Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Names in African-American History) for Monday, November 8, 2021 (Season 38, Game 41):
He was Virginia’s 1st African-American Congressman, whose grandnephew, a famous poet, used his last name as a first name
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s contestants:
Elena Passarello, a writer & college professor from Corvallis, Oregon
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Dane Reighard, an editor from Los Angeles, California
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Kate Kohn, a communications manager from Washington, D.C. (1-day total: $20,000)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts: Ken Jennings becomes the third host in Season 38 today, as Mayim Bialik’s commitments to her show Call me Kat prevented her from taping this week’s episodes. November 8 will always be one of the saddest days in the Jeopardy! calendar, as today is the 1-year anniversary of the death of Alex Trebek.
Kate Kohn won on Friday after a sole solve in Final Jeopardy; back in August, one of her friends had a tweet get noticed in the Jeopardy! community because she had been scheduled to tape on August 20, the day Mike Richards resigned as host.
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(Content continues below)
Correct response: Who is John Mercer Langston?
More information about Final Jeopardy: (The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2021 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
John Mercer Langston became the first African-American Congressman from Virginia, winning an election in the late 1880s. Unfortunately, he was only able to serve the last six months of his term, because his opponent spent 18 months unsuccessfully contesting the results. He is the great uncle of famed African-American poet Langston Hughes.
Depending on the whims of the Jeopardy! judges today, I’m not sure how hard this clue will play. If they accept just “Langston” on this clue, this will be much easier than if they require “John Langston” or “Mercer Langston” (citations exist for both.) Ideally for the contestants, this would be a case where the judges would specify in advance that they want full names—if every contestant gives a full name, it would be a sign that this warning was given. (This is an advance warning that has been given to contestants in the past in Final Jeopardy.)
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Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Tonight’s results are below!
Scores going into Final:
Dane $19,600
Elena $14,000
Kate $3,800
Tonight’s results:
Kate $3,800 + $3,800 = $7,600 (Who is ?? Langston?)
Elena $14,000 + $6,322 = $20,322 (Who is Langston?)
Dane $19,600 + $8,400 = $28,000 (Who is Langston?) (1-day total: $28,000)
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Dane $6,600
Kate $4,600
Elena $4,000
Opening break taken after: 15 clues
Daily Double locations:
1) INVENTION $800 (clue #24)
Kate 3000 +1000 (Dane 5400 Elena 2800)
2) NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS $800 (clue #23)
Dane 19800 +4000 (Kate 3800 Elena 10400)
3) THE CITY HAS FALLEN $1600 (clue #24, $7600 left on board)
Dane 23800 -3000 (Kate 3800 Elena 10400)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 41
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 4 (0.10 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Dane $19,400 Coryat, 25 correct, 3 incorrect, 45.61% in first on buzzer (26/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Elena $14,000 Coryat, 16 correct, 2 incorrect, 28.07% in first on buzzer (16/57), 2/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Kate $3,600 Coryat, 12 correct, 2 incorrect, 22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $37,000
Lach Trash: $7,200 (on 6 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $9,800
Kate Kohn, career statistics:
33 correct, 3 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
28.95% in first on buzzer (33/114)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,000)
2/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $8,900
Dane Reighard, career statistics:
26 correct, 3 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
45.61% in first on buzzer (26/57)
1/2 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,000)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $19,400
Elena Passarello, career statistics:
17 correct, 2 incorrect
2/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
28.07% in first on buzzer (16/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,000
Dane Reighard, to win:
2 games: 61.787%
3: 38.176%
4: 23.588%
5: 14.574%
6: 9.005%
Avg. streak: 2.617 games.
Today’s interviews:
Elena won a screaming contest at a Tennessee Williams festival.
Dane got to study in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Kate wants to use her winnings to commission an oil painting of herself.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- Per an article today in the USA Today, Ken’s hosting stint will last three weeks, followed by a tournament which begins on November 29, is hosted by Mayim Bialik, and has yet to be specifically disclosed or promoted by the show. Rumors are that it is a Professors’ Tournament, but I must reiterate that nothing has been disclosed by the show yet.
- Per the same article, Ken was not told that today’s episode was airing on the first anniversary of Alex’s death. However, an “Alex Trebek, July 22, 1940—November 8, 2020, You are missed every day.” title card was shown at the end of the episode.
- Under the tiebreaker rules, I think that it was a terrible idea for Dane to bet for the tie. Trailing contestants should take note for tomorrow.
Contestant photo credit: jeopardy.com
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I assume ‘langston’ will be enough of an answer. It was my amswer. And honestly, if I’d ever heard of him, I don’t remember.
I agree. Unless there are other black congressmen in Virginia during Reconstruction with the last name Langston.
Andy,
Yes, I am quite aware of the significance of this date, since it has been one year since Alex passed, but for me, and nine others, it is also the 4-year anniversary of when we met Alex on the set for the taping of our respective shows, Wednesday, November 8, 2017, which aired February 5 – 9, 2018. And, due to the flow of the calendar, we are one of the last groups who could make a claim like that; this is also a 5-year anniversary for anyone who taped a show on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (provided that was not disrupted by Election day that year), but then you have to go back another 5 or 6 years to find a similar group. My son had first told me of Alex’s passing a year ago, but it took me another day to realize the anniversary with the taping date 3 years earlier, which made the date doubly sad for me.
Finally glad things seemed to have settled down, after quite an adventurous and tumultous year.
Dane could be around for awhile. I like Mayim but Ken’s quick wit and humor give him the edge to me.
Come on. I taught the poetry of Langston Hughes, so I got the “Langston” part. But there is no way the grandfather is well-known enough to ask for his Christian names as well!
I so missed Ken! He makes it fun and entertaining and it is like he is rooting for all. To me he feels like a natural. Please bring him back as the permanent host!!
Add my vote for Ken. I like Mayim, but Ken just takes it to a higher level for me.
Andy, you recently said “Tomorrow’s contestants should make note of this and adjust their strategy accordingly” and today you said “Under the tiebreaker rules, I think that it was a terrible idea for Dane to bet for the tie. Trailing contestants should take note for tomorrow.” I had no idea that soon upcoming contestants are allowed to watch the tapings coming just before theirs . Do they see it as a live audience, on monitors, or what? Since all episodes taped are not aired until weeks later, I guess any NDAs they sign as contestants also covers other episodes they saw while not actually participating?
Lisa, ten contestants are called for each day of taping (usually plus two ‘locals’ from the LA area, in case someone is unable to come in from out of town). Names are randomly drawn to play in each game, and until you are called to play, you sit and watch the tapings, in a separate, sequestered section of the audience, until you are called to play. Anyone who has not played the first three games is then taken to lunch at the studio commissary, along with the “Wednesday” winner, so that, again, all the remaining contestants are isolated from outside contact with friends or family. Once you are finished taping, you then sign a waiver attesting to your play on the show and your earnings, and then you are free to leave or stay and watch any remaining shows for that day (but you are then on your own for lunch).
Thanks, Marty. I knew that ten contestants are called for each day of taping, but not the rest.