The Final Jeopardy question (12/12/2011) in the category “The Billboard Top 40” was:

Previously done by the Trapp Family, this song about an instrumentalist was a Top 40 hit every December from 1958 to 1962.

We begin the week with the return of Friday’s champion Drew Bayers. He will face these challengers today in another exciting (we hope!) round of Jeopardy! Chuck Rezac from Kansas and Ellen Tabor from New York, NY.

Chuck got the Daily Double in the Jeopardy! round early in  “Not Actually a State Capital.” He only had $400 but risked the $1,000 allowance. Not too hard if you know your state capitals. Chuck did so he went up to $1,400.

You’ll find the University of Missouri’s main campus in this city — the one in Missouri, not in South Carolina show

WHAT IS COLUMBIA?

Ellen and Drew finished in a tie for the lead with $5,200 each. Chuck ran into a few snafus and he ended up in third place with $2,400.

Drew got the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “The Rand Corporation:” He bet $2,000 of his $10,000 and thought it was string theory. That was WRONG.

The field called this theory, which has influenced economics and other disciplines, was expanded at Rand in the 40s. show

WHAT IS GAME THEORY?

Just a wee bit later, Drew found the second Daily Double of the round in “French History.” He now had $8,400 and again bet $2,000 and, this time, he was RIGHT.

In a July 6, 2003 referendum, this Mediterranean island narrowly defeated a plan for
limited autonomy. show

WHAT IS CORSICA?

It was a very tight competitive round with Chuck coming in first with $13,600. Drew was next with $11,600 and Ellen was last, going into Final Jeopardy with $10,000. Fantastique.

TWO of the contestants had the correct Final Jeopardy answer.

“WHAT IS “THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY”

Written in 1941 by Katherine Kennicott Davis, the song about the poor little drummer boy who had no gift to bring first came to national attention in 1958 when it was recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale. Feeling that its huge success was in part due to his arrangement, Simeone demanded a writer’s royalty. (wikipedia)

Lou Rawls had a No. 2 hit in 1967 on a special Billboard Christmas singles charts with his rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy”. Other singers known for their Christmas albums who have recorded it include Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. It has also been covered by Marlene Dietrich, Jimi Hendrix, RuPaul and The Wiggles.

Ellen bet nothing on “My Favorite Things” and finished with $10,000.

Drew bet $11,600 doubling his score to $23,200.

Congrats to Chuck, who also bet $11,600, and won the game with a total of $25,200.