The Final Jeopardy question (11/21/2012) in the category “Opera” was:

In 1900 the first La Scala performance of this opera was conducted by the man whose last name began with the opera’s title.

We now return you to the regular game, and our 3-day champ, Paul Nelson, of Iowa City, IA, is back. He was up to a 3-day total of $45,400. Today he will compete with these two players: Dan Sims, from Little Rock, AR and  Morgan Kruse, from Irvine, CA.

Paul found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Poetry Terms.” He was in the lead with $3,000, $2,000 more than Dan in second place. He bet $1,500 and he was RIGHT.

A haiku traditionally deals with this; a senryu takes an ironic look at human this.
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WHAT IS NATURE?

Paul finished in the lead with $5,300. Dan was second with $400 and Morgan was last with zero.

Dan found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “General Practice.” He was in the lead with $4,800, $700 more than Paul in second place. He bet $1,500 and he was RIGHT.

Though unpopular with the President for his cautiousness, this Union General was once known as “Young Napoleon.”
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WHO IS GEORGE B. McCLELLAN?

Paul found the last Daily Double in “Odd Words.” He was in the lead with $6,500, $1,000 more than Dan in second place. He bet $2,000, answered “bicycle” and that was WRONG.

A tonsorialist is one who does this.
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WHAT IS CUT HAIR?

Dan finished in the lead with $5,500. Paul was next with $4,500 and Morgan was in third place with $4,400.

NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS TOSCA?

“”From Rome and the world premiere of Tosca, (Puccini) went to Milan to await its introduction at La Scala…. Puccini was particularly pleased with the conducting of Toscanini, who directed the opera for the first time on this occasion.” ” (The Operas of Puccini)

Morgan wrote down “Cosi fan tutti.” She lost $1,101 and finished with $3,299.

Paul thought it was “Don Giovanni.” That cost him $1,000. He finished with $3,500.

Dan wrote down “Beggars.” He bet $4,500 so he ended up with $1,000, making Paul the winner.

Paul’s 4-day total is $48,900.

We don’t remember when we saw so many bad guesses in one game, do you? And that’s not even counting Final Jeopardy!, an obscure bit of knowledge with a confusing clue.*

*Note from VJ: I did get Toscanini, but didn’t have a clue whether the opera title would be “Tosca” or “La Tosca” (which is the play).