Monday, June 18, 2012 Game Recap & Discussion [SPOILERS]

[zakharov]

Alright, good grief, you win, I concede the very important point.

[Turd Ferguson]

Okay, let's pretend I said something about the game.

Did Alex explain what the 2x4 category was about when introducing it? If not, it would seem odd to "hide" a pop culture category, especially when it wasn't in the second column.

[xxaaaxx]

Instaget FJ. I'm curious where everyone stopped reading and locked in their answer: London, 'new lodgings', or Stamford? ETA: 'new lodgings' here.

Not sure why the last half a page of comments happened...

[lisa0012]

Instaget FJ. I'm curious where everyone stopped reading and locked in their answer: London, 'new lodgings', or Stamford?

London for me. Though new lodgings made me feel better. I am pretty weak in my Holmes knowledge and Stamford wouldn't have helped.

[zakharov]

Instaget FJ. I'm curious where everyone stopped reading and locked in their answer: London, 'new lodgings', or Stamford?

Not sure why the last half a page of comments happened...

I just went with the most famous literary pair I could think of from London. Haven't read the stories in ages.

[bpmod]

Instaget FJ. I'm curious where everyone stopped reading and locked in their answer: London, 'new lodgings', or Stamford? ETA: 'new lodgings' here.

None of the above. I spent 20 seconds or so trying to come up with anything. Luckily I happened upon Holmes and Watson and locked it in. I was reasonably confident, but definitely not without doubt.

Brian

[MarkBarrett]

I wish that when the clue is looking for Pete Townshend's band, the contestant would ask, "Who?" Just once.

It's been done and Alex was not happy. A different thing it reminded me of was Pat Healy selecting the category ..."UM" and Alex thinking the champ was just stuttering about his next call: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=230

Did anyone mess up the Mona Lisa clue with Da Vinci? Van Gogh then Picasso had me blurting out another artist before I could take it back. If the category is going to be a mix of things I like to see something different in the second box. After two in a row with names I was in that pattern. The Warhol DD and Fauvism were easier to handle.

The FJ clue put me in the right city and then I was left to guess as the names provided were not going to help me. Holmes & Watson seemed like an elementary guess and I went for them. Scrooge & Marley did not shake my confidence when Karen's response was revealed. Alex's first words after Neil's correct response let me know he was on his way to letting us know that was it.

2 By 4 could have been quick math calculations or carpentry and that scared the players? If they had known it was music then it should not have played last. I like those kind of clues with three pieces of information with double songs plus the artist. The writers can mix it up to have something 2012 to help a young player and something 1950s to help an older player. Zodiac not completed last week was limited in potential material while 2 By 4 was wide open.

I randomly picked three pages in my Billboard book:

$1200 - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" & "Killing Me Softly With His Song"

$1600 - "Gitarzan" & "Everything Is Beautiful"

$2000 - "One Bad Apple" & "Down By The Lazy River"

[Swift'sSecondCourse]

Yeah, I deliberately avoided that 2x4 category in case it contained math. I was really mad when I found out what it actually contained and then ran out of time. Oh well.

[Paucle]

$1200 - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" & "Killing Me Softly With His Song"
$1600 - "Gitarzan" & "Everything Is Beautiful"
$2000 - "One Bad Apple" & "Down By The Lazy River"

Spoiler: show

Flack, Stevens, and Osmonds?

[MarkBarrett]

and I just realized I forgot the category with two songs by four people in the group. Sorry, my bad. You can still play the clues.

Adding: Yes, $4800 for Paucle.

[gloriaclemente]

Congratulations, Swift's/David! Every game you win makes me feel a little better about losing to you. I hope you tear it up in the TOC!

[Swift'sSecondCourse]

Thanks, Kathy!

[dhkendall]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I was really pleased to go 4/5 in the playwright's category (clammed on the Mamet clue, didn't know that he was famous for being a potty mouth (or, more likely, having R-rated language in his plays)), as I constantly clam or miss those type of clues, despite having a BA in Theatre (which I have done exactly jack squat with in the ensuing 15+ years). I'd like to think the board, the Archive, and other related Jeoparabilia helped me with the 4/5. So, thanks, guys!

[Volante]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I was really pleased to go 4/5 in the playwright's category (clammed on the Mamet clue, didn't know that he was famous for being a potty mouth (or, more likely, having R-rated language in his plays)), as I constantly clam or miss those type of clues, despite having a BA in Theatre (which I have done exactly jack squat with in the ensuing 15+ years). I'd like to think the board, the Archive, and other related Jeoparabilia helped me with the 4/5. So, thanks, guys!

Oh man, I loved that TOM about Mamet. Glengarry Glen Ross, or as it was known on the movie set, Death of a [Bleepin] Salesman.

[Johnblue]

I've recently seen the superb new Sherlock series so that's what I thought of right away. The woman was awfully giggly but otherwise, a well-played game.

[econgator]

Congratulations, Swift's/David! Every game you win makes me feel a little better about losing to you. I hope you tear it up in the TOC!

And anyone who uses Tyrion Lannister as his avatar is automatically rooted for.

[Vanya]

Yeah, I deliberately avoided that 2x4 category in case it contained math. I was really mad when I found out what it actually contained and then ran out of time. Oh well.

I was bored with that category.

[Sage on the Hudson]

Disappointed that 2x4 was timed out. ('Twas hoping to see if Metallica, Van Halen, and Boys II Men were among the quartets listed).

For once, happily, it's the one worthless category that got truncated. Oh, how I wish the writers would take all their wretched and insipid rock & roll clues and send them to lie at the bottom of the Atlantic with the Titanic.

Losing by $1 has to hurt.

It should only hurt if he knows he could have bet more and didn't. As it was, he bet everything he had and was limited by circumstances beyond his control.

[stevo4212]

One could get mad at himself all he wants, for not thinking of Sherlock Holmes. I think the point is that almost no one actually knew the right answer to FJ, without guessing. I am sure there are a lot of books about characters living in London.

Is it right that the FJ comes down to pure luck? I suppose you need to think of FJ the way the A's treated the post-season - as pure randomness. How do New landings and London lead you to Sherlock Holmes? I suppose London needs to call to mind a list of books set in London, otherwise...

[Judy5cents]

I had Holmes & Watson before they even showed the clue, the first (and only) fictional pair that came to mind. I was a bit disappointed as I'd hoped the FJ clue would refer to a more obscure fictional pairing, or at least not the most obvious one. Possibly Nick & Nora Charles, or Tommy & Tuppence, or Scarlett & Rhett.

There have been quite a few games where the first place contestant wins by betting an amount that puts their score at double the second place contestant's score plus $1. I think it's a bit flashy myself. And it can backfire on you i. I remember seeing a game once where the first place contestant ending up losing by some small amount because he did the math wrong. But I don't see any shame in losing by $1. You can only bet as much as you have.