Jeopardy! Season 41 (2024-2025)

[SomeTameGazelle]

1 hour ago, proserpina65 said:

As for last night, I've never paid much attention to Blue Man Group so I had no clue for FJ.

The only reason I thought of it was because I remembered Tobias on Arrested Development wanting to join.

I was all ready to claim a TS in the 3rd language category because I knew the Finnish for family and imagined that it would be too obscure for the contestants but the clue also gave a tip about Vin Diesel which I guess helped Scott out.

[shapeshifter]

Blue Man Group was my first FJ of the week and was an instaget.
I've never seen them, but in the 90s a parent at the school where I was librarian was raving about them. I guess it stuck with me because it was something I could look up on the internet and easily find back then.

My oldest daughter confirms that I did occasionally buy Flintstones brand vitamins, but it didn't ring a bell with me, despite having watched the show live in its first run. Yabba dabba do? Not so much.

 

Tonight is Ben's 5th game. Is that 5 in one day, or is this his 2nd game in his 2nd day of 3 games per day?

It seems recent champs with runaways have lost steam after their 6th games.

 

[proserpina65]

33 minutes ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

but the clue also gave a tip about Vin Diesel which I guess helped Scott out.

Something else about which I knew nothing.  I assume it was a reference to one of his movies?

 

[SomeTameGazelle]

15 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

My oldest daughter confirms that I did occasionally buy Flintstones brand vitamins, but it didn't ring a bell with me, despite having watched the show live in its first run.

We definitely took Flintstones. I remember being indignant that there was no Betty-shaped pill.

4 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

Something else about which I knew nothing.  I assume it was a reference to one of his movies?

 

I think it may be something to do with the Fast and the Furious franchise, which I assume is more familiar to most people than the Finnish language.

[Shrek]

I got Blue Man Group & it was the paint that gave it away for me. I saw them once in Las Vegas, thankfully the tickets were comped or I would have been disappointed had I paid for them at the advertised prices. 

[gonzosgirrl]

I thought of Blue Man Group for FJ, then dismissed it because I thought they were a Vegas thing (only). One day I will learn to go with my first instincts. Urgh.

[Clanstarling]

On 4/30/2025 at 9:30 AM, proserpina65 said:

I wasn't sure about the date but was convinced Pinkerton was correct.  Oh well.

I thought of Pinkerton at first, but then I remembered Butch and Sundance were running from them (Who are those guys?!) So I knew that was too early. I got close - I went for Capone (!???) instead of Elliot Ness. Sigh...

On 5/1/2025 at 3:11 AM, bad things are bad said:

Damn them for bringing up the execrable Seasons in the Sun. Terrible song and turns into an earworm for me 

And now it's back.... ;) 

On 5/1/2025 at 9:19 AM, proserpina65 said:

My parents never made my brother and me take vitamins as kids, so while I was aware of the existence of Flintstones vitamins, they weren't really part of my childhood and did not embed themselves in my brain.  All this to say I had no idea for FJ.

I probably took vitamins as a child, but my Dad was never a "let's get kid oriented stuff" kind of guy, so they were probably One a Day. My grown kids eat gummy vitamins, and given my response (internal) to that, I guess I have more of my dad in me than I'd like. 

18 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I also got the TS of frozen shoulder, Nature, and cable cars.  I had a frozen shoulder in early 2020.  My physical therapy had to be cut short because of COVID, but I did manage to get it thawed.  

Ouch. I just finished PT for an impinged shoulder, which I imagine is nowhere near as bad as a frozen shoulder. 

17 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

I responded with a laugh emoji only because I experienced the same pain. And also, what was it with the ‘70s and death songs?? There was this one, “Billy Don’t Be a Hero”, “Honey” (“See the tree, how big it’s grown…), and others I can’t think of right now. It was quite the morbid decade.

PS- sorry if I just gave you more earworms.

Sure you are. LOL. I hadn't thought of Honey in many years, but Billy does come up now and again in my mind.

51 minutes ago, Shrek said:

I got Blue Man Group & it was the paint that gave it away for me. I saw them once in Las Vegas, thankfully the tickets were comped or I would have been disappointed had I paid for them at the advertised prices. 

So, I wondered if all that blue paint had any health consequences. Doesn't seem like it would be a good thing.

[illdoc]

21 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

And also, what was it with the ‘70s and death songs?? There was this one, “Billy Don’t Be a Hero”, “Honey” (“See the tree, how big it’s grown…), and others I can’t think of right now. It was quite the morbid decade.

Amen! Try "Rocky" (not the theme from the movie), "At Seventeen" (which does not feature a death but is still depressing), "Run Joey Run" and of course (again not a death but depressing) "Alone Again (Naturally)". 

Edited May 2 by illdoc

[Katy M]

For  FJ, my first thought was the Monitor or Merrimac, but then I thought of the America's cup and just jokingly answered America. But, it was my answer so it counts.  

I got the missed clues of oleo, serfs, bard, is a rose, Santiago, toothpaste, Boston Pops and Irene Cara.

I got the entire category of lit right.

I loved Pop Up videos.  I was just thinking about them the other day for some reason.  

[Prevailing Wind]

Now I've got the father of all ear worms: Bucky Beaver's "Brush-a, Brush-a, Brush-a with the new Ipana, with the brand new flavor. It's dandy for your teeth."

Oh, I should have known The Tube of You would have it:

 

[Browncoat]

I figured FJ had to be a yacht, and a racing yacht at that, but I had nothing for an answer.  

However, I did get quite a few of the many TS, including nutria, oleo, bard, toothpaste, Mary Poppins, Boston Pops, Ann Richards, grapes, Irene Cara, and debonair.

It made me sad that no one knew Ann Richards.  And that no one knew Mary Poppins.  I suppose none of them ever watched "Grease" or they would have gotten toothpaste.  Well, that's how I knew it, anyway!

[ProudMary]

We can't exactly call this the Jeopardy! curse. How about Jeopardy! coincidence for this news that broke today, the same day that Pop was a clue?

Gregg Popovich done coaching Spurs; Mitch Johnson takes over

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44967466/sources-popovich-done-coaching-spurs-staying-front-office

Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich will no longer coach the San Antonio Spurs and is transitioning to a full-time role as the team's president of basketball operations, the team announced Friday.

[SomeTameGazelle]

1 hour ago, Browncoat said:

I figured FJ had to be a yacht, and a racing yacht at that, but I had nothing for an answer.  

However, I did get quite a few of the many TS, including nutria, oleo, bard, toothpaste, Mary Poppins, Boston Pops, Ann Richards, grapes, Irene Cara, and debonair.

It made me sad that no one knew Ann Richards.  And that no one knew Mary Poppins.  I suppose none of them ever watched "Grease" or they would have gotten toothpaste.  Well, that's how I knew it, anyway!

I didn't get toothpaste and didn't make the connection to Grease until I saw @Prevailing Wind's post.

I considered Mary Poppins but didn't commit because I wasn't paying attention to the category.

I bizarrely guessed haiku for the listener-provided radio content.

I did get serfs, Allende, is a rose, Ann Richards, Boston Pops, cosmopolitan, grapes, Irene Cara, and debonair.

 

[dgpolo]

3 minutes ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

I didn't get toothpaste and didn't make the connection to Grease until I saw @Prevailing Wind's post.

I didn't make the connection to Grease either but I did figure...beaver + hygiene item = toothpaste (because of the teeth) also got, Mary Poppins, serfs, Huey Long, and Boston Pops (which was funny 'cause of the previous 'Pop' category)

[ams1001]

May 2:

I didn't leave work until 10pm. I work a normal, 8-5 job. I actually watched part of the game on my phone while I was waiting for people but my boss sent me something to print and I had to go out to the warehouse halfway through DJ. Just finished watching after I got home.

63% / 57% / 59%

In J I missed one in Little Bit of Lit, 4-Letter Synonyms, and Radio, two in Beaver Fever, and three in World History and "Pop"-pourri. In DJ I ran From the Bronx, missed one in Echo-Nomics, and three in Governors, "A" is for Capital, Classical Music, and Fancy A Word. Didn't get FJ. I did think of the America's Cup but I didn't know it was named after a boat called that.

TSes: (J had 10; DJ had 9) I got bard, is a rose, Mary Poppins, toothpaste (a guess), Boston Pops, grapes, Irene Cara, debonair, and Cardi B.

1 hour ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

I didn't get toothpaste and didn't make the connection to Grease until I saw @Prevailing Wind's post.

I did get it but I didn't make the connection, either.

[laredhead]

I feel old.  I was able to answer most of the clues with oleo, Ipana, Ann Richards, etc. just from having lived through those years.  Lately there has seemed to be a lack of knowledge of the 40's through the 60's in certain categories.  Now, I could not begin to tell you the correct answers for philosophers from the B.C. years.

[shapeshifter]

10 hours ago, laredhead said:

I feel old.  I was able to answer most of the clues with oleo, Ipana, Ann Richards, etc. just from having lived through those years.  Lately there has seemed to be a lack of knowledge of the 40's through the 60's in certain categories.  Now, I could not begin to tell you the correct answers for philosophers from the B.C. years.

• I loved those cute cartoon advertising mascots when I was a child, so toothpaste was an instaget.
• I knew oleo because it's a common NYT crossword puzzle word.
• I knew Boston Pops before all the wrong guesses, but don't ask me how.
• Huey Long, Cardi B, and grapes were on the tip of my tongue, but I needed a couple of seconds longer to get there — which is probably what Ben's opponents think dozens of times each game.

 

14 hours ago, Katy M said:

For  FJ, my first thought was the Monitor or Merrimac, but then I thought of the America's cup and just jokingly answered America. But, it was my answer so it counts.  

I thought of the Monitor or the Merrimac too. Good for us getting within 11 years, LOL. 
But hurray for your deduction of "America"!👏

 

 

21 hours ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

We definitely took Flintstones. I remember being indignant that there was no Betty-shaped pill.

It's Betty Rubble!

Edited May 3 by shapeshifter

[chessiegal]

I got toothpaste from having lived when Ipana was on the market.

[Prevailing Wind]

Not only did my family use Ipana, both my brother and I got some in our Xmas stockings!  The packaging was new & Mom was intrigued by it - she thought we'd think it was cool. I hated it. Who the hell wants toothpaste for Christmas?

[Clanstarling]

57 minutes ago, Prevailing Wind said:

Not only did my family use Ipana, both my brother and I got some in our Xmas stockings!  The packaging was new & Mom was intrigued by it - she thought we'd think it was cool. I hated it. Who the hell wants toothpaste for Christmas?

Was she trying to tell you something? But yeah, getting it in a Christmas Stocking seems not quite in the spirit of Christmas. 

Edited May 3 by Clanstarling

[SomeTameGazelle]

11 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

It's Betty Rubble!

Well after my time, apparently! I looked it up and it turns out that they took a poll and in 1995 replaced the one shaped as Fred's car with the new Betty pill.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Clanstarling said:

Was she trying to tell you something? But yeah, getting it in a Christmas Stocking seems not quite in the spirit of Christmas. 

Maybe when you're a kid, but I appreciated things like that when I was a poor grad student!  

[bad things are bad]

I knew grapes because the dorm cafeteria was boycotting them, and oleo because that's what my mom bought because butter was too expensive 

[Bastet]

I watched with friends so didn't keep track of specifics, but I had a good game.  None of us had any idea for FJ, though - I mean, obviously we knew it was some sort of yacht race, and we guessed something that had won America's Cup, but none of us could name a single America's Cup winner if you paid us, so we had no guesses.

I was sad no one knew Ann Richards, and surprised by the grapes TS.  Two of us were surprised by the toothpaste TS (figuring at least one person would know it from Grease even if unfamiliar with the commercials), but then the third had never even heard of it. 

Looking them up, the only ones of their numerous non-FJ TS that also stumped me were podcasts (we all also went with requests, like one of the contestants), serfs (we were all stuck on trying to think of a specific, named group, The Somethings), Cardi B, and Astana.

[Clanstarling]

22 hours ago, Browncoat said:

Maybe when you're a kid, but I appreciated things like that when I was a poor grad student!  

As my kids got older, especially when they were in college, there were more practical gifts too, along with sweets and such.

17 hours ago, Bastet said:

I was sad no one knew Ann Richards, and surprised by the grapes TS.  Two of us were surprised by the toothpaste TS (figuring at least one person would know it from Grease even if unfamiliar with the commercials), but then the third had never even heard of it. 

I said Ann Richards the second the picture was shown. But then, I'm old. I don't remember the toothpaste from Grease, and I've listened to it many times. (I'm in the state where I still love the music, but hate the message)

[30 Helens]

On 5/2/2025 at 1:15 PM, gonzosgirrl said:

I thought of Blue Man Group for FJ, then dismissed it because I thought they were a Vegas thing (only). One day I will learn to go with my first instincts. Urgh.

I also thought BMG was a Vegas act, but they never even occurred to me. And knowing nothing about their act, I didn’t know they have a habit of throwing blue paint around the stage. I thought of them only as a bunch of men in blue makeup who… danced or something?

On 5/2/2025 at 1:27 PM, Clanstarling said:

Ouch. I just finished PT for an impinged shoulder, which I imagine is nowhere near as bad as a frozen shoulder. 

I got frozen shoulder about 20 years ago, after doing a home renovation project. (I was scraping old popcorn texture off the ceiling and repainting, all of which required repeated overhead back-and-forth movements.) It was painful only if I tried to move that arm beyond a very limited radius, but took many weeks of physical therapy to overcome. At least my ceiling looked great!

On 5/2/2025 at 7:00 PM, Browncoat said:

It made me sad that no one knew Ann Richards.  And that no one knew Mary Poppins.  I suppose none of them ever watched "Grease" or they would have gotten toothpaste.  Well, that's how I knew it, anyway!

Ann Richards was the last liberal thinker to hold such a position of power in Texas, and even then was kind of an anomaly. Her legacy was overtaken by the Bush reign that followed, but there are still people here who miss her and her brand of politics. I had always hoped she would advance to the national stage, but that sadly never happened. She was awesome.

I remember brusha-brusha-brusha from the slumber party sequence in Grease, but I had never heard of the actual toothpaste. Clearly, even clever packaging couldn’t make it a lasting success.

On 5/2/2025 at 11:53 PM, shapeshifter said:

• I knew oleo because it's a common NYT crossword puzzle word.
•  

I think “oleomargarine” was how it was identified on packages when I was a kid? I don’t know when the prefix was cut.

And yes, oleo shows up frequently in the NYT crossword. There is also an alternate spelling, olio, which I learned from Spelling Bee but have never seen anywhere else.

On 5/3/2025 at 11:17 AM, SomeTameGazelle said:

I looked it up and it turns out that they took a poll and in 1995 replaced the one shaped as Fred's car with the new Betty pill.

Wait, so for years and years the makers of Flintstone vitamins ignored main character Betty in favor of a car? I’m indignant. I bet that stupid Bam Bam made it in before her, too.

[proserpina65]

On 5/2/2025 at 7:32 PM, Katy M said:

For  FJ, my first thought was the Monitor or Merrimac, but then I thought of the America's cup and just jokingly answered America. But, it was my answer so it counts.  

I knew right away it was the America because I knew the cup and the race were named for the yacht.  That tiny tidbit stuck in my brain from the year the race was held off Western Australia.

On 5/2/2025 at 10:01 PM, dgpolo said:

I didn't make the connection to Grease either but I did figure...beaver + hygiene item = toothpaste (because of the teeth

I said toothbrush, so at least I was on the right track.

On 5/3/2025 at 12:53 AM, shapeshifter said:

I knew oleo because it's a common NYT crossword puzzle word.

I knew oleo because it's what my mother calls margarine.  Although from her description of the oleo her family ate during WWII rationing, I don't think margarine tastes much like it.

22 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

I don't remember the toothpaste from Grease, and I've listened to it many times.

I don't remember it from the movie, either.

[Prevailing Wind]

6 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

there are still people here who miss her and her brand of politics.

I bet those same people (me included) also miss Molly Ivins.  (Except I'm in Georgia, not Texas.)

[Shrek]

24 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

I knew right away it was the America because I knew the cup and the race were named for the yacht.  That tiny tidbit stuck in my brain from the year the race was held off Western Australia.

 

I was sat there thinking that it probably had something to do with the America Cup but had no idea it was named that because that's what the boat was called so I was so close while so far away.

[proserpina65]

8 minutes ago, Shrek said:

I was sat there thinking that it probably had something to do with the America Cup but had no idea it was named that because that's what the boat was called so I was so close while so far away.

Most people think the "America" in America's Cup refers to the US but it actually refers to the first yacht to win the race.  I was seriously obsessed with all things Australian in the 80s and so watched a lot of the coverage in 87 when the race was held off the coast of the home country of the boat which had won it last.  Apparently I took away two things from that: that the Cup is named for the yacht America and that Dennis Conner is a huge douchecanoe.

Edited May 5 by proserpina65

[Browncoat]

2 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Dennis Conner is a huge douchecanoe.

Would that be a "doucheyacht"?

[Driad]

On 5/2/2025 at 11:27 AM, Clanstarling said:

I just finished PT for an impinged shoulder, which I imagine is nowhere near as bad as a frozen shoulder. 

I have had both (one in each shoulder), and my impingement was much worse. In impingement, a tendon gets compressed between bones. In many cases rest and physical therapy help it heal, but I needed surgery to remove some bone tissue and widen the space. It was months before my pain level was down to what it had been before the surgery, but eventually the shoulder was no longer painful.

[Clanstarling]

10 minutes ago, Driad said:

I have had both (one in each shoulder), and my impingement was much worse. In impingement, a tendon gets compressed between bones. In many cases rest and physical therapy help it heal, but I needed surgery to remove some bone tissue and widen the space. It was months before my pain level was down to what it had been before the surgery, but eventually the shoulder was no longer painful.

Fortunately, I didn't need surgery.  I'm not quite 100% (high 90's) but my PT is finished and I'm doing the exercises every day. But it took me months before I went to a chiropractor, only to find out she couldn't do anything for me. But I did got to PT for months, and had a wonderful trainer who I'd had years ago for a knee problem.  

Boy, both shoulders, that sounds horrible. (I'm guessing not at the same time)

[Driad]

Thank you, @Clanstarling.  Correct, not at the same time. For the frozen shoulder I had exercises, which were painful but I did them and they helped. I got some chocolates and had one every day after I finished the exercises.

[30 Helens]

3 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Most people think the "America" in America's Cup refers to the US but it actually refers to the first yacht to win the race. 

Count me among those who had no idea. Then again, I have no interest in yacht racing so I never really thought about it.

4 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

I bet those same people (me included) also miss Molly Ivins.  (Except I'm in Georgia, not Texas.)

Absolutely! There’s a reason they were such good friends.

[ams1001]

May 5:

Happy Cinco de Mayo 🍹, or as it's known in my family, Cinco de Molly 🎂 (my cousin's daughter, who is 13 today).

70% / 53% / 61%

In J I ran What Century and In the Bank, missed one in Lakes & Rivers, two in Eighth Notes, and three in "Big" Nicknames and 9-Letter Words. In DJ I missed one in New York and Lancaster, two in Literary Dress-Up and Roses, and four in Movie Title Roles and Thyme to Time. Did not get FJ; I also guessed Suriname.

TSes: (J had 2 + the DD; DJ had 9 + both DDs) I got Kyiv (DD), Baffin Bay, Holly Golightly (DD), Scarecrow, and thorns (that one surprised me; what prickly things are roses known for?).

Congrats to Ben for the TOC!

[Katy M]

I said Suriname, too.

I got the missed clues of Kyiv, Michael Clayton, Holly Golightly, the Scarecrow, and thorns.

I got the entire catgories of lakes and banks right and the entire category of between thyme and time wrong.

Good first round, horrific second.

[Prevailing Wind]

Haiti is smaller than Suriname?  I guess I have some googling to do.

ETA: I hate AI.  "Haiti is larger than Suriname. Haiti covers an area of approximately 27,750 square kilometers, while Suriname is about 163,820 square kilometers."

How, in any part of the universe, is 27,750 larger than 163,820?

Edited May 6 by Prevailing Wind

[Browncoat]

I first thought about countries in South America, but then I thought about the islands and figured they were smaller.  It took me nearly the entire think music, but I got it in the nick of time.  Suriname never occurred to me.  Probably because geography has become a blur to me.

I also got the TS of bombshell, Truman Capote, Baffin Bay, Holly Golightly, Panama, and thorns.

[MrAtoz]

Haiti was the first and only thing that occurred to me, but I wasn't sure because I thought it was bigger than it is.

[Shrek]

26 minutes ago, MrAtoz said:

Haiti was the first and only thing that occurred to me, but I wasn't sure because I thought it was bigger than it is.

That's what she said.

Sorry couldn't resist, can't promise I won't do it again.

[Clanstarling]

22 hours ago, Driad said:

Thank you, @Clanstarling.  Correct, not at the same time. For the frozen shoulder I had exercises, which were painful but I did them and they helped. I got some chocolates and had one every day after I finished the exercises.

Now, why didn't I think of that? Well...I'm still doing my exercises 3 x a day....😉

16 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

Haiti is smaller than Suriname?  I guess I have some googling to do.

ETA: I hate AI.  "Haiti is larger than Suriname. Haiti covers an area of approximately 27,750 square kilometers, while Suriname is about 163,820 square kilometers."

How, in any part of the universe, is 27,750 larger than 163,820?

I've been seeing errors on the Google AI regularly. I always go to one of the articles instead.

As for Haiti - I rejected it for being on half an island (weird, weird reason given that I picked St. Kitts and Nevis instead). The Mr got it and I thought he was wrong. Too much hubris on my part. 

[SomeTameGazelle]

Just now, Clanstarling said:

I've been seeing errors on the Google AI regularly. I always go to one of the articles instead.

I picked up the tip from somewhere that if you add -ai at the end of your search term it will not give you the AI result at all. 

[Prevailing Wind]

I use duckduckgo for a search engine. It first gives a summary in AI and then lists the articles. The article immediately below the AI gave the square kilometers of the two countries, so I knew THAT part of AI was correct.

 

[proserpina65]

16 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I first thought about countries in South America, but then I thought about the islands and figured they were smaller.  

I wasn't thinking about any of the islands being independent countries.  Despite knowing that Haiti hadn't been a French colony for a very long time.  D'oh.

[30 Helens]

My approach to AI is just like any other internet source: Read what it says, then open a more trustworthy source (or two, or three) to verify. I find it useful in some situations, but relying on it alone is lazy, which is why most people will do that and misinformation will spread. 

But AI probably knew Haiti was the right answer, which is more than I knew, so who am I to judge.

[SomeTameGazelle]

2 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

But AI probably knew Haiti was the right answer, which is more than I knew, so who am I to judge.

I wouldn't go so far as to think that AI can be said to know anything, and it can make quite ridiculous mistakes. But I exclude it from results not because I am afraid it will mislead me but because apparently using AI consumes a lot of resources and if I don't find the AI summary more useful than the regular search results it seems more efficient to try to skip that step. 

[30 Helens]

1 hour ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

I wouldn't go so far as to think that AI can be said to know anything, and it can make quite ridiculous mistakes.

Oh, definitely. I have also found that if you do the same search twice but with slightly different wording, you may get two completely contradictory AI results. So I take the robot response with a huge grain of salt. As in, the size of the world’s biggest salt lick. Times two.

[Katy M]

I knew I should know FJ, but alas, I couldn't think of it.

I got the missed clues of Back in Black, Bob Hope, Ak-47, under God and Hull House.

Another bad night. 

[ams1001]

May 6:

77% / 50% / 64%

In J I ran Metaphors Be With You, missed one in My Cup Runneth Over, Howdy Neighbor, and Just Moved In, and two in Oscar Hosts and Carp Family.

In DJ I missed one in It's a Fact, two in Rhyming Song Titles (both ones I should have known ☹️) and Novels & Novelists, three in Starts & Ends with D and Cold War Times, and four in Flags.

I got FJ but had to think for a little bit.

TSes: (J had 4; DJ had 5 + both DDs) I got Hull House and under God (DD).

Normally I'd root for the Jersey girl but I like Ben too much. But we'll see him again so yay for the new champ.

Edited May 6 by ams1001
left FJ out of my score!