Note: This page contains spoilers for the August 4, 2023, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please also note that today’s game is an encore presentation of the game that originally aired on October 21, 2022.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category 19th Century Literary Characters) for Friday, August 4, 2023 (Season 39, Game 30):
This character from an 1859 novel symbolizes the fates, who in mythology spin the web of life, measure it & cut it off
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Molly Karol, a CPA from Austin, Texas (Yesterday’s total: $15,600)
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Jessica Stephens, a statistical research specialist from Nashville, Tennessee (Yesterday’s total: $28,600)
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James Fraser, a Naval aviator from Newport Beach, California (Yesterday’s total: $30,929)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Ending the first week of 2023’s encore presentation is the conclusion of the first week of last fall’s Second Chance Competition. James Fraser, Jessica Stephens, and Molly Karol did battle for the 20th of 21 spots in the 30th Tournament of Champions. Next week will feature the second week of last fall’s Second Chance, with the 21st and final spot for that tournament being determined.
Because this can be a confusing point: Yesterday’s scores are locked in and can not be bet in any way during today’s game—but, they do need to be taken into account when determining bet sizing today!
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is Madame DeFarge?
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.)
In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Madame Defarge very famously knits by the guillotine during executions; in Greek mythology, the Moirai would use yarn to measure out the life of a human and then cut it to end it.
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Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, August 4, 2023 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: American History; Team Names Via Other Names; In The Bible Book; From C To D; Shave & A Haircut; 2 Bits)
James was definitely having the best time on the signaling device in the opening 30 clues, but he was also incorrect four times. All three players had a good amount of money at the second break.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Jessica 6 correct 0 incorrect
Molly 3 correct 0 incorrect
James 5 correct 3 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Molly would love to be a fly on the wall in the Tournament of Champions.
Jessica would love to see Matt and Jonathan again, and meet Amy and Mattea.
James finds it hard to imagine a ToC berth.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Jessica 8 correct 1 incorrect
James 12 correct 4 incorrect
Molly 7 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Jessica $4,600
James $3,600
Molly $2,600
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: So You Blew It The First Time; Movie & Tv Directors; It’s All About Her; Marsupials; Why Are My Pants Wet?; Before & After)
James was rolling—and then he went for a True Daily Double, in an attempt to put the tournament away. Unfortunately, he missed, and his chances probably went with it. Jessica got the last Daily Double and went on to being in a runaway position going into Final; she had $15,300 going into Final Jeopardy! today, to Molly’s $10,600 and James’s $2,000.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Jessica 16 correct 2 incorrect
Molly 16 correct 1 incorrect
James 18 correct 7 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 8 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Jessica $15,300
Molly $10,600
James $2,000
Final Jeopardy! was a Triple Stumper—Jessica managed to finish with enough money and is going to the Tournament of Champions!
Tonight’s results:
James $2,000 – $2,000 = $0 + $30,929 = $30,929 (Who is Urah Heep)
Molly $10,600 – $10,600 = $0 + $15,600 = $15,600 (Who is ? ? ? )
Jessica $15,300 – $10,000 = $5,300 + $28,600 = $33,900 (Who is Penelope?)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) AMERICAN HISTORY $800 (clue #8)
James 1200 +1200 (Jessica 1800 Molly 2000)
2) SO YOU BLEW IT THE FIRST TIME $1200 (clue #4)
James 6800 -6800 (Jessica 6200 Molly 2600)
3) IT’S ALL ABOUT HER $1600 (clue #15, $16000 left on board)
Jessica 8600 +3500 (James 1600 Molly 4600)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 41
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
James 5 4 5 4*
Jessica 5 3
Molly 3 4
DJ! Round:
James 4 3* 2† 4 3 2 3 3 2
Jessica 5 5 4*
Molly 3 3 4
† – selection in same category as Daily Double
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Jessica 4.40
James 3.38
Molly 3.40
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 8 (0.27 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Jessica $13,400 Coryat, 16 correct, 2 incorrect, 22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57), 3/4 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
James $8,400 Coryat, 18 correct, 7 incorrect, 40.35% in first on buzzer (23/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Molly $10,600 Coryat, 16 correct, 1 incorrect, 29.82% in first on buzzer (17/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $32,400
Lach Trash: $10,000 (on 9 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $11,600
Player Statistics:
James Fraser, career statistics:
83 correct, 15 incorrect
1/2 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
38.05% in first on buzzer (86/226)
4/6 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,229)
2/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $16,000
Jessica Stephens, career statistics:
73 correct, 5 incorrect
7/8 on rebound attempts (on 19 rebound opportunities)
27.63% in first on buzzer (63/228)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $7,000)
3/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,800
Molly Karol, career statistics:
68 correct, 13 incorrect
6/8 on rebound attempts (on 21 rebound opportunities)
28.95% in first on buzzer (66/228)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $13,000)
2/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $9,750
Andy’s Thoughts:
- Today’s box score: August, 4 2023 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Jessica $15,300 ($28,600) Molly $10,600 ($15,600) James $2,000 ($30,929))
James: You might as well go all-in. (Actual bet: $2,000)
Jessica: You are guaranteed a spot in the Tournament of Champions as long as you bet no more than $7,099, as you currently have a combined total of $43,900, Molly’s best possible total is $36,800, and James’ best possible total is $34,929. (Actual bet: $10,000)
Molly: You can only surpass James for second if you are correct; you might as well go all-in. (Actual bet: $10,600)
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I got Madame Defarge in the original airing (this might have been before I started posting) and was astonished that none of the contestants did. Did none of them ever read Dickens’ “A Tale Of Two Cities”? Even though I did, I have also acquired a lot of information about literary works that I never actually read—stuff is just out there for the grazing mind; therefore, as I have mentioned before, some of my correct guesses have been due to this.
Although I did read A Tale of Two Cities in high school and saw the movie version starring Dirk Bogarde, I was unable to make the connection between spinning thread and knitting. Which is pretty bad, since my mother’s maiden name is the German word for knitter.