Warning: This page contains spoilers for the June 20, 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 noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Authors’ Wives) for Thursday, June 20, 2024 (Season 40, Game 204):
When asked if she was the inspiration for the wife in a 1922 novel, this woman replied, “No. She was much fatter”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds, a theatrical wardrobe technician from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Bob Longstreth, a Superior Court judge from San Diego, California
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Drew Basile, a graduate student from Birmingham, Michigan (1-day total: $23,482)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
After three weeks, we have a new champion on Jeopardy! in Drew Basile, who knocked off 15-day champion Adriana Harmeyer in yesterday’s battle. On its surface, I’m sure that challengers Bob Longstreth and Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds are happy that they only have to play 1-day champion Drew instead of superchampion Adriana. However, I think Drew is shaping up to go on a run of his own—his stats on Day 1 were quite strong!
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(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who was Nora Joyce?
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.)
Nora Joyce was the wife of author James Joyce, who was certainly known for the terse reply given asking if she was the inspiration for Molly Bloom in James Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses. (In fact, a 1988 review of a biography about her put that reply in the opening paragraph—implying that this quote was perhaps all she was known for until the late 20th century.)
Do I know if the show is going to require Nora’s first name? I don’t. Do I know it, and would I have put it down had I been in studio? Yes—Nora’s relationship with husband James is a pet topic of Australian content creator and author Esmé Louise James’s “Kinky History” shorts on TikTok. (Whatever gets you to the correct response, am I right?)
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Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Thursday, June 20, 2024 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Named By Lit Lovers; Shortened Words; Let’s Run The Numbers; It Was All Orange; Stevie Wonder; Sir Duke)
In an opening segment that saw 8 incorrect responses, including a Daily Double miss from Jonquil, Drew and Bob were tied for the lead after 15 clues with $1,000. Jonquil was in third at -$800.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Bob 4 correct 2 incorrect
Drew 5 correct 3 incorrect
Jonquil 2 correct 3 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Jonquil was told she was “too cheerful” to be in labor.
Bob got to be a “human paintbrush” for the Blue Man Group.
Drew is now paying for his friends’ trips to L.A. to watch in the audiience.
Drew picked up 7 correct responses in the second segment to hold a lead after 30 clues.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Drew 12 correct 4 incorrect
Jonquil 7 correct 3 incorrect
Bob 5 correct 3 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Drew $3,600
Jonquil $1,200
Bob $600
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Hit The Road, Jacques; Modern Products; Broadway’s Opening Night Casts; Museums; Body Parts’ Better Known Names; You Can’t Spell…)
After Drew got to DD2, a shocking mistake from Jonquil on a clue about Canada handed DD3 to Drew. However, Drew made a small bet (uttering “12”, with the judges taking it to mean $1,200) and that meant that all three players were in contention going into Final Jeopardy.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Drew 23 correct 5 incorrect
Jonquil 16 correct 5 incorrect
Bob 12 correct 3 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 20 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Drew $15,800
Jonquil $10,400
Bob $8,600
Final Jeopardy was a Triple Stumper, with Bob coming agonizingly close—conflating the character with the wife—as Drew takes victory #2.
Tonight’s results:
Bob $8,600 – $2,202 = $6,398 (Who is Molly Joyce)
Jonquil $10,400 – $9,200 = $1,200 (Who is Anais Miller?)
Drew $15,800 – $6,000 = $9,800 (Who is Zelda Fitzgerald) (2-day total: $33,282)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) STEVIE WONDER $800 (clue #7)
Jonquil 1200 -1000 (Drew 400 Bob -800)
2) MUSEUMS $1600 (clue #13)
Drew 10000 +3000 (Bob 2600 Jonquil 7200)
3) HIT THE ROAD, JACQUES $1200 (clue #17, $12800 left on board)
Drew 13800 +1200 (Bob 2600 Jonquil 6400)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: -45
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Drew 2 3 4 5
Bob
Jonquil 4 4 4*
DJ! Round:
Drew 3 3 1 4 4* 5† 2† 2 3*
Bob 3 2
Jonquil 3 4 5 5 4 5
† – selection in same category as Daily Double
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Drew 3.15
Bob 2.50
Jonquil 4.22
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 20 (0.10 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Drew $14,400 Coryat, 23 correct, 5 incorrect, 43.86% in first on buzzer (25/57), 0/1 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Bob $8,600 Coryat, 12 correct, 3 incorrect, 21.05% in first on buzzer (12/57), 2/3 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Jonquil $11,400 Coryat, 16 correct, 5 incorrect, 33.33% in first on buzzer (19/57), 0/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $34,400
Lach Trash: $7,800 (on 8 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $11,800
Lead Changes: 4
Times Tied: 4
Player Statistics:
Drew Basile, career statistics:
44 correct, 11 incorrect
0/3 on rebound attempts (on 8 rebound opportunities)
41.23% in first on buzzer (47/114)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $14,200)
0/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,600
Bob Longstreth, career statistics:
12 correct, 4 incorrect
2/3 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
21.05% in first on buzzer (12/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $8,600
Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds, career statistics:
16 correct, 6 incorrect
0/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
33.33% in first on buzzer (19/57)
0/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: -$1,000)
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,400
Drew Basile, to win:
3 games: 52.534%
4: 27.598%
5: 14.498%
6: 7.617%
7: 4.001%
Avg. streak: 3.107 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- I don’t believe that Daily Double wagers should be allowed to be shortened. If a contestant says “Twelve”, that should mean “twelve dollars”, not “twelve hundred dollars”. Standards & Practices should have intervened and I am disappointed as a viewer that they did not.
- I would say, though, that all three players definitely made this episode an actual tire fire to judge. I thought that the contestants put the judges in a tight spot in at least half a dozen different places in this game—sometimes, that just happens on the show. I also wouldn’t pin some of this on Ken; even Alex would have made similar judging mistakes, even in his prime.
- We still don’t know if the show would have accepted just “Joyce”.
- Today’s box score will be linked to when posted by the show.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Drew $15,800 Jonquil $10,400 Bob $8,600)
Drew: Standard cover bet over Jonquil is $5,001. (Actual bet: $6,000)
Bob: Bet between $2,200 and $5,000 here; the lower end pases Drew if he covers and is incorrect, while the upper end stays ahead of Jonquil if she bets to cover you and is incorrect. (Actual bet: $2,202)
Jonquil: Bet at least $6,801 to cover Bob. (Actual bet: $9,200)
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I’m limited on my knowledge of author’s wives so went with Zelda Fitzgerald.
Never would’ve guessed Nora Joyce.
My logic stream…Famous author + wife + 1920’s = My best attempt, Zelda Fitzgerald.
I also guessed Zelda. I wonder if this will be a triple miss?
I was trying to think of well known fat women in 1920’s literature and drew a blank
Hmmm……. 😉
Wow…that was hard! I wonder if Adriana would have gotten it! 🤔. Go Drew!
One ability Alex Trebek had that subsequent host(s) either don’t have or don’t employ enough is the ability to know when to say to a contestant, “Be more specific”. It seems to me that what is deemed to be an acceptable “question” anymore depends not on standards but on how the judges feel. “We still don’t know if the show would have accepted just “Joyce”.” is an excellent example of a statement that shouldn’t have to be made because we would know what judging standards are. Everyone shouldn’t have to guess what’s acceptable and what isn’t.
I couldn’t think of any “Authors’ Wives”, fat or thin. I guessed “Who is Mrs. Hemingway?” just to say something.
Yesterday, when Ken answered Drew with “There should be a Jeopardy! cologne. I wonder what it would smell like”, that sparked my curiosity.
On February 7, 2020, author Jen Broyles, of mindbodygreen.com, wrote “5 Essential Oils To Reduce Brain Fog & Promote Mental Clarity”. (Medical reviewer: Sarah Villafranco, M.D.)
She recommends lavender for calmness, frankincense to improve memory, vetiver for grounding, lemon to reduce stress, peppermint for focus and concentration; and provides a link to a study mentioning that rosemary, sage, and lemon balm have been shown to improve memory. (Unfortunately, roses were not on the list.)
So maybe some perfumer out there could use these to come up with an ACTUAL “Jeopardy!” cologne!
I love your cologne idea!
If you can wear it and get smart enough to go on Jeopardy, I’ll wear it. This coming from a guy that rarely uses cologne.
Count me among those who picked Zelda Fitzgerald. I just could not think of anyone else, though I guessed her in desperation. Glad to be in such a good company.
I agree that stated wagers should be taken literally on their face. Twelve means twelve. Twelve million means twelve million. Twelve thousand means twelve thousand. For judges to guess at intention, overriding observable fact, is beyond troublesome.
Now having watched the show, when Drew selected the clue, he said “Jacques for 12.” It was the $1200 clue. When he made his wager, he also said “12.” Ken then said “For $1200.” And Drew nodded/mouthed “yeah.” If he meant $12, presumably Drew would have said “No, $12.” Just how I interpreted what happened.
Like Andy said, the players tonight did no favors to having to judge things. Don’t shorthand! I thought 12 should have meant $12.
Also went with Zelda Fitzgerald… DAMN YOU, JAMES JOYCE! (Sorry, force of habit.)
What a weird episode. So many reversals and oddities, like Drew just saying “twelve” – which, yes, I thought he should have been asked to clarify (and told never do that again, or it’ll be $12). You’d think that, having been on Survivor last year, he’d have enough experience with TV producers to know that.
Also hearing Bob’s story took me way back. My tenth grade English teacher had the same thing happen to him – he told fun stories all the time and that’s one I remember (alongside the legend of PestoFest and the joke involving the “Trids”). What a hoot that class was!
Based on the category “Authors’ Wives” and not knowing her first name, my response was “Mrs. James Joyce.” I don’t see how they could disagree as that is not wrong, haha.
I’m with those who say “12” means “12 dollars.” That said, how would the judges know he meant 1,200 and not 12,000? Further, I don’t see why they didn’t pause the taping and ask him to restate what he meant. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to just make an assumption in a situation like that. We all know what you might make when you assume.
Yes, my 9th grade English teacher taught us what assume means by having slashes after the 2nd S and U and letting us figure it out from there. This was fall of 1983 and some little kiddies were so offended that they told their parents and tried to get the teacher in trouble. I wasn’t one of the offended.
I couldn’t come up with anyone. In trying to think of possible authors (though I was quite sure I would not be able to think of the wife’s name anyway), the first one I thought of was Hemingway, but ruled him out because I felt like he might not have had ANY “wives” in any of his novels, but especially not as a major character. I also thought he might not “go back that far” which turned out to be correct as his first book was published in 1923 and it was not a novel.
I do not think just “Joyce” would be an acceptable response, especially since Joyce is primarily a given name, rather than a surname. I suppose “Mrs. Joyce” MIGHT have worked, but if the clue had concerned Hemingway, I’m sure “Mrs. Hemingway” would not have worked since he was married 4 times.