The Final Jeopardy question (7/26/2012) in the category “Opera” was:

The swan boats in Boston’s public garden were inspired by this opera in which a swan pulls a boat on the Scheldt River.

New champ Doug Thornton won $22,000. Today he takes on these two players: Leo Lopez from Brooklyn, NY and  Lori Hohenleitner from Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

Leo found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Shakespeare.” He was in a tie for the lead with Doug. They both had $600, $400 more than Lori, but it was early in the round. He went with the $1,000 allowance and he was RIGHT.

Shakespeare’s 37 plays are traditionally classified into 3 groups: comedies, tragedies & these. show

WHAT ARE HISTORIES?

Doug and Lori finished in a tie for the lead with $5,000 each. Leo had a very respectable $4,400.

Lori found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “Biblical Wifery.” She was in last place with $6,600, $5,000 less than Leo’s lead. She bet $2,500 and she was RIGHT.

Laban promises this daughter to Jacob as a wife but substitutes Leah for her at the last minute. show

WHO IS RACHEL?

Doug found the last Daily Double in “Barons.” He had $9,000, $10,600 less than Leo’s lead. He boldly bet $7,000, despite no one knowing the previous clue with lines from Tennyson’s Light Brigade. He got this one RIGHT.

Rudolf Erich Raspe wrote a 1975 booklet of tall tales about him: the real Baron disapproved. show

WHO IS BARON MÜNCHAUSEN?

Leo finished in the lead with $19,600. Doug now had $16,000 and Lori was in third place with $7,900.

NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS LOHENGRIN?

Wagner’s opera is part of the Knight of the Swan tradition. The Swan Knight is a mysterious rescuer who comes in a swan-drawn boat to defend a damsel, his only condition being that he must never be asked his name. In Lohengrin, a swan pulls up with a knight in shining armor. He has arrived to defend Elsa against false murder charges. (wikipedia)

Lori wrote down “Cinderella.” She lost $2,100 and finished with $5,800.

Doug thought it was “The Magic Flute.” That cost him $15,000 and he now had $1,000.

Leo bet $12,401 on “The Flying Dutchman,” so he wound up with $7,199, enough to win the game and get another shot at bigger money tomorrow.