Warning: This page contains spoilers for the April 17, 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 English Literature) for Monday, April 17, 2023 (Season 39, Game 156):
It says, “The mind is its own place, & in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. What matter where, if I be still the same”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Madeleine McKenna, an attorney from Los Angeles, California |
Daniel Ciarrocchi, a writer from Baltimore, Maryland |
Toni Van Kampen, a retired systems analyst from Mount Prospect, Illinois |
Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
The biggest question on everyone’s minds today: where is Ben Chan? Thankfully, we do have an answer. According to a news report from WLUK, Ben’s local TV affiliate, Ben will be returning on Monday, May 15 in an attempt to win his fourth game “due to an ill-timed illness”. Ben becomes the fourth player in the Sky’s the Limit Era (after Priscilla Ball in 2009, Claudia Corriere in 2015, and Zach Newkirk in 2020) to be unable to return immediately to defend their title, having to return at a later date. Your three new players today are L.A. attorney Madeleine McKenna, Baltimore writer Daniel Ciarrocchi (the surprise contestant from someone paying attention to the previews on Friday), and Chicago-area retiree Toni Van Kampen. (One further consequence of this: you’ll also see Ben’s statistics in the sidebar for the next month. Looking back, I quite enjoyed Zach’s “from the sidebar” meme in the fall of 2020.)
In general, this is a rare, but not unprecedented occurrence on the show, and it’s completely understandable to me why a player will not be able to return. However: it really bothers me as a Jeopardy! fan that the show’s Preview at the end of Friday’s episode said that Ben would be returning today to defend his title. Under Harry Friedman, I could absolutely trust when the show’s producers made statements on the show or other media. Since then, though, I have been burned so many times by inaccuracies from the show and its producers that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to trust them when they make statements.
One user on Reddit this morning speculated that this situation was caused by the show wanting to maintain an illusion that Jeopardy! is essentially a same-day production. In my opinion, it’s an outdated conceit that only serves to treat its audience as though they’re of a lower intelligence level than they actually are. (In other words: We’re not stupid. We know it’s not live, or same-day. Stop trying to keep an illusion together that doesn’t exist.)
Meanwhile, we are three weeks out from the debut of Jeopardy! Masters on ABC primetime. Some gameplay tweaks are being hinted at, but not announced for Masters. In order to be prepared to provide the best possible coverage and showcase Jeopardy! in the best light, it would be nice to hear what those potential gameplay tweaks are beforehand. (Otherwise, my overall enjoyment of the show might be clouded by having to change my game-tracking mechanisms on the fly while trying to actually watch it.)
On to better news: I’d like to thank everyone who contributed last week to the Gamers vs. MS charity livestream relay for MS Canada. With your help, over $30,000 was raised over the 10 days of the relay, and my portion of that raised nearly $400. Thank you all so much again! It will absolutely help the fight against multiple sclerosis.
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 Paradise Lost?
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.)
The quote “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. What matter where, if I be still the same” comes from John Milton’s famous work Paradise Lost.
I could talk more about Paradise Lost, but I feel it’s more important to go off on a tangent today. It seems to me that “The mind…can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven” is a very poignant quotation for anyone suffering from depression and anxiety, especially for those who struggle with cognitive distortions. In so many cases, negative thinking can essentially turn heaven into one’s personal hell, or positive thinking can turn a hellish situation into heaven.
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 & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Monday, April 17, 2023 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Texas State Symbols; In The Bookstore; Body Language; Measure For Measure; Non-Bomb Rom Coms; Ends In Silent “E”)
All three players had a good round—it certainly helped that Ben’s dominance on the buzzer from the past three shows wasn’t there to hinder our new players. Toni doubled up on the Daily Double just before the first break and had a strong back half of the round to lead after 30.
Statistics at the first break (14 clues):
Madeleine 5 correct 0 incorrect
Daniel 5 correct 1 incorrect
Toni 4 correct 1 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Madeleine studied abroad in Ghana in college and went on safari.
Daniel would say “This! Is! Nemeny!” as a child when trying to emulate Johnny Gilbert.
Toni volunteers at O’Hare Airport.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Toni 10 correct 2 incorrect
Madeleine 10 correct 1 incorrect
Daniel 7 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Toni $5,200
Madeleine $4,600
Daniel $3,200
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: The 12th Century; World Geography; 3-Syllable Verbs; Alphabetically First; TV Before & After; Gods & Myths)
The Daily Doubles went to Madeleine and Daniel in this round; both saw their scores fall, though, as a result. However, Daniel didn’t let the miss get him down, he bounced back with a pair of $2,000 gets—one a rebound from a Toni incorrect response—to lead going into Final Jeopardy!
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Daniel 15 correct 3 incorrect
Toni 17 correct 5 incorrect
Madeleine 15 correct 4 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 25 (2 today).
Scores going into Final:
Daniel $8,800
Toni $8,000
Madeleine $3,800
Only Daniel was correct in Final—he becomes the new Nemeny! champion! He’ll be back tomorrow to defend.
Tonight’s results:
Madeleine $3,800 – $3,799 = $1 (What is Canterbury Tales)
Toni $8,000 – $1,000 = $7,000 (What is Ode to the Portuguese?)
Daniel $8,800 + $7,201 = $16,001 (What is Paradise Lost?) (1-day total: $16,001)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Opening break taken after: 14 clues
Daily Double locations:
1) IN THE BOOKSTORE $600 (clue #14)
Toni 1200 +1200 (Daniel 2400 Madeleine 3000)
2) GODS & MYTHS $1600 (clue #19)
Madeleine 7000 -2000 (Toni 8800 Daniel 4000)
3) ALPHABETICALLY FIRST $1600 (clue #21, $13600 left on board)
Daniel 5200 -2000 (Toni 8800 Madeleine 5000)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 33
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Toni 1 1 1 3*
Daniel 3 5 4 4 5
Madeleine 3 4 3 2 2
DJ! Round:
Toni 1 1 1 2 3
Daniel 2 1 3 2 3 2 4*
Madeleine 2 4 5 1 3 4 5 4* 3
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Daniel 3.17
Toni 1.56
Madeleine 3.21
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: THE 12th CENTURY $2000 GODS & MYTHS $2000
Total Left On Board: $4,000
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 25 (0.16 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Daniel $10,800 Coryat, 15 correct, 3 incorrect, 29.09% in first on buzzer (16/55), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Toni $7,400 Coryat, 17 correct, 5 incorrect, 34.55% in first on buzzer (19/55), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Madeleine $5,800 Coryat, 15 correct, 4 incorrect, 27.27% in first on buzzer (15/55), 2/3 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $24,000
Lach Trash: $11,000 (on 9 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $15,000
Player Statistics:
Toni Van Kampen, career statistics:
17 correct, 6 incorrect
1/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
34.55% in first on buzzer (19/55)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,200)
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $7,400
Daniel Ciarrocchi, career statistics:
16 correct, 3 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
29.09% in first on buzzer (16/55)
0/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: -$2,000)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $10,800
Madeleine McKenna, career statistics:
15 correct, 5 incorrect
2/3 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
27.27% in first on buzzer (15/55)
0/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: -$2,000)
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $5,800
Daniel Ciarrocchi, to win:
2 games: 31.934%
3: 10.198%
4: 3.256%
5: 1.040%
6: 0.332%
Avg. streak: 1.469 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- As a result of some reader feedback I received recently, I have chosen to rearrange things slightly in the recap to craft more of a game narrative.
- Today’s box score: April 17, 2023 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Daniel $8,800 Toni $8,000 Madeleine $3,800)
Toni: Limit your bet to $399 to keep Madeleine locked out. (Actual bet: $1,000)
Daniel: Standard cover bet over Toni is $7,201. (Actual bet: $7,201)
Madeleine: Limit your bet to $2,199—that way, you stay ahead of Daniel if he is incorrect. (Actual bet: $3,799)
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Rebound! Got it in 1 🙂
Hmm… Paradise Lost could be a good blind guess for the English Lit category🤔
That was my guess as well – absolutely nothing but a guess – but who needs to know 🙂
I guessed Dante’s Inferno. I guess that’s more a poem than ‘literature’. And oh, more Italian than English. But other than that…..
Instant get. But, as Satan says it…did John Milton really believe in “the power of positive thinking” since he puts this comment in the mouth of his anti-hero? Just wondering? Also, thanks for info about Ben so now we know he has recovered and will be back.
I’m curious how the layoff and having been ill will affect Ben’s chances of putting together a fourth or fifth win. I hope it doesn’t. I’d love to see him in the ToC!
Andy: Two unrelated (to each other) thoughts:
First, thanks for your comment that makes the quote from Milton relevant to today’s reality of emotional and mental health. Sometimes we need to be reminded that Jeopardy! is a just a game show.
Second, it gets under my skin when the host pretends that taping is in real time and says stupid things like “Enjoy your Fourth of July celebration tomorrow!” or similar nonsense. I also think that the wardrobe changes are generally unnecessary: We all know that the hosts and the contestants have more than one suit, shirt or dress. It’s not a fashion show. OK, end of Monday morning rant.
I guess we all have our differences in what irks us. I don’t mind the feigning of it being live nor the opportunity for people having multiple opportunities to show off their personalities in their sartorial choices. I know that I would.
Same here. I prefer the illusion that it is separate days even though I am well aware that it is not. I believe I have always felt this way, but especially nowadays when we can binge watch stuff — if the champ wore the same thing as the day before, I’d kinda feel like I should have been able to watch the subsequent one right after the prior one.
Plus how would they announce the champ isn’t coming back that Friday as the show is ending?
Ha! Same score as Ben’s first win 🙂
Again maybe because I’m used to it since I’m a wrestling fan I had zero issues saying Ben would be back Monday at the end of Friday’s show. Sure they could have left off Monday’s preview or just showed 3 new contestants for Monday and left the fans with even more questions as to why Ben won’t be on Monday. I do 100% agree about not knowing about any changes being made to the masters tournament as all these tiny changes in tournaments has being a tad ridiculous.
become not being… stupid auto correct
The credibility of Jeopardy’s pronouncements is particularly crucial at this time; as I type this, the Writers Guild of America has just voted overwhelmingly (97.9% on a 78.8% turnout, both records) to authorize a strike, two weeks before the current contract with the major movie and television producers expires. As you mentioned on Twitter a couple of weeks back, the show apparently doesn’t have this entire season (nor Masters, for that matter) in the can, and no upcoming tape dates have been publicized.
I like the tweaks to the post format; it eliminates the redundancy of having to write the pre-Final scores into the Double Jeopardy! narrative. I would also submit that the “Opening break taken after: [x] clues” now at the top of the miscellaneous game stats is now redundant, as that information is conveyed with the correct/incorrect numbers at that point in the recap section.
I don’t know that the correct/incorrect numbers would make that redundant. There are questions when nobody rings in, and the occasional change of an incorrect ruling during the break, so the numbers might not always add up to the correct number of clues before the break.
All that said, I do like the new format. I had some of the same concerns that had been addressed with the reformatting, and the flow seems much better and more logical now. Thank you for taking the time to adjust, Andy. I think I must have some Canadian in me, because I thought it would be impolite to tell you how to format your recaps and so never brought up the items that I wished were different.
I have a list of things to discuss, so I will number them.
Yeah, I don’t get why Jeopardy thinks they can craft this same-day narrative given how the show’s audience is intellectuals. People like that one guy who complained to Jeff Probst about “players having their phone on Survivor” (they were on Twitter as the episodes aired… like no [bleep], Sherlock, it was filmed months ago) don’t watch Jeopardy, because it’s too high-level for them.
Loving the new order of things. It flows more naturally.
The whole “Nemeny” thing was adorable and made me like Daniel quite a bit. I’m glad that both Ken and you leaned into that!
Something about today’s game felt weird. I think it might be that they kept picking from the top two rows instead of playing aggressively. I presume this and Daniel’s low odds to repeat are related.
That quote from Paradise Lost is so true – it’s all in how you frame a situation. In my personal experience, I feel a lot better when I can think positively. When I feel overwhelmed by negativity (including by trolls online), that becomes impossible. So not only do we need to think positively, we need to treat other people positively too. (All this said, I did not come up with it, as I have not read Paradise Lost [I probably should].)
First I must congratulate you on a very informative and insightful web site. I knew of Ben’s situation and return because I attend quite a few tapings of jeopardy. I also know details of the up coming jeopardy masters and really would like to say something to anyone who would listen but I’m bound to secrecy by an NDA we’re required to sign. Nonetheless I’m really looking forward to your commentary of those future games to see what you have to say. Best wishes always.
I’m kind of in awe that Daniel was able to pull “Cadmium”.
Tough break for Ben to have to go against a returning champ in the important fourth game. Tough break for that champ as well, I suppose.
I missed the beginning so though maybe they had said something about Ben but guess not. Why wouldn’t they say something then? I thought maybe they aired the wrong episode.
Oh oops, I guess they did.