Warning: This page contains spoilers for the March 28, 2024, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as 9:30 AM Eastern today in some U.S. television markets—earlier than usual due to March Madness coverage on CBS this week.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category 20th Century Books) for Thursday, March 28, 2024 (Season 40, Game 144):
TIME mentioned “cruelty & enforced conformity” when summing up this novel with a “stonily silent narrator”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Monica Thieu, a postdoctoral scientist from Atlanta, Georgia
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Chuck Forrest, a lawyer from Marino, Italy
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Sam Kavanaugh, an educator from Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Quarterfinal #7, as we move to somewhere around two weeks from the resumption of regular play, features Sam Kavanaugh, Chuck Forrest, and Monica Thieu. Sam Kavanaugh is the 29th Tournament of Champions winner (2021), and while I think Chuck Forrest requires no introduction, I shall do so anyway: Chuck is the OG master of this game, winning 5 games in October 1985, the 2nd Tournament of Champions, and being the first player to be successful while continuously switching categories, known today as the “Forrest Bounce”. Chuck has been brought back for numerous super-tournaments over the years and was still strong enough in 2014 to make the semifinals of Battle of the Decades. Meanwhile, Monica Thieu was one of the youngest College Championship winners, who, earlier this year, released a groundbreaking piece of research regarding the memory of trivia players. Most recently, Monica has been seen as one of the Master Minds on the GSN series Master Minds.
Despite my glowing about both players in the rightmost two podiums of today’s game, the prediction model does think Sam is the favorite in this match. Sam is probably one of the most underrated players in this field; his skill on Daily Doubles is incredibly strong and is one of the main reasons why he won his Tournament of Champions.
If you watch Jeopardy! on a CBS station, especially if it airs after 6:30 PM Eastern, make sure you check Matt Carberry’s spreadsheet detailing preemptions today and tomorrow due to March Madness: he has researched every market in the country to make it easy for you to find out when the show is airing. It should also be noted that as the show is airing earlier, I will be uploading results earlier as well.
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 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2024 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
In 2010, when TIME Magazine named its 100 best English-language novels published since 1923, Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest made the list. As the review put, “When Kesey decided to take on the hypocrisy, cruelty and enforced conformity of modern life, he dug into his experiences as a test subject in a mental hospital.” The “stonily silent narrator”: Chief Bromden.
The book was very famously turned into a 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson as Randle McMurphy and Louise Fletcher as the head nurse, Nurse Ratched.
This definitely seems like one of those Final Jeopardy clues that will land in the show’s “sweet spot” where 1 or 2 players will get it correct—and if all three do, good for them!
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 Thursday, March 28, 2024 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: LGBTQ+ Writers & Their Works; Hop On The Interstate; Free For All; 2-Word Pop Culture; Alphanumerics; Definitions From The Devil’s Dictionary)
Both Chuck and Sam got off to a slow start with incorrect responses; Monica led at the interviews with $3,800, while Chuck had $1,000 and Sam $200.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Monica 5 correct 0 incorrect
Chuck 5 correct 2 incorrect
Sam 1 correct 1 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Monica recently published a study about trivia experts.
Chuck thinks being invited to this is an honor.
Sam is wearing a vest knitted by a friend and a boutonnière from his nieces.
While Sam found the Daily double, his struggles continued as he got it incorrect. Meanwhile, Monica picked up 8 correct in the round to extend her lead.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Monica 13 correct 1 incorrect
Chuck 8 correct 2 incorrect
Sam 4 correct 2 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Monica $8,200
Chuck $2,600
Sam $200
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: British Explorers; Art Terms; Science; Round Here; Tough Vocab; Hip-Pop)
Sam got to the Daily Doubles very early in the round, before he could really take advantage of them. That said: all three players generally had good rounds, with Monica holding her lead going into Final on the strength of getting in first 25 times on the buzzer throughout the game.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Monica 23 correct 2 incorrect
Sam 13 correct 2 incorrect
Chuck 14 correct 2 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 0 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Monica $15,800
Sam $12,000
Chuck $11,000
Final Jeopardy was a Triple Stumper; as I mentioned in my preview, Chuck’s propensity to overbet from behind proved crucial once again, as Sam advances by just $1!
Tonight’s results:
Chuck $11,000 – $4,801 = $6,199 (What is Lord of the Flies?)
Sam $12,000 – $4,400 = $7,600 (What is 1984) (Semi-Finalist)
Monica $15,800 – $8,201 = $7,599 (What is 1984? I’m really here, Mom!)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) HOP ON THE INTERSTATE $600 (clue #18)
Sam 400 -1000 (Chuck 2000 Monica 3800)
2) ART TERMS $1600 (clue #2)
Sam 200 +2000 (Chuck 2600 Monica 8200)
3) SCIENCE $1200 (clue #3, $31600 left on board)
Sam 2200 +2200 (Chuck 2600 Monica 8200)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 100
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Sam 4 4 4 3*
Chuck 2 4 2 3 1 5 1
Monica 4 5 3 3 3 3 5
DJ! Round:
Sam 4 4* 3*
Chuck
Monica
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Sam 3.71
Monica 3.71
Chuck 2.57
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:
Sam $11,600 Coryat, 13 correct, 2 incorrect, 17.54% in first on buzzer (10/57), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Monica $15,800 Coryat, 23 correct, 2 incorrect, 43.86% in first on buzzer (25/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Chuck $11,000 Coryat, 14 correct, 2 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $38,400
Lach Trash: $11,600 (on 10 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $4,000
Lead Changes: 3
Times Tied: 0
Player Statistics:
Sam Kavanaugh, career statistics:
215 correct, 20 incorrect
5/7 on rebound attempts (on 36 rebound opportunities)
31.88% in first on buzzer (198/621)
17/19 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $87,200)
7/11 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $15,218
Chuck Forrest, career statistics:
388 correct, 30 incorrect
29/31 on rebound attempts (on 73 rebound opportunities)
38.17% in first on buzzer (355/930)
11/15 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $23,900)
12/17 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $17,165
Monica Thieu, career statistics:
123 correct, 25 incorrect
2/3 on rebound attempts (on 19 rebound opportunities)
33.50% in first on buzzer (134/400)
1/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $200)
7/8 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $10,650
Andy’s Thoughts:
- This game aired on WTSP Tampa at 9:30 AM Eastern.
- Today’s box score will be linked to when posted by the show.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Monica $15,800 Sam $12,000 Chuck $11,000)
Sam: You’re in Stratton’s Dilemma; you can’t both cover Chuck and win a Double Stumper with Monica. Unfortunately for you, Chuck’s historic propensity here is to go all-in, which means you may need to bet $10,001 to cover. If you do want to play for the Triple Stumper, bet no more than $999. (Actual bet: $4,400)
Chuck: Your best chance to win here is via a Triple Stumper. I would bet somewhere between $2,001 (thereby defending against Sam’s small range) and $3,400. (Actual bet: $4,801)
Monica: Standard cover bet over Sam is $8,201. (Actual bet: $8,201)
Updated JIT odds:
Matt +400
Larissa +470
Amy +670
Jennifer +710
Sam K. +810
Andrew +1000
David +1000
Victoria +1900
Ben +2000
Colby +6500
Dhruv +7400
Sam B. +7400
Lilly +11000
Finals length odds:
2 games: +170
3 games: +110
4 games: +340
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Didn’t even think of ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ when running possibilities through my head.
and it was really my friend Donn, a classmate of Chuck’s in law school who came up with that bounce. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2019/06/12/jeopardy-champ-used-technique/4929677007/
It was great seeing Chuck again after so many years, and the fact that he also guessed “Lord of the Flies” in Final made me feel as though I was in good company.
I had it narrowed down to 1984 and Lord of the Flies. I went with the latter, but feel better that it’s of my (wrong) guesses were used by one of the three contestants today.
I want to give my first reflection on the game here, as this is the first website I visit every day for Jeopardy! news (thanks for all you provide for the J! community, Andy).
This was a fun game (I get to play against Monica and Chuck!) but also a really frustrating one, as it felt like I had one of the worst all-time buzzer performances. Ken told me I had 48 attempts, and now seeing that I was first in on only 10 clues…feels about right. A lot of the credit for this has to go to my opponents: Monica was locked-in in a way that made it very difficult to get in rhythm, and Chuck was bouncing around the board on his selections in a way that was slightly off-putting (I feel like there should be a name for this 🤔). I had also pulled a back muscle two days prior and was icing it on the greenroom floor between shows, so my physicality was off. Many thanks to the Jeopardy staff, who offered many accommodations to help with this issue. Probably should have taken them up on the chair behind the lectern, though.
In any case, I once I realized that I couldn’t count on finding my buzzer, I knew I had to go back to the main thing that got me here: Daily Doubles. While it wasn’t ideal that I got DD2 and DD3 with so little cash, at that point I figured that my best bet was to just stay in contention, and that if Monica got even one of them the game might be over.
Final was interesting for a couple reasons. First, there was a 5 to 10 minute delay after the end of the Double Jeopardy round where the judges were looking at some previous response for a possible scoring change. They don’t allow us access to our pen and paper during this time, so I was running through a lot of different wagering scenarios mentally. I am decently proud that 1) I was able to hold all of those numbers straight in my head and 2) I correctly assessed what Monica and Chuck would bet, allowing me to win on 3/8ths of possible outcomes, including the triple stumper.
The second interesting element for final was that on the plane ride over I had watched a documentary on Tom Wolfe. This is of course only one degree (two?) of separation from the correct final response, as Wolfe wrote “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”, a nonfiction piece partly about Ken Kesey.
I hope everyone reading this is enjoying the JIT! I can attest to fact that all of these folks are really solid humans, and it was such a surreal joy to compete with some of my Jeopardy heroes.
Sam:
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
For what it’s worth, I am impressed that your read was “Chuck is going to fall victim to Zerg’s Fallacy” and not “Chuck is going to go all in”. I personally would have read it as the latter, and I would have thus bet $10,001—to my detriment—instead of $999.
Sam,
Thanks for sharing! You’ve been one of my favorite champions of the recent past. The glimpse behind the scenes, and honesty about the physical struggle you were enduring, is something that I appreciate. The only time I’ve been on TV for a show such as this was in high school with my school’s academic team in Cleveland, and we had chairs for that, so physical injuries weren’t a concern.
Retro congrats on this win and we’ll be seeing you again next week. Also, thank you very much for letting us all in on your experience in this game. I hope that you’re feeling better by now and wonder if we’ll see you in a chair in the Semifinal game.
I had a hunch that there was going to be a scoring change before FJ, as they showed the judges conferring before FJ aired.
With the word length of that FJ, even if I’d have come up with it in the final five seconds (I too thought 1984 at first), would there have been enough time to write it all in?
This is a tough one for sure. I think this clue would take some time to reason out for almost any contestant, leaving not much time for writing.
It took me about 10 to 15 seconds for the “stonily silent narrator” to click in and connect with the “cruelty and enforced conformity”, but once it did, I had the answer. Definitely can see this as something at least one will get, but not sure it would be a triple.
I also guessed 1984.
A closely contested game. It was great to see the legendary Chuck Forrest still holding his own 39 years after first appearing on the show. Congrats to Sam on prevailing, despite his difficulties buzzing in.
I might be wrong, but shouldn’t the answer to the Oscar Wilde question have been ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol?’ I believe the answer was given as ‘Reading Gail’..,
The word that the British spell “gaol” is pronounced identically to the word the Americans spell “jail”.
I guess you learned something today!
Maybe this will be what finally ends Jeff’s streak of futility 🙂
Well MasterDoge, it wasn’t to be as I guessed 1984, which seemed like a popular, albeit wrong, answer. 🙂 at least I was in there with 2 of the 3 contestants. 😉 I have 1 more chance tomorrow night to not be shut out for March! Yikes. 0 for the last 23!
I did not get to try to guess as I accidentally saw the correct FJ response before I had seen the clue. I’m doubting I would have gotten it correct, but I did correctly predict that some (including some commenters) would guess ‘1984’.
That was a pretty wild game and I very much appreciate Sam coming on here and giving us the details of his experience in this game. I hope that you’re feeling better Sam.
I am praying to not go 0 for March in FJ, so I need a NASCAR FJ clue. Please!!! 🙂
Looking forward to Friday and tomorrow night’s show! Have a great rest of the evening and a great Friday everyone.
In reading the Final Jeopardy answer, I thought it was referring to abook about imprisonemnt in a Soviet gulag. Quite apparantly, I was far off. As happens often enough with categories like today’s Final Jeopardy, I knew of the correct response, even knew something about it’s subject, and, have even seen clips of the movie. But, again none of that helped me with this FJ.
Back in the Jeopardy round, DD1, “Hop on the Interstate” the answer refered to a world series played by “two interstate rivals” with Columbia sandwiched between them. I knew the state was Missouri, that the teams were the Cardinals, and, the Royals.” Misred the “answer” and said “what is Missouri?” Have the Guardians and Reds ever been in an World Series together?
I read the book when it was new and liked it very much but I have never seen the movie because the book was so affecting that I did not want to (presumably) be even more affected by a “live action” version.