Please welcome today’s contestants:
– Colin, a museum educator from Washington D.C., got an important call from Culver City while in the Republic of Georgia;
– Helen, an opera singer from Vermont, has not one but two sleepy retired greyhounds; and
– Jason, a math teacher from New Mexico, is making a little more on the show than in his day job. Jason is an 12-day champ with winnings of $356,643.
Colin was correct on both DDs in DJ and had an opportunity on DD3 to take a significant lead over champ Jason. But Colin only bet enough to take a $500 advantage, allowing Jason to regain first place going into FJ with $23,000 vs. $20,300 for Colin and $5,400 for Helen.
DD1, $1,000 – HALLEY’S COMET IN HISTORY – This author couldn’t have been surprised to die April 21, 1910, the day after Halley’s Comet reached perihelion (Jason won the windom maximum of $1,000.)
DD2, $2,000 – FROM C TO D – Goods imported or exported illegally (Colin won $2,500 from his score of $4,200 vs. $15,000 for Jason in what was a clear all-in situation.)
DD3, $1,200 – NEVER TO RETURN – Local boy made good Napoleon paid a sentimental visit to this island in 1799 and never saw it again (Colin added $6,000 from his total of $11,500 vs. $17,000 for Jason. Against a 12-time champ, a player in this situation must take full advantage and bet it all, especially since if he loses with the smaller wager he’s done for anyway.)
FJ – NATIONAL ANTHEMS – With lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, it debuted on June 24, 1880, at a celebration of St. Jean Baptiste Day
In the FJ category National Anthems, everyone missed, which should have spelled the end for Jason. However, both of his opponents made terrible wagering errors by betting big, allowing Jason to hang on after dropping by $17,700 to $5,300. He now has a 13-day total of $361,943.
Colin should have wagered no more than $9,499 in order to lock out Helen and win when Jason missed. Also, Helen should have bet $0 and hoped both players missed and made large wagers.
Shakespearean slip-ups: No one was able to identify exit lines from Julius Caesar and Othello.
This day in Trebekistan: Alex opened by informing us that Jason in now in sixth place all-time in regular games won and seventh in money won in regular games.
Correct Qs:
DD1 – Who was Twain?
DD2 – What is contraband?
DD3 – What is Corsica?
FJ – What is “O Canada”? (Everyone went with “La Marseillaise”, which was written in 1792.)