Warning: This page contains spoilers for the July 12, 2024, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Names In Medicine) for Friday, July 12, 2024 (Season 40, Game 220):
He got a special Presidential citation in 1955, passed away in 1995 & was dubbed “the man who saved the children”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Ashley Weaver, an attorney from Lakewood, Ohio |
Mike Ferguson, a chemistry professor from Edmond, Oklahoma |
Isaac Hirsch, a customer support team lead from Burbank, California (7-day total: $161,388) |
Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Isaac Hirsch has now become a 7-day champion on Jeopardy, hoping to finish the week as champion, picking up win #8 in the process. Oklahoma’s Mike Ferguson & Ohio’s Ashley Weaver are hoping to stop him.
Having seen the categories this morning in J!6, I would like to say the same thing I always do when this topic comes up: I am profoundly disappointed to see a Harry Potter category in this game because of J.K. Rowling’s continued transphobia. At least the show doesn’t have to pay royalties for using the content, putting more money directly into her pocket.
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(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is Jonas Salk?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2024 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
Jonas Salk is best known today for developing one of the first successful polio vaccines in the 1950s; he spent seven years between 1948 and 1955 developing the vaccine and became a hugely public figure when the vaccine’s success was announced in 1955. By the 1980s, the polio vaccine was so effective that direct transmission of polio had been eliminated in the United States.
I get the sense that there are going to be some people in today’s society angry that they are being told of a time when vaccines were celebrated, and their developers were hailed as saviors. And I will say that if you are mad about this Final Jeopardy clue, that would be a you problem.
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Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, July 12, 2024 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Who’s Speaking In The Harry Potter Books?; Set The Table; U.S. Coins; Transported To Chicago Through The Magic Of Entertainment; The Only Vowel Is “Y”; Lakes & Rivers)
A missed Daily Double was the only incorrect response from Isaac, but it was enough for Mike to lead at the break. At the interviews, Mike had $3,800 to Isaac’s $3,000 and Ashley’s -$1,000.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Mike 5 correct 0 incorrect
Isaac 7 correct 1 incorrect
Ashley 0 correct 1 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Ashley ran one marathon in Greece—and that’s it.
Mike had a chemistry lesson that saved a student’s dog’s life.
Isaac is also a stand-up comedian.
The second half of the opening round saw Isaac pick up 9 correct to re-take the lead.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Isaac 16 correct 1 incorrect
Mike 10 correct 0 incorrect
Ashley 0 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Isaac $6,600
Mike $5,800
Ashley -$1,000
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Doom Scrolling; Gardening Glossary; Art Around Europe; First Ladies; Passionate About Neutral Words; Lakes & Rivers)
Double Jeopardy saw Isaac find DD2; however, Mike found DD3 and newly doubled up to make things very close going into Final. While Ashley did avoid a Becky Lynch, she wasn’t able to get out of the hole and didn’t make it to Final.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Isaac 28 correct 5 incorrect
Mike 16 correct 0 incorrect
Ashley 2 correct 3 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 21 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Isaac $21,500
Mike $17,000
Ashley -$2,600
Both Isaac and Mike got Final Jeopardy correct; Isaac wins game #8 and goes for #9 on Monday!
Tonight’s results:
Ashley -$2,600 (By rule, did not participate in Final Jeopardy)
Mike $17,000 + $4,501 = $21,501 (Who is Salk? Love you Dayna!)
Isaac $21,500 + $12,501 = $34,001 (Who is Salk?) (8-day total: $195,389)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) SET THE TABLE $1000 (clue #14)
Isaac 5600 -2600 (Mike 3200 Ashley -1000)
2) FIRST LADIES $1200 (clue #5)
Isaac 11800 +2500 (Mike 5800 Ashley -2600)
3) PASSIONATE ABOUT NEUTRAL WORDS $2000 (clue #15, $14000 left on board)
Mike 7400 +6000 (Isaac 21900 Ashley -4200)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 56
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Isaac 3 4 5 3 4 5 3 4 5*
Mike 5 4 3 5 4
Ashley
DJ! Round:
Isaac 3 4 5 3* 4 5 4† 3 2 3 4 5 4
Mike 5*
Ashley 1
† – selection in same category as Daily Double
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Isaac 3.86
Mike 4.33
Ashley 1.00
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 21 (0.10 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Isaac $22,800 Coryat, 28 correct, 5 incorrect, 52.63% in first on buzzer (30/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Mike $13,000 Coryat, 16 correct, 0 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Ashley -$2,600 Coryat, 2 correct, 3 incorrect, 8.77% in first on buzzer (5/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $33,200
Lach Trash: $12,800 (on 13 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $8,000
Lead Changes: 2
Times Tied: 2
Player Statistics:
Isaac Hirsch, career statistics:
226 correct, 35 incorrect
11/12 on rebound attempts (on 27 rebound opportunities)
49.67% in first on buzzer (226/455)
12/15 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $17,900)
6/8 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $20,850
Mike Ferguson, career statistics:
17 correct, 0 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $6,000)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $13,000
Ashley Weaver, career statistics:
2 correct, 3 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
8.77% in first on buzzer (5/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
0/0 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: -$2,600
Isaac Hirsch, to win:
9 games: 66.828%
10: 44.660%
11: 29.845%
12: 19.945%
13: 13.329%
Avg. streak: 10.015 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- On THE ONLY VOWEL IS “Y” $600, Ken ruled Mike correct before Mike changed his response from a correct to an incorrect one; thus, the original ruling stood.
- I would say that the insistence on first names in the FIRST LADIES category is a direct result of fans making noise on the past for the judges not insisting on it in the past. Thus, if you don’t like it, I would definitely say “be very careful what you wish for” in terms of rule changes on the show in general.
- Today’s box score will be linked to when posted by the show.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Isaac $21,500 Mike $17,000 Ashley -$2,600)
Isaac: Standard cover bet over Mike is $12,501. (Actual bet: $12,501)
Mike: Bet between $4,501 and $8,000. (Actual bet: $4,501)
Ashley: (By rule, did not participate in Final Jeopardy)
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