News of the Week: Game Show Guesses, Yardi Gras, and Everybody Loves Jell-O

In the news for the week ending February 19, 2021, are a reworked Mardi Gras parade, an ancient tortoise, lunch at your desk, Jell-O recipes you wouldn’t expect, and more.

Jelly with raspberries
Pelin Oleg and Nathalia / Shutterstock

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Hey, the Post Was on Jeopardy!

“Long known as simply the Post, this publication printed its first issue.”

That was one of the questions (uh, answers) in the “1821” category on Monday’s episode of Jeopardy! If you’re reading this, you probably know the answer (uh, question). The first contestant buzzed in and said The New York Post. Ken Jennings said no. The next contestant guessed The Washington Post. Again, Jennings said no. The third contestant apparently couldn’t think of any other publication that had Post in its name and stayed silent.

Sigh.

I guess I should be happy that they were talking about the Post on a popular show like Jeopardy!, especially since it’s our 200th anniversary. But I do wish the third contestant had buzzed in and said “What is The Saturday Evening Post, you jugheads!”

Yardi Gras

What does New Orleans do for Mardi Gras when parades are canceled and the bars are closed? This.

Uploaded to YouTube by NOLA.com

Not as Old as the Post, But Still Pretty Good!

Headline of the Week

“French Workers Can Now Eat Lunch at Their Desks Without Breaking the Law.”

RIP Chick Corea, Rush Limbaugh, Brayden Smith, Lynn Stalmaster, Millie Hughes-Fulford, S. Prestley Blake, and Reggie Jones

Chick Corea was an influential jazz pianist who played with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, and Gary Burton, as well as heading his own band, Return to Forever. He died last week at the age of 79.

Rush Limbaugh was an influential and controversial conservative broadcaster who changed the landscape of talk radio. He died Wednesday at the age of 70.

Brayden Smith was one of the last Jeopardy! champions under Alex Trebek’s hosting reign just last month. He won five times and was slated to appear in the annual Tournament of Champions. He died last week at the age of 24.

Lynn Stalmaster was one of the great casting directors, working on hundreds of movies and TV episodes since the mid-1950s. He died last week at the age of 93.

Millie Hughes-Fulford was NASA’s first female payload specialist on the space shuttle. She died earlier this month at the age of 75.

S. Prestley Blake, along with his brother Curtis, founded the Friendly’s restaurant chain in 1935. He died last week at the age of 106.

Reggie Jones was a lifeguard at Long Island’s Jones Beach for 64 years (!), starting in 1944. He died last month at the age of 93.

This Week in History

First Public School Opens (February 13, 1635)

It was the Boston Latin School, and it’s still in operation.

Hedda Hopper’s Gossip Column Debuts (February 14, 1938)

The woman with the fancy hats was profiled in the January 11, 1947, issue of the Post.

Something you may not know: Hopper’s son William played private investigator Paul Drake on Perry Mason.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Refrigerator Raid (February 19, 1955)

Boys raiding refrigerator of party food

Wow, this family really likes their gelatin desserts.

There’s Always Room for Jell-O

“Watch it glimmer, see it shimmer, cool and fruity, Jell-O brand gelatin …”

When was the last time you made it? I bet it has been a while.

The official Jell-O site has the recipe for the classic Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Squares, while CopyKat Recipes re-creates the iconic Jell-O 1-2-3 (the original looked like this). Here’s one for Stella’s Cranberry Salad that includes cherry Jell-O. The Mid-Century Menu has something called Jell-O Horseradish Relish, if you want to make something your family won’t expect. If you want to make something your family really isn’t going to expect, how about an Aspic from Prepare & Nourish? It’s other name is “Meat Jell-O.”

By the way, I almost posted a recipe for turtle soup here but figured that would have been in bad taste.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Hoodie Hoo Day (February 20)

If you’ve ever felt the urge to step outside your house at noon and wave your hands over your head while yelling “Hoodie Hoo,” today’s the day to do it.

Australian Open Finals (February 20 and 21)

The women’s final airs Saturday at 3:30 a.m. ET on ESPN. The men’s final airs Sunday at the same time.

Featured image: Pelin Oleg and Nathalia / Shutterstock

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Comments

  1. Well, it would have been great if Ken mentioned that the Saturday Evening Post was still being published on ‘Jeopardy’. At least it got the name out there on a widely viewed show. Yardi Gras is a good idea. Thanks for the link.

    God bless 189 year old Jonathan; born about 30 years before the Civil War. I just hope he’s well cared for by animal people that know what they’re doing, and what he likes. He’s wonderful, healthy and handsome. Yes.

    Great Post cover choice this week. Thanks too for the 1979 Jell-O link. Imagine a time when advertisers actually came up with great jingles and music; not recycling old, existing songs? AND when Americans weren’t a perpetually miserable people with their own government stabbing them in the back when they’re needed most, because they ONLY care about big corporations and Wall Street lining their pockets and bank accounts!

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