Again, counterintuitively, betting more money (i.e. $8,901) would have carried less risk for Allyson.
  • A bet of $0 would have worked out really well for Martha here, especially considering her position in the game.

Contestant photo credit: jeopardy.com

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5 Comments on "Today’s Final Jeopardy – October 23, 2019"

  1. Andy, it’s ironic that you mentioned Hercule Poirot, because that was who I came up with. Your right, as soon as I saw 1934 that is the only detective character I could think of that fit that time frame. I have heard of the Thin Man, and have seen some of the movies on TCM, but I never would of thought of that being the answer in a million years.

  2. Emma Austin | October 24, 2019 at 8:48 am |

    Hi! I know there was this question (or should I say answer?) last night: “A Louisville church displays almost half of the skeleton of St. Magnus, said to be a martyred one of these Roman legionary officers.”
    Does anyone know if someone or who answered it? Thanks in advance!

    • Andre responded incorrectly, Martha followed with the correct response. J! Archive is the best source for information like this because it displays grids with all the revealed clues for both rounds. You can see who rang in and what they said (plus answer for triple stumpers) by floating over the clue.

  3. Beth Zimmerman | October 24, 2019 at 10:41 am |

    Hercule Poiret was the first thing that entered my mind, but I knew he wasn’t married. My mind was racing and I was getting mad at myself because mysteries are my thing. “Retired, rich wife”. Nick Charles, I wasn’t positive but it was my answer.

Comments are closed.