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Jeopardy - Season 43 - Episode 20: 2026 Tournament of Champions Semifinal Game 2
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00:01From the Alex Ramek Stage at Sony Pictures Studios, this is the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions!
00:14Please welcome our second group of semifinalists.
00:19A marketing specialist from San Francisco, California, T.J. Fisher.
00:24A band director from Princeton, Illinois, Stephen Olson.
00:30And a manager from Memphis, Tennessee, Laura Fada.
00:36And now, here is the host of Jeopardy, Ken Jennings.
00:42Thank you so much, Johnny, and welcome back to the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions.
00:47Following a huge runaway win yesterday and scooping up three big daily doubles,
00:5216-game champion Scott Riccardi is headed to the TOC Finals.
00:56Two spots remain.
00:58And today, Laura, Stephen, and T.J. are all hoping to join Scott.
01:02Good luck, players.
01:02Let's start finding out what will happen as we dive into the Jeopardy! round with these categories.
01:07We have for you vexillology, then the 11th hour, followed by movies, then book it, rags and riches.
01:18And finally, I am giving you permission.
01:20Go ahead, end with a preposition.
01:23Laura?
01:24Book it for 800.
01:25On the back of this Suzanne opus.
01:28For Anne, Neely, and Jennifer, it doesn't matter, as long as the pill bottle is within easy reach.
01:33T.J.?
01:34What is Valley of the Dolls?
01:35Yes.
01:36Rags for eight.
01:37It was the 1535 testimony of Solicitor General Richard Rich that got this guy convicted of treason.
01:46The trial of Thomas More.
01:48T.J.?
01:49Movies for eight.
01:50An insulting Frenchman launches a cow at some hapless kniggetts in this 1975 film.
01:57Stephen?
01:57What's Monty Python and the Holy Grail?
02:00Yes.
02:00Vexillology for eight.
02:02Those aren't hearts, but the leaves of this aquatic plant, Pompobleden in Friesland, a Dutch province whose flag is seen
02:09here.
02:09Stephen?
02:10What are our water lilies?
02:12Yes.
02:13Vexillology for 600.
02:14The design of the flag that this African nation adopted in 1847 copies that of the American flag.
02:20T.J.?
02:21What is Liberia?
02:22That's right.
02:23Preposition for six.
02:25Police magazine says calling for this support can prevent or at least mitigate unfortunate surprises.
02:31Laura?
02:32What is backup?
02:32Ends with up.
02:33Right.
02:34Preposition eight.
02:35It's what pirates do to get their booty, as well as another word for the booty itself.
02:40Stephen?
02:41What's plunder?
02:42Correct.
02:43Vexillology, 1,000.
02:45A 15-year-old designed the flag of this Pacific island nation that gained full independence in 1975.
02:51Stephen?
02:52What's Papua New Guinea?
02:53Good for 1,000.
02:54The 11th hour for 800.
02:55Around 11 a.m., June 28, 1914, this 19-year-old Bosnian Serb assassin becomes the catalyst for World War
03:04I.
03:04Stephen?
03:05What's Princip?
03:06Yes.
03:07The 11th hour for 1,000.
03:0911.40 p.m., April 14, 1912, the Titanic hits an iceberg, prompting transmission of this three-letter pre-SOS
03:17distress signal.
03:21Before SOS, the call was CQD.
03:24Stephen?
03:25The 11th hour for 600.
03:27Around 11.15 a.m., December 1, 1990, two workers digging the channel finally meet in the middle.
03:34One from Dover, one from this French seaport.
03:36TJ?
03:37What is Calais?
03:39That is correct.
03:40Book it for 1,000.
03:42Do not insult my intelligence.
03:44You know the story of Krasny Oktyabur, as well as I.
03:47It's said in a 1988 novel written by this man.
03:53We know it better as the Red Oktyabur.
03:55Who is Tom Clancy?
03:56TJ?
03:57Rags for 600.
03:59As a kid, this jazz legend performed as Traps the Drum Wonder.
04:06Who is Buddy Rich?
04:08TJ?
04:09Uh, rags for 1,000.
04:11This cat breed is noted for its blue eyes, a name for how it supposedly goes limp when held.
04:17TJ?
04:18What is a rag doll?
04:19Yes.
04:20Preposition for 1,000.
04:21It's a somewhat archaic way of saying, up until a particular time.
04:29What is hitherto?
04:31Steven's off to a fast start.
04:32He has the lead as we come to our first break.
04:34More Jeopardy!
04:35It's going to be coming up after this.
04:42Let's chat with the semi-finalists.
04:44TJ Fisher is a marketing specialist.
04:46And you recently learned that you have a little bit of reputation in your hometown of San Francisco.
04:50How did you find out?
04:51Yes, I've had a lot of fun.
04:53I've run into members of the public who have said hello, a couple of asked for pictures.
04:57They're very, been very thoughtful, nice people.
04:59And I was very surprised one afternoon.
05:01I was waiting to board a streetcar.
05:03And I thought I heard Jeopardy!
05:06Behind me.
05:07Doppler effect.
05:08Yeah, and I thought to myself, you know, this is really going to my head.
05:10I'm not that important.
05:12And then I had a DM from a very nice lady who was actually in town from Connecticut and said,
05:17Were you on Market Street just now?
05:19I think we saw you.
05:21And I was delighted.
05:22She said she had a wonderful trip.
05:24And I would like to think I helped a little bit.
05:26I wanted to really put smiles on faces.
05:27So I was glad that I could.
05:29We have learned that you like it when random viewers just slide into your DMs.
05:32I welcome that.
05:33TJ welcomes that, everybody.
05:35Steven Olsen is a band director from Princeton, Illinois.
05:38Steven, how do you feel about being in the Tournament of Champions?
05:41What's your emotional reaction to this?
05:43What am I doing here?
05:44That would be good.
05:45We talked backstage, talking about how strange it is to meet everybody,
05:50having seen their faces.
05:52You know, hey, I saw these guys on TV, right?
05:54And then seeing the faces.
05:55And it's just been incredible to put the faces to the names and get to meet all these wonderful,
06:01smart, personable people.
06:03I'd like to quote Tom Devlin in saying that the vibes have been immaculate.
06:07That's what we want.
06:07We want a tournament with Immaculate Vibe.
06:10I'm glad you have found it so.
06:11Laura Fata is here from Memphis, Tennessee, where she's a manager, but you're also a mom.
06:16You've got a couple teenagers.
06:17Yes.
06:18Does being on Jeopardy! help out with that at all?
06:20Not really.
06:22I wish.
06:24But it has given me the response to their, I don't know if y'all know this, teenagers
06:29do like to argue and debate everything.
06:32Fair enough.
06:33So now when that happens, I do get to say, are you arguing with an eight-time Jeopardy!
06:38champion?
06:41Does that work?
06:42It did not in my house.
06:43I'll tell you that.
06:43Yeah, not very well.
06:45About the second time I did it, they said, how long are you going to do this?
06:49I would say until one of them wins nine games, right?
06:52Correct.
06:52It's got to be nine or more.
06:54TJ, it's your board at the moment.
06:55Which category?
06:56How much?
06:57Movies for six.
06:58Rob Lowe said he inspired the scene of this prank in Tommy Boy and insists it's real,
07:04even though cows weigh over a thousand pounds.
07:06Laura?
07:07What is cow tipping?
07:08That's right.
07:09Movies for a thousand.
07:11I hate cows worse than coppers, says a cop fleeing, cow shooting babyface Nelson in this
07:16Coen Brothers movie.
07:18Laura?
07:18What's raising Arizona?
07:19It is not raising Arizona.
07:21Steven or TJ?
07:23It's in O Brother, Where Art Thou?
07:24Back to you, Laura.
07:26Book it for six.
07:27Answer.
07:28A daily double for you.
07:32You can wager up to a thousand dollars, Laura.
07:34I'll wager a thousand.
07:35All right, going for twelve hundred.
07:37Here's your clue in book it.
07:39In a 1906 novel, he wrote of splitters who earned fifty cents an hour doing nothing but
07:44chopping hogs down the middle.
07:47Who is Sinclair?
07:48Upton Sinclair in the jungle.
07:50Well done.
07:50You had a thousand dollars.
07:52Where to now?
07:53Book it for four hundred.
07:55This Sir Walter Scott novel says, I offered Richard the service of my freelances, knights,
08:01not writers or graphic designers.
08:03Laura?
08:04What is Ivanhoe?
08:05Yes.
08:06Book it for two.
08:07A little birdie told us that a 2014 Pulitzer flew Donna Tart's way for this novel.
08:12TJ?
08:13What is the goldfinch?
08:14Right.
08:15Rags for four.
08:16This former sports center anchor has helped us get up to speed on Sunday mornings with
08:20NFL game day morning.
08:22Stephen?
08:23What's eisen?
08:24Rich eisen is right.
08:25Preposition for four hundred.
08:26It's an atom with a positive or negative charge.
08:30Laura?
08:31What's an ion?
08:32Right.
08:33Preposition for two.
08:34The eyes of this fish are usually on the right side of its body.
08:38Laura?
08:39It's a flounder?
08:40No.
08:41Stephen or TJ?
08:43I thought flounder too, but it's a halibut, in fact.
08:46Back to you, Laura.
08:47Movies four.
08:48A mooing airborne cow passes by Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in this 1996 classic.
08:54Stephen?
08:55What's Twister?
08:56Yes.
08:56The 11th hour for 400.
08:5911.35 p.m. May 1st, 2011.
09:02President Obama addresses the nation to announce the death of this man.
09:05Stephen?
09:06What's bin Laden?
09:07That's right.
09:08Vexillology for 400.
09:09On Mexico's flag, an eagle stands atop this alliterative type of cactus.
09:14Stephen?
09:15What's prickly pear?
09:16You are correct.
09:17Vexillology, 200.
09:18On the flags of Afghanistan and Pakistan, green represents this religion.
09:23Laura?
09:24What is Islam?
09:25That's the religion.
09:2611th hour for two.
09:28Scheduled for 11 a.m. July 29, 1981.
09:31The marriage of this couple at St. Paul's Cathedral.
09:34It was must-see TV.
09:35TJ?
09:36Who are Diana and Prince Charles?
09:38That's right.
09:39Movies for two.
09:40A passing cow moos outside an airborne bedroom in this 1939 classic.
09:45Stephen?
09:46What's The Wizard of Oz?
09:49That's correct.
09:50No more Judy Garland for TJ.
09:53I'm sorry.
09:53It's all coming back today.
09:55NTM, NTM.
09:56Here's the final clue in rags and riches.
09:59This rhyming word can mean shabby or refer to any group comprised of disparate parts.
10:04Stephen?
10:05What is ragtag?
10:06Ragtag is right.
10:07So you have 6,200 in the lead at the end of the Jeopardy! round.
10:10Laura, you'll be selecting first when we come back.
10:12Double Jeopardy!
10:13Up next.
10:16Stephen's in the lead, but there is a lot of money available to be won in Double Jeopardy!
10:19As always, here are your categories.
10:22We have Vexology this time.
10:25Then, From the Neck Up, How Large Thou Art, followed by In the City, The Victors, and finally,
10:34TV Shows on TV Shows.
10:37Laura, start us off.
10:38In the City for 16.
10:39Answer.
10:40The Daily Double!
10:43You're 2 for 2 so far, and you can wager up to $2,000.
10:47I'll do $2,000.
10:49All right.
10:50Going for $4,000 in In the City.
10:53Once named for Nicholas II, a city on the Ob was given this new name, meaning New Siberia.
11:05What's ... No ... I don't ... Novo ... Noor ... I don't know.
11:11No, I'm sorry.
11:13Novosibirsk is the name of the city.
11:15So you're starting from scratch again, but lots of game left to play, Laura.
11:18In the City for 2,000.
11:20Pump it to Mauritania's capital, this city, created in 1960, that's home to a local camel market.
11:26Stephen.
11:27What's Newakchot?
11:28That's good for 2,000.
11:30How Large Thou Art for 1,200.
11:33Over six foot by almost 10, Guido Rainey's work depicts this archangel, a battler in the
11:38Book of Revelation, defeating Satan.
11:40Stephen.
11:41What's Michael?
11:42That is Michael.
11:43Vexology for 1,200.
11:45A pointed rod to urge an animal onward.
11:48As a verb, it means to prod someone into doing something.
11:53What is a goad or to goad?
11:56Stephen.
11:56From the neck up for 1,200.
11:57Answer there.
11:59The final Daily Double of the game is yours, Stephen.
12:02You have a pretty decent-sized lead at the moment.
12:06True Daily Double, please.
12:08Okay.
12:08Took some thought.
12:10He had to steal himself, but he's going for $18,800 in from the neck up.
12:15Also called gray matter, this outermost part of the brain, with a two-word name, integrates
12:21sensory impulses.
12:28Stephen?
12:29What's corpus callosum?
12:32Sorry, no.
12:33It's the cerebral cortex.
12:35TJ, you're in the lead.
12:36Select again, Stephen.
12:37And the city for 1,200.
12:39At the onset of the British Civil Wars, Charles I raised his flag on what's now Standard Hill
12:44in this city.
12:45Stephen.
12:46What's Nottingham?
12:47And for Nottingham.
12:48The victors for 1,200.
12:49Pictured here, the second king of this name was the first king of a united Italy.
12:53Stephen.
12:54What's Vittorio Emanuel?
12:56Right.
12:56The victors for 1,600.
12:58The first socialist elected to Congress, Victor Berger co-founded the Socialist Party with
13:03this five-time presidential candidate.
13:05TJ.
13:05Who is Debs?
13:06It is Eugene Debs.
13:07TV shows for 12.
13:09For season four, Bradley Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, return to TMS, which is this show within a
13:15show that has the same name.
13:17Stephen.
13:18What's The Morning Show?
13:19Right.
13:20The victors for 2,000.
13:21Based on themes from Mother Goose, Babes in Toyland is one of the best-known operettas
13:26by this composer.
13:27TJ.
13:28Who is Victor Herbert?
13:29Well done for 2,000.
13:30City for eight.
13:31This town, perhaps best known for a 1598 law, sits at the head of the estuary of the
13:37Loire River.
13:41You might have heard of its edict.
13:42What is Nantes?
13:43Back to TJ.
13:44Large for eight.
13:4622 by 74 feet.
13:48Diego Rivera's last mural in the U.S. depicts cultural solidarity and is known as this continent
13:53crossing unity.
13:55Stephen.
13:55What's Pan-American?
13:57Correct.
13:58Vexology for 1,600.
13:59This common synonym for annoy is also the strongest cuss word poo-nose.
14:05Stephen.
14:05What's bother?
14:06He does say bother a lot, yes.
14:08Vexology, 2,000.
14:10If you do this male first name to someone, you worry them mentally.
14:14TJ.
14:14What is Harry?
14:15Very good.
14:16N-4-4.
14:18This city with a slightly different name in the mother tongue offers awesome views
14:22of islands like Ischia, Procida, and Capri.
14:25TJ.
14:26What is Napoli?
14:27Yes, or Naples.
14:27Victor's for eight.
14:29In literature, he says, I beheld the wretch, the miserable monster whom I had created.
14:35TJ.
14:35Who is Victor Frankenstein?
14:37You're right.
14:37Shows for 16.
14:39It stinks, if you can't recall, Coming Attractions with Jay Sherman was the show within this show,
14:44starring John Lovitz.
14:48What is the critic?
14:50What is the critic?
14:51Vex for eight.
14:52An offense to someone's dignity, it has a double F, like offense.
14:57Stephen.
14:57What's affront?
14:58You're correct.
14:59From the neck up for 800.
15:02The back two-thirds of the eyeball.
15:04It's actually an extension of the brain and connected to it by the optic nerve.
15:08Stephen.
15:09What's the retina?
15:10Yes.
15:11From the neck up for 1600.
15:12This word applied to the eye socket before it got its astronomical meaning.
15:17TJ.
15:17What is orbital?
15:18That's right, or orbit.
15:20Large for 2000.
15:22This artist referred to her many giant sculptures of spiders as her most successful subject.
15:30Those are by Louise Bourgeois, and they're fantastic.
15:33TJ.
15:33TV shows for 2000.
15:35On season one of 30 Rock, we found out about this sitcom on BET with Destin Owens as the
15:41David Hyde Pierce character.
15:42Stephen.
15:43What is Queen of Jordan?
15:44No.
15:46Laura or TJ?
15:48Different 30 Rock joke.
15:50This one's about Black Frasier.
15:51Back to you, TJ.
15:53Neck up for 2000.
15:54Found above the base of the tongue, this free hanging end of the soft palate vibrates when
15:59you snore.
16:00Stephen.
16:01What's uvula?
16:02That's right.
16:03Vexology for 400.
16:04This synonym for vex, that's also three letters, becomes an adjective with the addition of some.
16:10TJ.
16:10What is urc?
16:11You got it.
16:12Large for 16.
16:14Christo and Jean-Claude created this vast 2005 work, a long billowy saffron ribbon meandering
16:20through Central Park.
16:22Laura.
16:22What are the gates?
16:23That's right.
16:24TV shows for eight.
16:26Psycho Dad was a show much enjoyed by this character on Married with Children.
16:31TJ.
16:31Who is Al Bundy?
16:32Right.
16:33Victor's for four.
16:34His lesser-known works include the poetry collection Les Contemplations and a play Les
16:40Biurgraves.
16:41TJ.
16:41Who is Victor Hugo?
16:42That's the right, Victor.
16:43Large for four.
16:45After completing this 25-foot-long painting in Paris, Picasso refused to let it reside in
16:50Spain while Franco was in power.
16:52Steven.
16:52What's Guernica?
16:53Yes.
16:54From the neck up for four.
16:56In a typical adult human mouth, the 12 of these emerge from the gums behind the primary
17:01teeth.
17:02Steven.
17:02What are molars?
17:03That's right.
17:04And the last clue.
17:05TV shows on TV shows.
17:07By the power of Neptune, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy protect the ocean and its creatures
17:12on a show beloved on this show.
17:14TJ.
17:14What is SpongeBob SquarePants?
17:17That is right.
17:19TJ has a decent but not insurmountable lead heading into Final Jeopardy.
17:22Here's the category that will decide things.
17:24We're dealing with 20th century bigwigs.
17:27And the clue is coming your way right after this break.
17:32Good news for fans of 20th century bigwigs.
17:34That's the Final Jeopardy category.
17:36Here's the clue.
17:38The subtitle of a 2022 bio of this magnate who died in 1976 is, The Meek Shall Inherit
17:44the Earth, But Not Its Mineral Rights.
17:4730 seconds.
17:48Good luck.
18:19Let's begin with Laura Fada, who had $1,600 coming into Final Jeopardy.
18:23And at the very last minute wrote down De Beers, thinking of diamonds.
18:27Good guess.
18:28Not De Beers though, I'm afraid, Laura.
18:30How much did you wager?
18:31$1,599, leaving you with $1.
18:34Stephen Olsen was in second place with $8,400 after a strong game but a daily double miss.
18:39What did you write down, Stephen?
18:41Also De Beers, and we know that's not right.
18:44How much did you wager?
18:45$5,404.
18:46That will knock you down to $2,996.
18:50P.J. Fisher had the lead with $13,800.
18:53What did he come up with in Final?
18:56Who is DuPont?
18:57No, a different kind of mineral rights here.
19:00This was an oil billionaire.
19:01J. Paul Getty, the alleged source of that quote.
19:04What did you wager, T.J.?
19:06It's all down to this.
19:07Just $3,001, leaves you with $10,799.
19:10And that puts you in the TOC Finals, T.J.
19:14Congratulations.
19:17We have one more finalist to determine, and that will happen tomorrow on the Alex Provek
19:21stage.
19:21We'll see you then.
19:22Yeah, we're ready.
19:22bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom.
19:42The other, are you so ready to sponsor and say it's your best.
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