Here are my scores for Monday and Tuesday this week:
Marshall Flores 1 Kyle Kahan 1 Erin McLean 22401 Me 22402
Hans von Walter 18178 Ellen Eichner 4200 Steve Greene 12779 Me 20202
Today’s contestants:
[From left to right; Sid Chandrasekhar, Sam Spaulding (he left a comment here last week!), Lea Tottle]
I was pleased that during the Classical Music category, they chose to play the music during this clue rather than afterward, which wastes time and also messes up those of us who are trying to ring in first at home: “The beloved aria heard here is from this composer’s ‘Turandot.'”* (Sorry I don’t have a sound clip, but could anyone have gotten the correct response from the music alone anyway? That is, could you have heard the music and known it was ‘Turandot’? Maybe you or your fiance, Ursula, if you are reading this?)
Sam found the Daily Double in The 15th Century before the first commercial break. He had 1600, Sid had 2200, Lea had -200, and I had 800. Sam looked proud to say he wanted to make it a true Daily Double, but no one cheered when he said it! Too bad. This was the clue: “In 1421, the Ming dynasty moved its capital from Nanking to this city.”* People cheered (clapped at least) when he got this one right.
Here’s my lone triple-stumper from the first two rounds, in Meet Me in the ‘Quad.’: “The 1892 celebration of Columbus’ discovery of America.”*
Was anyone else glad when The Quotable Steve Carell was ignored by the contestants until it was the only category remaining? The contestants sure knew the answers, though. In the Double Jeopardy round, though, the contestants went straight for [adult swim], which was okay with me. Each contestant chose a clue from that category, then didn’t come back to those last two clues until all the other clues were gone! (?) By the way, Sid had 5400 going into Double Jeopardy, Sam had 6000, Lea had 4200, and I had 6400.
Sam found the first Daily Double in the round, in Hail to the Chief. Sid still had 5400, Sam had 9600, Lea had 5000, and I had 7600. Sam wagered 2000 on this clue: “On July 2, 1921, he interrupted his golf game and formally ended hostilities with Germany by signing a treaty.”* Sam got it right!
Lea found the next Daily Double in Textbooks. By then, she had made a healthy move and trailed Sam by only 600. Sid, meanwhile, had less than half Sam’s amount. Lea wagered 3000 on this clue: “Dr. H.V. Carter illustrated this 1858 text, an instant success despite bad reviews in the British Medical Journal.”* She got it right!
The final Jeopardy category was Phrases. Sid had 5400, Sam had 17200, Lea had 17600, and I had 17400. This was kind of a tough one for me as far as wagering, but I decided to go big and wager it all, since my score was virtually the same as Sam’s and Lea’s, and they too might wager it all and get it right! This was the clue: “In ancient Rome it was a post where racers changed direction; since 1836 it’s meant a moment change occurs.”* This triple-stumped the contestants. I was thrilled to get it right, although it was a guess! The answer I gave seemed too vague, like it couldn’t really have an origin like that. Anyway, Sid lost 3600. Sam lost 6399. I’m assuming he wagered to be at least one dollar ahead of Sid had he doubled. (Sam, if you’re reading this, would you care to explain, even if my idea is correct?) Lea lost EVERYTHING but a dollar. I can’t blame her, though; I wagered everything, too. At any rate, Sam wins and will be in the finals tomorrow and Friday with Erin and Hans.
*Puccini, Beijing, quadricentennial, Harding, “Gray’s Anatomy,” turning point