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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 8 March 2019

Clash of ‘Jeopardy!’ titans ends with $1 million runaway win

By LYNN ELBER said, happily. The winning
Associated Press teammates boast longtime
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The friendships. Madden and
first-ever “Jeopardy!” team Kelly were quiz-bowl team-
championship came down mates at Princeton, and
to a clash of the titans, Ken Rutter and Madden met at
Jennings vs. Brad Rutter. a tournament in 2006.
With $1 million at stake, a Playing as a trio was an
big Daily Double bet by “amazing aspect of the
Rutter positioned his team whole experience,” Mad-
for a runaway victory as den said.
the quiz show’s “All-Star So how will each spend
Games” ended Tuesday. their share of the prize,
Rutter and teammates La- about $330,000?
rissa Kelly and David Mad- Madden said he and his
den split the top prize, with wife will plow some of it into
Jennings, Matt Jackson International Academic
and Monica Thieu sharing Competitions, the compa-
$300,000. Colby Burnett, ny they founded that orga-
Pam Mueller and Alan nizes quiz tournaments for
Lin took third place and schoolchildren worldwide.
$100,000 on the show host- The investment may even-
ed by Alex Trebek. tually allow them to reduce
Rutter entered the contest their time on the road build-
as the top winner on any ing the business and move
game show with a haul of to a new home, he said.
$4.3 million in regular and Kelly and her husband,
tournament “Jeopardy!” both with the National Ac-
play. Jennings was a 74- This photo provided by Sony shows Brad Rutter, Larissa Kelly and David Madden with Alex Trebek, ademic Quiz Tournaments
game winner and top mon- winners of the first-ever “Jeopardy!” team championship, Tuesday, March 5, 2019 in in Burbank, company, have travel in
eymaker in the quiz show’s Calif. mind, as well as updating
non-tournament competi- Associated Press the house purchased with
tion with $2.5 million. the credit with Madden nial America, to go big. (He But on the other hand, you her earlier “Jeopardy!” win-
“To see it come down to and Kelly. knew which war Britain’s want to see how you stack nings and doing what Kelly
the two heavyweights was “The money is great, but 1764 Sugar Act was intend- up against the best talent called the “prudent” thing
the perfect culmination of these champs aren’t here ed to retroactively pay for. available.” by saving for retirement.
it,” Madden said in an in- for the money. They’re here If the answer doesn’t spring Kelly called Rutter’s per- As for Rutter, an Australian
terview. “It certainly did not for the glory,” he said. “I to mind, here’s a refresher formance “incredible to vacation is likely. And he’ll
disappoint in terms of the wanted to bring it home .) watch.” It also made easy continue to pursue work as
quality of play, and we just for my team, because they “Brad and I have probably work for her in the final an actor in TV commercials
got lucky that Brad pulled worked so hard and pre- played against each other round of “Jeopardy!” as and pitch ideas to pro-
the Daily Doubles when pared so well and played more than any two other she faced a question about duce, including a game
needed and had a great so well.” people in ‘Jeopardy!’ his- Constitutional amend- show and sitcoms.
round.” A daring $10,000 bet by Rut- tory, but it’s never enough ments. “So a little bit more for the
“Ken played great, too, as ter ended up making the for me,” Jennings said in “I was assuming I would nest egg, and I can sup-
did Team Colby,” he said, contest a lock, Kelly said. a statement. “On the one have to get it right, and it port myself without having
graciously. A history buff, Rutter said hand, I’m thinking, ‘Just turned out it didn’t mat- to wait tables like every-
For his part, team captain he felt confident enough once, can somebody take ter at all. I was totally in a one else in Hollywood,” he
Rutter was happy to share about the category, Colo- this guy out in the semis?’ no-pressure situation,” she said.q

‘Malta Exchange’ is blend of history and thrills

By JEFF AYERS in Lake Como, Italy, that new pope and the Knights optional in Berry’s fun and
Associated Press were supposedly written of Malta, an organization engaging tale. Elements of
“The Malta Exchange” (Mi- between Winston Churchill that’s been in existence the story echo Dan Brown
notaur), by Steve Berry and Benito Mussolini, he for centuries. Malone’s and Berry’s first Cotton
Steve Berry’s pragmatic jumps at the chance. It’s easy payday has become Malone adventure, “The
hero Cotton Malone soon nothing more than meeting a battle for survival. Long- Templar Legacy.” What
regrets taking on what is with someone who has the buried secrets are revealed makes his novels stand out
supposed to be a simple correspondence and then and the consequences of is the level of research to
mission in “The Malta Ex- taking possession of the failure could impact his- make the foundation of the
change,” the latest blend letters. He doesn’t expect tory and many cultural tra- story solid and then adding
of history and thrills. Malone another person waiting to ditions. He receives help some mayhem and chaos.
has retired from his job at grab them or the steps they from agent Luke Daniels, After shaking them all to-
the Justice Department so will utilize to insure that he who works for Malone’s old gether, the result is a thriller
he can run a bookstore in fails in his endeavor. The employer. But even help that intrigues and provides
This undated photo provided Copenhagen. He freelanc- hunt for the letters that comes with a price when historical context. Berry is
by St. Martin’s Press shows
the book cover of “The Malta es easy assignments for ex- have historic significance Daniels’ covert operation the master scientist with
Exchange” by Steve Berry. tra money, and when he’s leads to a vast conspiracy is quickly compromised. a perfect formula for the
Associated Press asked to recover letters involving the election of a Trust and loyalty are merely best-seller lists.q