Warning: This page contains spoilers for the January 2, 2023, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Historic Crimes) for Monday, January 2, 2023 (Season 39, Game 81):
Saying it was stolen by Napoleon, self-styled Italian patriot Vincenzo Peruggia took it in 1911
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Chris Blair, a development operations manager from Newbury Park, California
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Denise Carlon, an attorney from Seaside Heights, New Jersey
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Ray Lalonde, a scenic artist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada (12-day total: $354,300)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Welcome to 2023! Ken Jennings still hosts—he still has quite a few weeks left hosting this season—and Ray Lalonde is still champion! There’s been a bit of a break for Ray since his first twelve games; it will be interesting to see how much the layoff hurts (or even potentially helps) his game. That being said, I’m sure this week’s challengers will both have been thrilled not to see Cris Pannullo and worried when Ray was introduced to them as a 12-day champion at the beginning of the taping day. Today’s challengers are Denise Carlon and Chris Blair, who hope to be in the perfect position to take advantage of any potential rustiness that Ray might have.
Back to the “Welcome to 2023!” bit. I’d like to make a couple of Jeopardy!-related predictions for the year:
- I predict that at least one 3-time champion will make this fall’s Tournament of Champions field, in order to fill the field to a reasonable number;
- At some point in 2023, Reddit will collectively lose their mind about an upcoming contestant, anoint that contestant as the next super-champion without that contestant even having played a game, and then be wrong about that contestant reaching super-champion status.
PSA: The best way to keep COVID-19 at bay (and keep Jeopardy! producing new episodes) is for everybody to get their vaccinations as soon as they can, including any boosters as recommended. When wearing a mask, please ensure that your mask covers both your nose and your mouth.
Are you going on the show and looking for information about how to bet in Final Jeopardy? Check out my new Betting Strategy 101 page!
(Content continues below)
Correct response: What is the Mona Lisa?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2023 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
Interestingly, the Mona Lisa wasn’t all that famous of a painting—it was well-regarded by French art critics, but certainly not the massive phenomenon it is today—before its 1911 heist. But Peruggia changed all of that overnight. The media firestorm that kicked off when it was realized that the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece had been stolen instantly catapulted its status. While the thieves had gotten away with stealing the painting, the media circus ruined Peruggia’s hopes of selling it. Peruggia’s 1914 attempt to sell it in Italy led to his arrest and the painting’s return to Paris.
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Proceeds from the sale of the “Doctor Oz’s Fast-Acting Snake Oil Elixir” T-shirt are being donated to The Trevor Project:
Game Recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Giving You Some Metals; The Doctor Will See You Now; Let There Be Frogs; Grand Ole Opry Members; 3 Letters, Starts With “A”; History Comes Alive With Erik Larson)
The first 15 clues saw Denise jump out to a lead, but both her and Chris went to the $200 level, leading to Ray regaining control each time. The Daily Double stayed hidden for a long while, and when Denise found it, she only bet $2,000. She did hold a big lead after 30 clues, but would it be big enough for Double Jeopardy?
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Denise 5 correct 1 incorrect
Ray 6 correct 1 incorrect
Chris 3 correct 0 incorrect
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Denise 13 correct 1 incorrect
Ray 11 correct 2 incorrect
Chris 4 correct 0 incorrect
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: From The New Testament To The Map; Writers’ Middle Names; State Governors; The Chase; Sacrificial Roles; Friends ‘Til The Ends)
The bad news for Denise: Ray found both Daily Doubles. The good news for Denise: Ray missed both Daily Doubles. However, the 24 clues in between saw Ray dominate, picking up 8 clues in a row at one point. Ray got clue 28, 29, and bet small on the Clue 30 Daily Double to keep the lead going into Final. Scores going into Final were Ray at $16,100, Denise at $16,000, and Chris at $8,200.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Ray 25 correct 4 incorrect
Denise 20 correct 2 incorrect
Chris 10 correct 0 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 12 (0 today).
The fact that Ray kept the lead was crucial—both Ray and Denise got Final, and Ray bet big to become a 13-day champion!
Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Monday, January 2, 2023 Jeopardy! by the numbers:
Scores going into Final:
Ray $16,100
Denise $16,000
Chris $8,200
Tonight’s results:
Chris $8,200 – $0 = $8,200 (What is The shroud of turin)
Denise $16,000 + $16,000 = $32,000 (What is the Mona Lisa?)
Ray $16,100 + $16,000 = $32,100 (What is the Mona Lisa?) (13-day total: $386,400)
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Denise $8,800
Ray $3,800
Chris $3,000
Opening break taken after: 15 clues
Daily Double locations:
1) GIVING YOU SOME METALS $400 (clue #25)
Denise 5800 +2000 (Ray 3400 Chris 2200)
2) FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT TO THE MAP $1200 (clue #5)
Ray 5000 -4000 (Denise 10800 Chris 3000)
3) FRIENDS ‘TIL THE ENDS $2000 (clue #30, $0 left on board)
Ray 17400 -1300 (Denise 16000 Chris 8200)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: -53
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Ray 5 5 4 5 4 5 4 3 3 2 5
Denise 4 3 1 1 5 2 3 1 2 2 2*
Chris 3 1 4
DJ! Round:
Ray 5 4 3* 5 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 4 5*
Denise 1 2 1 3 5 1 2
Chris 2 1 2 1 2 4 3
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Ray 3.89
Denise 2.28
Chris 2.30
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 12 (0.15 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Ray $21,400 Coryat, 25 correct, 4 incorrect, 47.37% in first on buzzer (27/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Denise $14,400 Coryat, 20 correct, 2 incorrect, 35.09% in first on buzzer (20/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Chris $8,200 Coryat, 10 correct, 0 incorrect, 14.04% in first on buzzer (8/57), 2/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $44,000
Lach Trash: $3,000 (on 3 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $7,000
Ray Lalonde, career statistics:
331 correct, 37 incorrect
24/27 on rebound attempts (on 46 rebound opportunities)
41.70% in first on buzzer (309/741)
16/19 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $39,800)
11/13 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $20,338
Denise Carlon, career statistics:
21 correct, 2 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
35.09% in first on buzzer (20/57)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $2,000)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,400
Chris Blair, career statistics:
10 correct, 1 incorrect
2/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
14.04% in first on buzzer (8/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $8,200
Ray Lalonde, to win:
14 games: 78.706%
15: 61.946%
16: 48.755%
17: 38.373%
18: 30.201%
Avg. streak: 16.696 games.
Today’s interviews:
Chris survived a brain tumor.
Denise picked her wedding venue based on charcuterie in a canoe.
Ray spent time at a museum in the Paris sewer.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- I hate to say it, but Denise needed to play more aggressively than she did in order to take Ray down; going to the top row and conservative Daily Double betting leaves you open to be overtaken at the end, just as she was.
- Ray is now tied with Jonathan Fisher for 28th all-time in terms of the number of correct responses given on the show (331).
- Today’s box score: January 2, 2023 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Ray $16,100 Denise $16,000 Chris $8,200)
Ray: Standard cover bet over Denise is $15,901. (Actual bet: $16,000)
Denise: Bet at least $401 to cover Chris. I subscribe to the maxim “bet as little as possible”, but $7,799 is probably a safe upper bound. (Actual bet: $16,000)
Chris: Just in case Denise bets small, you should bet between $7,401 and $7,999. (Actual bet: $0)
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I remember the story, but not where I know it from?? Maybe a dim recollection of a reshowing of the old You Are There episode🤷
I knew it right away because of having seen it on a PBS airing of a ‘Secrets of the Dead’ episode earlier this year. That episode first aired in 2014, so you may have seen it on that anytime in the last 8 years.
Gotta love starting off the new year with the correct answer. First thing that came to my mind, but not from actual knowledge. Have to feel that, if people don’t overthink it, all the contestants should come up with it.
Same here. Famous art work by an Italian that could easily be stolen. The statue of David would be much more difficult to steal.
I agree 100%. Good starting at 1 and 0.
Before I scrolled down, I did think of a painting that was stolen, then I eventually thought of the Mona Lisa painting. I’m batting a 1000% on the first day of Jeopardy! in this new year.
The Cheez-it Citrus Bowl might affect Jeopardy in the Chicago area. The game is scheduled to end by 3:30 but we’ll see.
At least we got to see Double Jeopardy.
It did. Checked my DVR Tuesday morning, at least half of Monday’s game was preempted by LSU’s pounding of Purdue in the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl.
I do know that MNF tonight will affect Jeopardy watching in the SF Bay Area. There is no information in the Guide when tonight’s episode will be shown, if ever. Darn.
Any relation between this question and the recent Glass Onion movie? 😆
The Mona Lisa painted by da Vinci is pretty famous. I remember playing a case on this in where in time is Carmen sandiego. Pretty sure the smile was stolen from Mona Lisa at that time. Happy to see Denise and ray getting final right.
I figured it had to be art related, and almost went with “The Scream”, but realized I didn’t know enough about art to make an educated guess. I went with the entire country of France instead. I was closer with “The Scream”.
A rare instance in which a blind guess was correct. Just seeing the category of Historic Crimes, I thought has to be the Mona Lisa.
Good to see Ray continue his streak. Would like to see him enter the rarified air of 20 plus wins.
If I just had to guess totally off the category of Historic Crimes, I would have said the Lindbergh kidnapping.
Excellent choice for a blind guess in this category.
Watching Ray close out a game is like watching Tom Brady at the end of a football game. If you leave the door open even the least little bit, he’s going to beat you.
I got this one right away. When I was very young the Mona Lisa was brought to Washington DC and I have a very faint memory of seeing it. The painting also makes an appearance in the movie The Glass Onion.
Coincidentally, that Mona Lisa showing in Washington DC began on a January 8th! [January 8th was part of the FJ clue just 3 episodes back.]
I was thinking about final jeopardy theory vs super champions with the 2nd chance tournaments a thing now. Is it better to go all in when 2nd to bank on yourself and if they get it right you might get invited still.
I don’t believe the show used “score after Final” when they talked about why players got invited to the first competition, so I don’t see why they’d start to use it now.
Indeed, incentivizing players to make their FJ bets with second chance in mind is presumably something the show would want to avoid.