Final Jeopardy: 19th Century America (2-26-13)
The Final Jeopardy question (2/26/2013) in the category “19th Century America” was:
One of the 2 years in which 3 men served as President of the United States.
We are finally here at the very last match of the 2013 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. To determine the winner, yesterday’s totals will be added to what they win today. One contestant is bringing a whole lotta dough into today’s game: Colby Burnett has $22,200 from yesterday. Keith Whitener has $4,800; and Kristin Morgan has $400.
Colby found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “That 1870s Show.” He was in third place with $2,000, $3,600 less than Keith in the lead. He bet $800 and he was RIGHT.
Jacques Offenbach’s 1875 operetta “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” was based on a novel by this man. show
Keith finished in the lead with $5,600. Kristin was second with $5,200 and Colby was last with $2,800.
Kristin found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “Cathedrals.” She was in second place with $8,000, $5,600 behind Colby, who was now in the lead. She bet $6,000 on this video DD and she was RIGHT.
The cathedral named for this saint has stood on Red Square since the mid-1500s. show
Colby found the last Daily Double in “Unreal Estate.” He had the lead with $16,400 now, $2,400 more than Kristin in second place. He bet $2,400 and thought it was “Absalom, Absalom!” That was WRONG.
Belle Reve in Mississippi is the lost home that’s longed for in this classic American play. show
Kristin finished in the lead with $15,200. Colby was in second place with $14,400 and Keith was last with $8,400.
TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS 1841 OR 1881?
William Henry Harrison was inaugurated in March 1841, succeeding Martin Van Buren as President. He succumbed to pneumonia and pleurisy 32 days later, despite valiant efforts to cure him with opium, castor oil, leeches and Virginia snakeweed. His vice-president, John Tyler, then became the President of the USA.
James A. Garfield was inaugurated in March 1881, succeeding Rutherford B. Hayes as President. On July 2, 1881, Charles J. Guiteau shot Garfield, who died on September 19, 1881. Some believe it was the medical care that Garfield received that killed him, not Guiteau’s bullet. Chester A. Arthur then became President. Despite the alleged advice Garfield gives his wife in the Mister Garfield folk song, Lucretia Garfield never did remarry.
Keith got it right with 1881. He bet it all for a total today of $16,800. His $4,800 from yesterday brought his 2-day total to $21,600.
Colby got it right with 1841. He didn’t bet anything so his $14,400 total was added to his $22,200 from yesterday and his 2-day came to $36,600.
Kristin wrote down 1824. (James Monroe was the only President that year). She lost $6,001 and finished with $9,199 today. Adding in her $400 from yesterday gave her a third place finish with $9,599.
So Colby Burnett is the winner of $250,000. Keith gets $100,000 and Kristin is taking $50,000 home.
Kudos to all of them, but special kudos to Colby and Keith on that final clue. We thought it would be tougher because they had to get the year, even if they knew the deaths of Harrison and Garfield caused the anomalies. Could you recall or figure out the year in 30 seconds?
Something quite similar to tonight’s Final J! clue was asked on Syndie WWTBAM on 5/15/2012. The contestant there picked the wrong two years from the four answer choices and went home with $1K.