Warning: This page contains spoilers for the December 27, 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 Americana) for Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (Season 40, Game 78):
After “Black Monday” in 1987, sculptor Arturo Di Modica put a statue of one of these in Manhattan to symbolize strength & power
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Tammy Groner, a legal assistant from Hamilton, New Jersey
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Greg Czaja, a cardiologist from San Diego, California
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Ben Hebert, a shipping manager from Chicago, Illinois
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
There’s still a chance for two Chicago players to reach the final of this week of Second Chance after Chicago’s Christopher Pennant won yesterday. Today, we see Chicago’s Ben Hebert take on San Diego’s Greg Czaja and New Jersey’s Tammy Groner. Ben and Greg had strong games against some of this upcoming ToC’s top seeds, Cris Pannullo and Ben Chan respectively, while Tammy put up over $20,000 going into Final Jeopardy in her first appearance and did not win. It’s definitely going to be an interesting matchup!
Another reminder that I have started a Sunday mailbag column where I answer fan & viewer questions regarding the show. If you have a question, feel free to send it to mailbag@thejeopardyfan.com!
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: What is a bull?
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.)
After 1987’s Black Monday sent Wall Street into a spiral, Di Modica, feeling indebted towards the United States after what it had done for his career, decided on a sculpture, titled Charging Bull. The now-famous bronze bull took over two years to create, and it was delivered surreptitiously just before dawn on December 15, 1989. While the New York Stock Exchange had the sculpture removed quickly, public pressure quickly mounted, and the sculpture was installed at Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan on December 20. The bull, being the symbol of financial optimism, is one of the iconic modern images of New York City.
I think this will play as a straightforward Final Jeopardy clue for our three players, even though nobody in our game today is close to New York City. (Tammy, being from Hamilton Township, is closer to Pennsylvania than New York.)
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Here are our current featured items, including our new Masters Season 3 Player List T-shirt:
Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Wednesday, December 27, 2023 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: 2023 Sports Highlight Reel; Presidents Not Presidenting; In My Ceilings; Vámonos A Mexico!; Poetry About Prose; Rhyming Tree Pairs)
Though Ben had more correct responses in the first half of the opening round with six, it was Greg who led after 15 clues thanks to the Daily Double. In the second half of the round, the lead changed four times, but Greg led by $800 after 30 clues, by virtue of having 0 incorrect responses.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Greg 5 correct 0 incorrect
Ben 6 correct 2 incorrect
Tammy 2 correct 0 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Tammy got her invitation to return on Halloween.
Greg had a dream about being invited the night before it happened.
Ben would like to say hello to the Twilight fans again.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Greg 9 correct 0 incorrect
Ben 13 correct 3 incorrect
Tammy 6 correct 0 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Greg $6,400
Ben $5,600
Tammy $3,200
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Bays; Bible Quotes; 12-Letter Science Words; Reporting The News; Pop Culture Before & After; “Ob”vious Responses)
Our turning point today came on clue #5, as Greg picked up a $10,400 True Daily Double! For the second day running, the Daily Doubles were found back-to-back, and Greg made a more measured bet on the second one. No matter, though, Greg cruised to a runaway lead after Double Jeopardy over the final 24 clues of the round.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Greg 21 correct 1 incorrect
Ben 20 correct 5 incorrect
Tammy 12 correct 1 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 0 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Greg $29,000
Ben $11,600
Tammy $8,800
Final Jeopardy went 3-for-3 today as Greg advances to the finals!
Tonight’s results:
Tammy $8,800 + $0 = $8,800 (What is a bull?)
Ben $11,600 + $6,001 = $17,601 (What is a bull?)
Greg $29,000 + $0 = $29,000 (What is a bull?) (Finalist)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) IN MY CEILINGS $600 (clue #8)
Greg 1800 +1800 (Ben 1000 Tammy 1000)
2) 12-LETTER SCIENCE WORDS $1600 (clue #5)
Greg 10400 +10400 (Ben 4000 Tammy 4400)
3) BIBLE QUOTES $1200 (clue #6, $28000 left on board)
Greg 20800 +3000 (Ben 4000 Tammy 4400)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 214
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Ben 3 4 5 3
Greg 4 5 3*
Tammy 3
DJ! Round:
Ben
Greg 4 3 4* 3*
Tammy 4 2
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Greg 3.71
Ben 3.75
Tammy 3.00
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 0 (0.00 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Greg $17,200 Coryat, 21 correct, 1 incorrect, 28.07% in first on buzzer (16/57), 3/3 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Ben $11,600 Coryat, 20 correct, 5 incorrect, 43.86% in first on buzzer (25/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
Tammy $8,800 Coryat, 12 correct, 1 incorrect, 19.30% in first on buzzer (11/57), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $37,600
Lach Trash: $8,200 (on 7 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $8,200
Lead Changes: 6
Times Tied: 0
Player Statistics:
Ben Hebert, career statistics:
42 correct, 9 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
42.11% in first on buzzer (48/114)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
1/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $12,000
Greg Czaja, career statistics:
38 correct, 5 incorrect
3/3 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
29.82% in first on buzzer (34/114)
3/4 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $12,000)
2/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,200
Tammy Groner, career statistics:
37 correct, 2 incorrect
3/4 on rebound attempts (on 9 rebound opportunities)
28.07% in first on buzzer (32/114)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $3,400)
1/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,000
Andy’s Thoughts:
- Greg had one of the best-played games I’ve seen all season. Kudos!
- I did enjoy Ken’s note that it was the King James version; to me, that is a sufficient compromise position from the Hebrews controversy of last season.
- I am enjoying the increased willingness of players to take big swings on Daily Doubles. It definitely feels like contestants are learning that Daily Doubles are, on average, easier than Final Jeopardy, and it makes sense to take the chance on the Daily Double.
- Today’s box score: December 27, 2023 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Greg $29,000 Ben $11,600 Tammy $8,800)
Ben: Standard cover bet over Tammy is $6,001. (Actual bet: $6,001)
Greg: You can bet up to $5,799 and enjoy your win. There’s no real need to make a bet here, though! (Actual bet: $0)
Tammy: You can safely bet between $2,801 and $3,200 in the battle for second place with Ben; this range defends against a $0 bet from Ben while also keeps ahead of him if he bets to cover and is incorrect. (Actual bet: $0)
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I am from the New York area, and got this one right away. Interesting side note: there was another statue, called “Fearless Girl”, of a girl defiantly facing the charging bull. This was mired in controversy, moved around a lot, and I’m not sure where it is now.
You beat me to mentioning ‘Fearless Girl’ with her hands on her hips which also was put there without permission – just showed up one day. And yes, even though I didn’t know the history behind the bull statue, I did think the answer was straight forward.
As far as I know, “Fearless Girl” is presently in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Broad Street. Anyone know otherwise?
Fearless Girl is still on Broad. Passed by her a few weeks ago.
Hi RedRose, I am also from the New York area. I was born on Long Island. We moved to Chicago when I was a kid for my dad’s job. Today’s Final! clue seemed pretty straightforward. I’ve seen several online photos of the Charging Bull sculpture. And the Fearless Girl, too. Happy New Year!
While I was reading the answer, I could see the bull in my mind though I wasn’t 100% certain.
That spot is an obligatory photo stop, often with a line to wait, for all tourists to NYC.
Although I’ve been in NYC often, I’ve never seen the bull ‘in person’, but its image is ubiquitous. Also, have you noticed that this week’s Finals all have an animal theme—an elephant, a mouse, and now a bull? I wonder if the zoo will continue tomorrow.
DD – and you’ll notice some take the photo from behind – the bull is obviously not a steer 🙂
Maybe those were taken by people who did not want to wait in line for the usual shot.
I thought it was funny that it has barely been over a week since ‘The New York Stock Exchange’ was given as an incorrect FJ response [the Stonewall Inn was correct] when “a NYC monument” was part of the clue, so the incorrect thought was probably of the Bull statue.
Due to the airing of the Holiday Bowl at 6 pm tonight in the Denver area, Jeopardy! will air early tomorrow morning at 1 am.
🙁
I’m from the west, have visited NYC a few time, and got this one right away
I frequented to NYC many times and that bull response came to me but I would definitely love to see it in person though. The fearless girl facing that bull was worth remembering.
Well Chicago is one for two in this second chance competition, As for Final Jeopardy, the keywords strength and power somehow lead me to “What is a bull?” Did NOT know the backstory.
I would presume the note that the Bible quotes were from the KJV was, as Andy said, to avoid the controversey 0ver Hebrews last season. Maybe people like Andy, who are like Jeopardy insiders, knew that the KJV is the work of choice for Bible based questionw, but the rest of us didn’t know that.
What were the pins in ribbons on Greg’s uniform
A ribbon with no pins means you were awarded the ribbon once. After that, you’re awarded one pin for each additional time you receive the ribbon again.
I immediately went to bull, but being that there was 30 seconds, my brain nearly got in the way and changed to bear. Thankfully I stayed with my 1st though. Great game and one gutsy DD by Greg.
Tomorrow sets the Final for Friday and Monday nights. Should be good. 🙂
(Admin note: A question regarding the December 28 game was posted in the December 27 game thread. For spoiler reasons, this is against the Site Comment Policy and for technical reasons the comment can not be moved.)