The Final Jeopardy question (7/13/2012) in the category “British History” was:

This appointed position first held by John Dryden echoes a “Versificator Regis” of Richard I in the 12th century.

2-day champ A.J. Motley returns today to try to keep his momentum going. To add to his winnings of $56,002, he will have to defeat these two new challengers: Brian Mueller, from Fountain City, WI and Liza Veeneman, from Aliso Viejo, CA.

Liza found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Great Beginnings.” She was in the lead with $5,200. $1,600 more than A.J. in second place. She bet $2,000 but did not know so she was WRONG.

Following a crisis earlier in the decade, this cabinet department was created August 4, 1977. show

WHAT IS THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT?

In the category “Bull,” Alex used a real bullhorn to give the $200 clue: “Use this device to really get your point across.” Incredibly, A.J. said it was a megaphone but even more incredibly, Alex said that was right at first. Then he said it was wrong because the category was “Bull.” Brian rang in and gave the correct answer. Everyone had a hearty laugh and he finally put the thing away — until the end of the round when he announced the break with it.

A.J. finished in the lead with $5,600. Liza and Brian were tied at $3,600.

Brian found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “Countries by Newspapers.” He was in second place with $4,800, $1,200 behind A.J.’s lead. He bet $1,200 and he was RIGHT.

Het Laatste Nieuws, La Nouvelle Gazette. show

WHAT IS BELGIUM?

Brian found the last Daily Double in “Famous Arias.” He had the lead in a big way with $10,400, $6,000 more than A.J. now in second place. He bet $5,000, and evidently thought they were looking for the name of the opera (“The Barber of Seville”) so he was WRONG.

Rossini’s aria “Largo al Factotum” repeats the name of this character repeatedly. show

WHAT IS FIGARO?

A.J. finished in the lead with $13,200. Brian was next with $8,600 and Liza was in third place with $6,400.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS A POET LAUREATE?

Seemed like common sense provided you knew John Dryden was a famous and important poet, critic and playwright. The position was not an officially appointed one until Dryden, when he was issued letters patent.

“…there seems to have been from time immemorial a poet attached to the Court whose duty it was to sing the praises of the reigning monarch, and who was rewarded by a grant from the royal purse or a tierce of canary. In early times this bard was known as the Versificator Regis, but in the reign of Edward IV he was styled Poet Laureate.” (The poets laureate of England…)

Liza doubled down and wound up with $12,800.

Brian doubled down, too, but he wrote down “Prince Regent” so he wound up with nothing.

A.J. wrote down his moniker “A J”. His $4,601 bet brought him down to $8,599 and meant that Liza is the new Jeopardy! champion. She will return on Monday and so will we.