Jeopardy! recap for Fri., Dec. 21 – Today’s contestants are:

– Graham, a musician-research engineering assistant from Connecticut. has been waiting 40 years for the band to take off;
– Ellie, a journalist from New York, saves all her cards and letters; and
– Andrew, a graduate student from California, dedicated this show to his late grandmother. Andrew is a one-day champ with winnings of $21,000.

Graham took the lead on DD2, after which Andrew took over again, then dropped back into a tie before prevailing late, showing the way into FJ with $18,000 vs. $14,800 for Graham. Ellie started DJ with $0, rang in once and was incorrect, ending with -$2,000.

DD1 ($800) – SENATORS WITH STAMINA – Who knew that this West Virginia senator would hang around for 50 years after winning his gig (Andrew won $3,200)

DD2 ($800) – PSYCHOLOGY – From the Greek for “marketplace”, this disorder keeps many people home due to fear of panicking in a public place (Graham won $2,000)

DD3 ($1,600) – FREE AT LAST – 1962, after more than a century of struggle against European colonizers: this North African country (Andrew lost $4,000)

FJ – GEOGRAPHY & THE MOVIES – Named the first U.S. national monument in 1906, it was featured prominently in a blockbuster movie 71 years later

Only Graham was correct on FJ, although with his $7,400 wager vs. the $11,601 bet by Andrew, Graham would have won even if he had missed. Graham’s victory was worth $22,200.

Political problems: In a category about long-serving Senators, no one knew that Patrick Leahy represents Vermont, or that the 40-plus-year Senator from Alaska was Ted Stevens.

This day in Trebekistan: Alex offered hope that Jackie, the popular four-time champ, might be seen again in the Tournament of Champions. Does he know something we don’t know?

Correct Qs:
DD1 – What was Byrd?
DD2 – What is agoraphobia?
DD3 – What is Algeria?
FJ – What is Devils Tower?