Jeopardy! recap for Mon., Dec. 1

 Here are today's contestants:

- Libby Jones, a recruiter from Davenport, Florida;

- Brendan Thomas, a historian from Fayetteville, Arkansas; and

- Harrison Whitaker, a researcher originally from Terre Haute, Indiana. Harrison is a 14-day champ with winnings of $373,999.

Jeopardy!

STATE DEPT. NO-GOs // TELEVISION // A STACK OF "LEE" // GET SOME REST // PLENTY OF FLUIDS // A SICK DAY

DD1 - $800 - GET SOME REST - Latin for "gap" or "yawn", it can be a break in work, often for TV productions over summer (On the first clue, Harrison lost $1,000.)

Scores at first break: Harrison $4,400, Brendan $2,800, Libby $0.

Scores entering DJ: Harrison $6,600, Brendan $2,800, Libby $3,000.

Double Jeopardy!

A BOATLOAD OF TROUBLE // PLAYS BY CHARACTERS // HODGEPODGE // GEOGRAPHIC FILM TITLES // A COURSE OF HORSES // TIMELY WORDS

DD2 - $1,200 - GEOGRAPHIC FILM TITLES - It's the only James Bond film with a country in its title (On the first clue of DJ, Brendan was slightly off and dropped $2,800 on a true DD.)

DD3 - $1,600 - A BOATLOAD OF TROUBLE - An 1898 court of inquiry said it was "unable to obtain evidence fixing the responsibility for the destruction of" this (Libby improved by $3,000 to $12,400 vs. $10,600 for Harrison.)

Libby found DD3 in a close second behind Harrison, bet enough to take a small lead, but Harrison regained first on the very next clue and held it into FJ at $21,000 vs. $17,200 for Libby and $3,600 for Brendan.

Final Jeopardy!

POSTAGE STAMPS - A 1959 4-cent stamp depicts an eagle & a maple leaf beneath the name of this project

Libby and Brendan were correct on FJ. Libby added $7,601 to win with $24,801.

Final scores: Harrison $7,599, Brendan $7,199, Libby $24,801.

Wagering strategy: Against a 14-time champ, DD3 would have been a great spot for an all-in wager by Libby. If she had done that, she would have had the lead into FJ and could have won with her correct response without depending on Harrison to miss.

Judging the writers: Having two categories about films and plays feels too similar in subject matter to occupy one-third of the board in DJ. Also, a FJ category title such as INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS would have more on point as to the knowledge most players would use to solve this clue than POSTAGE STAMPS.

Correct Qs: DD1 - What is hiatus? DD2 - What is "From Russia With Love" (Brendan said "To" instead of "From") DD3 - What is the Maine? FJ - What is the St. Lawrence Seaway?