S4·E52 Show #737, 1987 Tournament of Champions semifinal game 2.

Episode recap

The episode identified as season 4, episode 52 of the 1984‑era version of Jeopardy! (show number 737) aired as the second semifinal game of the 1987 Tournament of Champions. The broadcast opened with the familiar introduction by host Alex Trebek, who welcomed the studio audience and presented the day’s three competitors: Eugene Finerman, Michael Galvin, and Doug Molitor. As customary for the series, the announcer Johnny Gilbert delivered the contestants’ names and brief biographical notes before the first round began.

The game proceeded according to the standard Jeopardy! format, which presents general‑knowledge clues in the form of answers. In the opening Jeopardy! round, each contestant selected clues from six categories, responding in the form of a question to earn or lose money based on the value of the clue and the correctness of the response. After the single‑clue round, the board was cleared and the contestants moved to Double Jeopardy!, where the same structure was repeated with doubled monetary values and two Daily Doubles hidden among the clues. Throughout both rounds, Trebek provided brief commentary, clarified wording, and confirmed correct responses, while the studio audience reacted to notable wagers and strategic play.

Following Double Jeopardy!, the three contestants entered Final Jeopardy!. Trebek read a single clue, and each player wrote a response and a wager based on their standing. After the responses were revealed, the scores were tallied to determine the winner of this semifinal contest. The episode concluded with Trebek announcing the final results, congratulating the champion, and reminding the audience of the upcoming final round of the Tournament of Champions.

The broadcast adhered to the series’ established production values, featuring the iconic Jeopardy! theme music, the signature blue‑green set, and the familiar pacing that balances rapid‑fire questioning with moments of suspense. No additional guest appearances or special segments were noted for this particular semifinal game, and the episode remained focused on the competition among Finerman, Galvin, and Molitor as they vied for a place in the tournament final.