This is why I love Jeopardy. This question has led to a lot of thought and discussion about what is and isn’t a continent. A lot of people learned something that has enriched their minds. You don’t get this watching Family Feud or Wheel of Fortune.

Maybe the term "continental" caused some confusion because it is sometimes used as a way to refer to Europe.

A MAN A PLAN A CANAL PANAMA (palindromic jeopardy commentary)

If you know Teddy Roosevelt, this one was pretty simple. But everyone naturally thinks Asia & Europe.

wasn't sure initially but no other country made sense if the country was contiguous and no longer located in two continents

I said Turkey first, then realized it was probably a south american country towards the end. Still mad about this one!

I love Ken Jennings and Miyam Bilak’s chemistry

I had the right idea, but picked Panama.

Though the Darién watershed has long been considered the boundary between North and South America, there was only one great western hemisphere land mass until construction of the Panama Canal began, the year after Panama “seceded”(with more than a little interference from certain more powerful countries) from Colombia. Turkey’s and Russia’s statuses as “trans-continental” are also dubious, given that Eurasia is one land mass. That leaves Egypt and present Panama as the only truly multi-continental countries, once the Panama and Suez Canals were completed. The watersheds and mountains separating parts of Eurasia and America/Abya Yala from one another have historically presented obstacles to travel that are at least as formidable as most great bodies of water. The same might be said of the mountains, sea, and desert, in regard to Eurasia and Africa, but that certainly didn’t prevent Greek, Roman, or Ottomon empires from relying on both seagoing and overland trade routes to rule over the lands east and south of the Mediterranean. Even the multi-continental empires treated areas on other continents aa outlying colonies, not as parts of the ruling imperial countries, so this topic is very much also colored by the way the word “country” is defined. On the flip side, if separation by even minor bodies of water is what defines continents and islands, there are probably a billion people on the planet who, technically, live on islands without knowing it, because canals and minor streams separate them from the continents they see themselves as living on, and most continents are likely actually several continents and dozens of island groups. Much of the Florida “mainland”, south of Lake Okeechobee, is islands that are separated by swamp and flood-control canals. Conversely, crossing on US 1 from the Florida “mainland” to the island of Key Largo doesn’t involve a moment in which one perceives oneself as crossing over an uninterrupted body of water, per sé. The “land” gets sort of swampy. Mangroves abound, often concealing the water beneath them, there’s a lake to one side of the roadway, and a couple minutes later, you see signs telling you you’re on an island in the Florida Keys. By the same technicality, New England, the province of New Brunswick, and portions of New York State and Quebec are on a large island that was created when the Erie Canal was completed, connecting the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers with the Niagara River and the Great Lakes region.

But why Colombia? Isn't the Panama Canal the 'border between north and South America?

Herbie, the aspiring dentist/Santa's helper from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer fame, is Ken's doppelganger!

Fun Fact. Iceland is considered to be part of Europe, but from a geographer's point of view, it could be considered to be a country on two continents. It sits on the mid-Atlantic ridge, so Geographers consider it to be located in Europe and North America. 😊

I thought it was Russia

So Central America counts as North America? Lol that means I was taught wrong in school! We were always told North America was only Canada US and Mexico 🤪

Wasn't sure of this one. When they say "continental," that usually means the Americas, but the date seemed off. I thought this happened a few years earlier.

Miss the days when there was always a clue inside the answer.

For those who read David McCullough's The Path Between the Seas, this should be easy.

1903 was the key for me and made it easy.

i though Panama was a bit earlier

My guess for this Final Jeopardy Clue would have been 1 of the following 3. 1: Colombia 2: Panama 3: Eurasia

Does he wear all black every episode?

If you are familiar with the Teddy Roosevelt administration, this one was easy.

I was going to guess Mexico, but I guess that border was decided Before 1900.

Yo

Lloyd is 2 day of $53,578.🎉

My first guess was the countries that are both in Europe and Asia and then I thought of Central and South America.

Not even a clue, went with Russia 2/3.

I wonder how many people understood Ken's veiled reference to the US in his explanation at the end.

There are no continents, just islands.😋

🎸 Panama 🇵🇦 !!

Love Jeopardy but sad moderna is your sponsor. Ever heard of the trusted news initiative? Not a good thing.