Jeopardy! Season 41 (2024-2025)

[30 Helens]

Do I get extra points for a pre-guess FJ? Even if I wasn’t sure of myself when the actual clue came up because I recognized neither the character names nor the quote? I’m going to guess there were lots of correct pre-guesses tonight because that seemed like the obvious pick for the category.

5 hours ago, Katy M said:

Initially yours categories should need the initials.  3 named authors should need all 3 names. 

I feel like most categories in this vein HAVE required the part specified by the category, although I can’t recall any examples. I was also very surprised that the initials were given a pass.

7 hours ago, ams1001 said:

I liked everyone tonight. Wouldn't have minded seeing Mehal keep going but also happy for the new champ.

Same. I was wondering if new champ’s husband was able to hold his cookies after that win. I also wondered about that proposal. Since there was barfing before and after, does that mean the proposal happened mid-barf? Even if the first episode had fully concluded, it doesn’t sound like the most romantic time to pop the question. I hope there was time for teeth brushing beforehand, at least.

[Browncoat]

Catching up from last night -- I went to a movie instead.  Instaget FJ.  Like @30 Helens, I pre-guessed it as an obvious choice, and was happy to see I was correct because once it was in my head, I'm not sure I could have come up with anything else.

I also got the TS of Shropshire, left hand, Cagney & Lacey, J.D. Salinger, N.K. Jemison, and Sanford & Son.  Left hand was a guess based on the photo, and it is possible that I heard of that particular composition from MASH.  I don't remember what music Charles acquired for his patient in that episode, but it might have been that one.

And as an aside, I am headed to New Zealand on Monday, so I won't be playing along for at least four weeks.  I'm going to try to keep up at least with FJ via the archive, but since I'll have no idea what day it is (I'll be in the future!), I may just save it all until I get back.  

[ams1001]

 

4 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

Same. I was wondering if new champ’s husband was able to hold his cookies after that win. I also wondered about that proposal. Since there was barfing before and after, does that mean the proposal happened mid-barf? Even if the first episode had fully concluded, it doesn’t sound like the most romantic time to pop the question. I hope there was time for teeth brushing beforehand, at least.

I hope it wasn't immediately before, at least... that would be me, though. I'm not even landlocked (grew up half an hour from the NJ shore), but I can't do boats. Anyone who would think a boat proposal would be a good idea probably doesn't know me well enough to marry.

47 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Left hand was a guess based on the photo

I said hand but didn't specify which...

53 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

And as an aside, I am headed to New Zealand on Monday, so I won't be playing along for at least four weeks.  I'm going to try to keep up at least with FJ via the archive, but since I'll have no idea what day it is (I'll be in the future!), I may just save it all until I get back.  

Have a great trip! 

[chessiegal]

I pre-guessed FJ based on the category. 

There was an episode of M*A*S*H where Charles taught a soldier who was a pianist and lost use of his right hand the left hand piece by Ravel.

 

[Trey]

For FJ I pre-called Psycho but Gaslight never entered my mind.  It's been so long since I've seen the movie that it just wasn't on my radar.  I remember Angela Lansbury playing the housekeeper who helped the husband.

Have a wonderful trip, @Browncoat!

[Clanstarling]

On 11/22/2024 at 8:13 AM, ProudMary said:

I really thought I had the correct FJ answer with Prague, as 1968 unrest screamed Czechoslovakia to me. I was a kid, but I have a distinct memory of watching the Russian tanks roll into the streets of Prague on the nightly news. 😞 My mind never even went to Paris as a possible answer.

I remember that quite well, as we were stationed a few miles from the East German border, and were on alert just in case it expanded. My mother (native Austrian) and I even discussed plans to ride our bikes down to Austria and pretend to be German instead of American until we got there. Mom couldn't drive, so that was our sole escape plan. Thankfully, it didn't happen because that was an idiotic plan.

9 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

Do I get extra points for a pre-guess FJ? Even if I wasn’t sure of myself when the actual clue came up because I recognized neither the character names nor the quote? I’m going to guess there were lots of correct pre-guesses tonight because that seemed like the obvious pick for the category.

Well, not for the contest. But you can definitely have bragging rights!

5 hours ago, Browncoat said:

And as an aside, I am headed to New Zealand on Monday, so I won't be playing along for at least four weeks.  I'm going to try to keep up at least with FJ via the archive, but since I'll have no idea what day it is (I'll be in the future!), I may just save it all until I get back.  

Wow, have a great trip. Thanks for letting us know. Now  I won't worry about you when you don't report your scores for the contest.

I didn't pre-guess, but I did instaguess once I saw the clue.

[30 Helens]

8 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I am headed to New Zealand on Monday, so I won't be playing along for at least four weeks.  

A-maz-ing. Four weeks in New Zealand! My extreme jealousy does not preclude me from wishing you a great trip, however. 

Tell the hobbits I said hi!

[ProudMary]

4 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

I remember that quite well, as we were stationed a few miles from the East German border, and were on alert just in case it expanded. My mother (native Austrian) and I even discussed plans to ride our bikes down to Austria and pretend to be German instead of American until we got there. Mom couldn't drive, so that was our sole escape plan. Thankfully, it didn't happen because that was an idiotic plan.

Wow, that's an incredible and scary story. It makes me very thankful that my memory is just the televised version. Thanks for sharing. 

 

9 hours ago, Browncoat said:

And as an aside, I am headed to New Zealand on Monday, so I won't be playing along for at least four weeks.  I'm going to try to keep up at least with FJ via the archive, but since I'll have no idea what day it is (I'll be in the future!), I may just save it all until I get back.  

That's a bucket-list worthy trip, for sure. Have a wonderful time!

[Bastet]

I watched with friends, so didn't keep track, but I do know I got all but one in the first round -- the Rump Parliament.  None of us (three) got it, as none of us had ever heard of it.

What I remember from DJ is yelling "You are all dead to me!" at the contestants when Cagney & Lacey was a TS.  One of my friends was yelling at them, too, saying she hopes the game ends in a three-way tie of zero (yeah, she knows that's not actually possible).  The other was cracking up at the two of us.

FJ was an instaget for all of us.

[illdoc]

5 minutes ago, Bastet said:

saying she hopes the game ends in a three-way tie of zero (yeah, she knows that's not actually possible).

I believe it actually happened once a veeerrrryyy long time ago..... Google is your friend: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/jeopardy-three-people-contestants-tied-with-0-zero-dollars-what-happens-final-jeopardy-everyone-loses  Okay...not as long ago as I thought.

[Bastet]

1 minute ago, illdoc said:

I believe it actually happened once a veeerrrryyy long time ago..... Google is your friend: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/jeopardy-three-people-contestants-tied-with-0-zero-dollars-what-happens-final-jeopardy-everyone-loses  Okay...not as long ago as I thought.

Was that before the tiebreaker rule was introduced?  Both happened in 2016; I know the date of that game, but not when the rule became official (and it wasn't used until later).  Or does the tiebreaker rule somehow not apply when the tie is at zero (and/or between three people)?  I'll have to look into that.  Then again, probably not, since it's not as entertaining  to me as the rage we were sent into at no one knowing Cagney & Lacey.

[ams1001]

1 minute ago, Bastet said:

Was that before the tiebreaker rule was introduced?  Both happened in 2016; I know the date of that game, but not when the rule became official (and it wasn't used until later).  Or does the tiebreaker rule somehow not apply when the tie is at zero (and/or between three people)? 

Wikipedia says the tiebreaker rule changed in November 2014. It wouldn't apply if all are at zero: "If no contestant finishes Final Jeopardy! with a positive total, there is no winner and three new contestants compete on the next episode."

[Prevailing Wind]

5 hours ago, illdoc said:

I believe it actually happened once a veeerrrryyy long time ago..... Google is your friend: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/jeopardy-three-people-contestants-tied-with-0-zero-dollars-what-happens-final-jeopardy-everyone-loses  Okay...not as long ago as I thought.

And it also happened on Alex's second day of hosting...

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3766766443539614

[Clanstarling]

20 hours ago, ProudMary said:

Wow, that's an incredible and scary story. It makes me very thankful that my memory is just the televised version. Thanks for sharing.

We were stationed three countries in a row, highly unusual). Germany was the last. Dad retired after that tour. The first two had their moments as well. One just as scary. If the topic comes up in Jeopardy, I'll share.

Military brats get a pretty different view of the world. Despite everything, I treasure those tours - and we had killer field trips!

Edited November 24 by Clanstarling

[ProudMary]

1 hour ago, Clanstarling said:

We were stationed three countries in a row, highly unusual). Germany was the last. Dad retired after that tour. The first two had their moments as well. One just as scary. If the topic comes up in Jeopardy, I'll share.

Military brats get a pretty different view of the world. Despite everything, I treasure those tours - and we had killer field trips!

You've definitely piqued my interest. I hope some future Jeopardy! clues align with your experiences so we can hear more!

[possibilities]

2 hours ago, ProudMary said:

You've definitely piqued my interest. I hope some future Jeopardy! clues align with your experiences so we can hear more!

Or tell us stories in Small Talk?

[Clanstarling]

25 minutes ago, possibilities said:

Or tell us stories in Small Talk?

I'll think about it. :)

[ams1001]

November 25:

67% / 70% / 67%

In J I missed one in Character "The" Epithet and Polynesian Cultures and two in everything else. In DJ I ran Modern Hobbyist and Animal Quotes, missed one in Rap and Bod-"E", three in First Encounters, and four in Impressionist.

Did not get FJ (I also guessed A Passage to India).

TSes: (J had 6; DJ had 5 + 1 DD) I got Medgar Evers, français, panther (DD), eagles, eyelids, and anonymous.
 

[Bastet]

Archive game for me since I'll be alternating between football and getting stuff done.

The jalapeño TS surprised me -- name a chili pepper with a diacritical mark for $200 and no one thinks of jalapeño?  So did eyelids being a TS.  And no one guessing Anonymous.  The Medgar Evers TS made me sad.  So did the DD contestant apparently having no idea who Huey Newton was.  (Maybe if it had said Huey P. Newton?)

I missed three in writing and two in Polynesian, but ran everything else in the first round.  

I only ran body in DJ, but I did get all but Jennifer's Body in rap, all but Wimpole in encounters, and all but eagles in quotes.  I missed three in impressionists and two in hobbies.

I had no idea for FJ.

Edited November 26 by Bastet

[bad things are bad]

Yay for not "Father" Kevin

[Trey]

3 hours ago, bad things are bad said:

Yay for not "Father" Kevin

He reminds me of Father Brown, as played by Mark Williams.

I did not get FJ.  I was hung up on it being something by Kipling but the only book of his I've read is Kim and I knew it wasn't that so I had nothing.

[Shrek]

Somehow I got FJ correct, pulled it out of my ass at the very last moment when I reread the clue & the "bet" part jumped out at me, I knew it was over a bet & it was all I had.

[dgpolo]

Did anyone else notice that it actually said Cosmopolitan in the background of the pic of Helen Gurley Brown?

[Bastet]

Archive game for me.

The treble TS surprised me, but that was it for the regular game.  The Scalia and Alito guesses for FJ, though - WTactualF? 

I dreaded the Queen Victoria category, but got all but Hanover.  Same with Navy -- I got all but "Anchors Aweigh" (hearing the clip wouldn't have helped; I'd recognize the song as something military, but couldn't have come up with the title).  It was movies that turned out to be my disaster category in the first round; the only one I came up with was Jurassic Park.  I got all but Dmitry in fakes, all but Croix de Guerre in pigeons, and ran CU.

In DJ, I dreaded poetry, but got all but "The New Colossus".  No bad categories, but I didn't run anything, either.  I got all but John Lithgow in Emmys and all but oblate in the vocab category, but missed two each in the rest.

FJ wasn't quite an instaget, but close.

 

[Grizzly]

My Anglophile is showing. I knew both Hanover and Blenheim Palace.

[ams1001]

November 26:

73% / 67% / 70%

Not too bad in the first round… I missed one in It's a Fake, Pigeons, Movie Amusements, and "CU", and two in Queen Victoria and In the Navy.

In DJ I ran They Won Emmys For…, missed one in Poetry, and two in everything else.

I got FJ! I wasn't sure about the year but it's the only justice who came immediately to mind who wasn't definitely too recent. (Taft also occurred to me after I said Brandeis, so I looked it up after; they were born a year apart and Taft was Chief Justice from 1921-1930, so he wouldn't have been a bad guess, either).

TSes: (J had 1 + the DD; DJ had 6 + both DDs) I got earlobe, Esperanto, and The Road Not Taken (DD).
 

31 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I got all but "Anchors Aweigh" (hearing the clip wouldn't have helped; I'd recognize the song as something military, but couldn't have come up with the title

My dad might disown me if I missed that. He's the webmaster for his Navy ship's reunion association (also currently the president) and sometimes he'll send me the link to look at something on the website. It used to automatically play that song when the page loaded (he turned that off at some point). I would always forget and be startled every time. 

[chessiegal]

Bleinheim Palace was featured in the Rick Steves episode I watched before J!. Spooky.

[Browncoat]

Greetings from New Zealand!  And the future!  It's Wednesday afternoon here, but I was able to check the archives for Monday and Tuesday.  I didn't keep track of TS, but I managed to get FJ on Monday, but had absolutely no clue for Tuesday's.

The weather is fabulous here!  I'm off to Hobbiton tomorrow, with a stop at the Waitomo glowworm caves along the way.  So far, so good, but I am knackered!  It's not even 3:30 in the afternoon here, but I am in for the day.  

[Driad]

In the intro, my local station often includes a clip of three contestants walking onto the stage, seen from behind them.  It is always the same clip AFAICT, so the people are not that day's contestants.  I don't know what it accomplishes besides wasting a few seconds of airtime.

At a publishing job I had, a colleague's husband graduated from an Episcopal (IIRC) seminary. He was required to work in a non-church job for a while before he would be assigned to a church.  He got a job in our department, typing and copying etc.
 

[30 Helens]

For some reason, my DVR missed taping Jeopardy AGAIN (same thing happened last week) and I only realized it in time to catch FJ. At least I got that right. Sort of. Brandeis came to mind but I didn’t think the timeline was right so I didn’t say it out loud. But in the absence of other ideas, I believe that’s what I would have written down. So I’m giving myself the win.

Am I a great big cheater?

[Clanstarling]

On 11/26/2024 at 6:40 AM, Trey said:

I did not get FJ.  I was hung up on it being something by Kipling but the only book of his I've read is Kim and I knew it wasn't that so I had nothing.

I knew it was Frost, and even knew a couple lines. Unfortunately, they weren't the title of the poem. :(

10 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

For some reason, my DVR missed taping Jeopardy AGAIN (same thing happened last week) and I only realized it in time to catch FJ. At least I got that right. Sort of. Brandeis came to mind but I didn’t think the timeline was right so I didn’t say it out loud. But in the absence of other ideas, I believe that’s what I would have written down. So I’m giving myself the win.

Am I a great big cheater?

Nope. Depends on your "house" rules. :)

I misread the FJ clue, and thought the Justice was someone who'd been born in 1916, so I was WAY off base.

Edited November 27 by Clanstarling

[MrAtoz]

I thought about Brandeis, but ended up going with Felix Frankfurter. Who was a bit too late for the clue. I also misunderstood it to think that the Justice himself was an immigrant, rather than being the child of immigrants.

[Trey]

On 11/26/2024 at 9:40 AM, Trey said:

I did not get FJ.  I was hung up on it being something by Kipling but the only book of his I've read is Kim and I knew it wasn't that so I had nothing.

2 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

I knew it was Frost, and even knew a couple lines. Unfortunately, they weren't the title of the poem. :(

 

The Frost clue was a missed DD in DJ last night.  I was referring to Monday's FJ.

I did not get last night's FJ either.  I saw US Supreme Court Justices and knew I wouldn't get it.  I didn't.

[possibilities]

The current champ has a broad and intersting knowledge base, which I find makes watching him interesting and fun.

That business about the earlobe crease was news to me and I found it really hard to believe. However, this says it's true:

https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/blog/archive/2015/what-is-the-name-of-this-sign.html

[shapeshifter]

11 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

I misread the FJ clue, and thought the Justice was someone who'd been born in 1916, so I was WAY off base.

Yes, the crucial comma pause:

• Born to immigrant parents, in 1916 he was the 1st Supreme Court nominee to undergo public Senate confirmation hearings

I too read it as “Born to immigrant parents in 1916,” but birth dates for Supreme Court Justices are not in my mental database, so I glossed over it.
I actually managed to initially discern the likely ethnicity, and even thought the name began with a B, but then got nowhere, so went with Scalia rather than nothing.

If Ryan had heard me yelling into my TV's wormhole: "The Road Not Taken!"
— he still would have not won, since he didn't get FJ either, and our returning champ did.

I do like Kevin, the Episcopal priest, and hope he wins 5 games (or at least 4) so we can see more of him in the future.

Edited November 28 by shapeshifter
line spacing

[BuckeyeLou]

5 hours ago, MrAtoz said:

I thought about Brandeis, but ended up going with Felix Frankfurter. Who was a bit too late for the clue. I also misunderstood it to think that the Justice himself was an immigrant, rather than being the child of immigrants.

I also thought of Felix Frankfurter but was not sure what years he was a Supreme Court Justice

[MrAtoz]

14 minutes ago, BuckeyeLou said:

I also thought of Felix Frankfurter but was not sure what years he was a Supreme Court Justice

1939-1962, according to Wikipedia, so a bit later than Brandeis.

Interestingly, Frankfurter joined the court on January 30, 1939, and Brandeis retired on February 13, 1939. So their terms overlapped by 15 days.

[chessiegal]

27 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

I do like Kevin, the Episcopal priest, and hope he wins 5 games (or at least 4) so we can see more of him in the future.

According to The Jeopardy! Fan post for November 27:

Quote

Kevin Laskowski will be making a postseason return to Jeopardy. The only question is what level of the postseason he’ll be returning to. A victory today will ensure that he qualifies for the Tournament of Champions. 

Andy's post today, as always, contains spoilers.

[ams1001]

November 27:

70% / 57% / 63%

In J I ran One Good "Turn" and The Day, missed two in King James Bible, Slogans, and Seas, and three in Picture the Film.

In DJ I ran Biology, missed two in "E" Books, Food & Drink, and World of TV, and three in On the Timeline and 4-Syllable Words.

And I got FJ! I waffled between Tennessee and Kentucky but settled on the right one in the end.

TSes: (J had 8; DJ had 7 + both DDs) I got Indigenous People's Day, turn the lights on, mote, placenta, amoeba, and cytoplasm.

[ProudMary]

"Today is head-shaving day!" 😄  Ken is truly great at the small-talk, interview portion of the show.

[Mindthinkr]

I had a fair night. Got all three DDs and turn the light on, eggplant, placenta, cytoplasm and FJ. I’m enjoying the champ Kevin although I thought Julia had a good chance at beating him (until FJ). 

[kathyk2]

3 hours ago, chessiegal said:

According to The Jeopardy! Fan post for November 27:

Andy's post today, as always, contains spoilers.

That was a major spoiler since this was Kevin's third win. 

[ProudMary]

As to that placenta TS: I hope that someone has informed Drew that the uterus is NOT a temporary organ! 🤦‍♀️ I'll chalk his response up to Jeopardy! nerves, but men in general, really need to be better informed about how women's reproductive systems work.

[dgpolo]

I forgot this was a day that Jeopardy was on until the posts started appearing in my mailbox.

Every time Julia missed a clue and Ken asked 'Kevin or Drew?' I had Amazing Race flashbacks!

The uterus answer was pretty funny,🤪

I got FJ because of the 3/4 time and the Tennessee Waltz.

[ams1001]

21 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

As to that placenta TS: I hope that someone has informed Drew that the uterus is NOT a temporary organ! 🤦‍♀️ I'll chalk his response up to Jeopardy! nerves, but men in general, really need to be better informed about how women's reproductive systems work.

That one surprised me.

[Ancaster]

Sorry Julia didn't win, I really liked her.

I did better than Kevin on the New Testament category and I'm just a layperson - I ran it but the last two were TS's.  I hope there's someone at home who will tease him.

[shapeshifter]

20 hours ago, ProudMary said:

As to that placenta TS: I hope that someone has informed Drew that the uterus is NOT a temporary organ! 🤦‍♀️ I'll chalk his response up to Jeopardy! nerves, but men in general, really need to be better informed about how women's reproductive systems work.

Thank you.

In addition to placenta, I yelled amoeba, mote, and breath of life at my TV. 

 

18 hours ago, Ancaster said:

I did better than Kevin on the New Testament category and I'm just a layperson - I ran it but the last two were TS's.

Same. But that makes me like Kevin even more. He knows the important stuff. Like rap music and movies and TV shows. 😉🤣

 

21 hours ago, ams1001 said:

I waffled between Tennessee and Kentucky but settled on the right one in the end.

Same. But I felt dumb when Ken pointed out the clue…

• Its 15 official state songs include 2 that mention moonshine & 3 played in 3/4 time

…was a reference to The Tennessee Waltz.

Edited November 28 by shapeshifter
typo

[Bliss]

@Browncoat Enjoy your trip! I spent a few weeks in NZ several years ago (youngest daughter did her masters there) and it was a trip of a lifetime... I'm lucky to have had a few!)

Here I go again with the looks-like comment: does anyone else keep waiting for the current champ to sound like Oliver Platt when he speaks? There's a resemblance imo, especially around the mouth. I watch Chicago Med sometimes, mostly for Oliver. Ok, and some of the hot young doctors too ;-)

Wishing all my US friends a happy Thanksgiving. xo from Canada

[Bastet]

I watched with my parents, so didn't keep track, but I know I did very well in the first round, but just so-so in DJ.  FJ was an instaget, though -- and "The Tennesse Waltz" has been in my head ever since.

[possibilities]

I was depressed that nobody thought of placenta. I know that the degree of ignorance about this area is EXTREMELY HIGH, but I thought J! folks were the information elites.