Final Jeopardy: International Business (11-16-11)
The Final Jeopardy question (11/16/2011) in the category “International Business” was:
Still in existence, it began in 1688 in a British coffee shop popular with maritime folk; it soon got involved in their business.
Remember Emily Gifford from Connecticut? Sure you do. She became the Jeopardy! champ on November 1st, the last regular game before the Tournament of Champions began. Emily won $33,800 and she didn’t even get to watch her winning game the day it aired because of blackouts, but, hopefully she’s seen it by now. Emily was back today to pit her knowledge against that of Will Valverde, from California, and Ellen Lewis, from New York.
Emily got the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in the category “Thaws.” She had $3,400 and needed $2,000 to tie with Will, who was in the lead, so that was her bet. She took an educated guess and she was RIGHT!
A brief thaw in the icy chill of Soviet repression is named for this Russian leader who took power in 1953 show
Will finished this round in the lead with $7,600. Emily was right on his heels with $7,000 and Ellen was last with $800.
Ellen got the first Daily Double in Double Jeopardy in the category “Sweet Talk.” She had $2,800 and bet $1,800. Ellen had the knowing smile of a retired teacher (which she is) and got it RIGHT, bringing her closer to Will and Emily.
“Keats’ ‘Ode On’ this says, ‘Sylvan historian, who canst thus express a flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme.'” show
Emily got the second Daily Double in “I’m Gonna Moon You.” The scores were pretty close at this point. Ellen had $7,000 and Will had $7,200. Emily bet $1,800 of her $8,600. Her WRONG answer sent her straight to third place.
“On Feb. 1, 1958 the Detroit Free Press said “U.S. Fires Moon!”: they meant the USA’s first of these, Explorer 1″ show
She didn’t stay there long and it was a pretty tight game until Will broke out ahead near the bitter end. He finished first with $17,200. Emily was next with $13,200 and Ellen had a healthy $10,600. What is “it’s anybody’s game.” (They had a Cliches category but that wasn’t in it.)
None of the contestants looked like they knew the answer — they were all still writing up to the last of their 30 seconds. Still really surprised not even one of them got the answer to Final Jeopardy, which was:
“What is Lloyd’s of London?”
Most people have heard of Lloyd’s, at least in association with its celebrity policies, like Jimmy Durante’s nose, Tina Turner’s legs, Troy Polamalu’s hair, etc. — and even know it’s been around for centuries. So maybe the maritime part threw them off. “The market began in Lloyd’s Coffee House, opened by Edward Lloyd around 1688 in Tower Street, London.” wikipedia.
Ellen wrote down “Tetley Tea” which was founded in England by Joseph and Edward Tetley in 1857. She bet $600, leaving her with $10,000.
Emily bet everything but a dollar, writing down “the Mermaid Tavern,” an early 17th century location where Sir Walter Raleigh is credited with forming a club attended by the leading literary figures of the day. Emily ended up in last place with her dollar.
Will wrote down “Twinings.” Thomas Twining opened the first tea room in 1706 in London, still operating today. Will bet $9,201, leaving him with $7,999 and in second place.
Congrats to Ellen Lewis who became today’s Jeopardy! champion by making a very conservative bet. Will and Emily could have done the same and probably wished they did.
