What On Earth?-Column #48, May 2006

Well, here we are in May. It's about Mom, as we celebrate Mother's Day, celebrated in the second Sunday in May (buy her those cards and flowers!). The first Mother's Day took place in 1873, but didn't become an official holiday until 1915. Then another popular May holiday is Memorial Day, celebrated in the last Monday in May. The holiday used to be called Decoration Day, since people used to decorate the graves of soldiers with flowers. Some Southern states have their own Memorial Day in either May or April, since they remember those who died while fighting in the Civil War (where the South fought the North).

However, there's also a May Day, celebrated on the first of the month in Europe. On that day, people celebrate with a pole dance, the pole being a Maypole and bearing streamers. Also, there's Queen Victoria's birthday being celebrated in May 24 in Canada. Victoria ruled England and the Commonwealth (Canada's a part of the British Commonwealth which is a group of countries that are or once were under English rule). After her death, the Canadians continued to celebrate her life, and celebrate her birthday on May 24 and 25, for a long holiday weekend (as long as Memorial Day). Then, there's Cinco De Mayo (or 5th of May in English), where the Spanish beat the French. I've been to celebrations where food like tacos and nachos tempt my mouth. But what's really tempting is this column. And what's tempting in this month is those graduation parties, and I want to congratulate the CLASS OF 2006. I'm proud of you, and I hope your dreams do come true. With that said, let's get to it!

First category is NEWS. Immigration reform has been the topic of debate lately. Bush is wanting a guest-worker program that allows illegal immigrants to work to earn their citizenship. Sounds fine to me. You work to earn money, right (like I did)? Well, that money can get you into the American Dream of a new life, a new house, and a new car; among other things. Why not?

Next category is SPORTS. As the steroid scandal continues, so does Barry Bonds' quest to break Babe Ruth's home run record of 714. And as he continues his quest, some continue to criticize his words about the steroid scandal. Hockey and Basketball are now into the playoffs, and the Stars and Mavericks have made it. As for football, Cowboys fans like myself watched as Jerry Jones signed Terrell Owens, who last played for the Philadelphia Eagles. You know T.O. (his nickname) for his touchdown celebrations, which have included, at Cowboys games, standing on the trademark Star that sits in the center of Texas Stadium. Those, plus his behavior off the field have caused problems with his former team, and last season, he was suspended for the last few games, and then released. Let's see how he does as he trades in his Green and Silver Wings for a Blue and Silver Star.

Next of the categories: MUSIC. In 1985, the Go-Go's broke up for the first time, after drugs and fighting took their toll on the band. In 2001, they release their first album of new material in God Bless The Go-Go's. With that album, came a lot of criticism from the Catholic League for their protrayal as holy women. Rest assured and don't let the cover trick you: They're pop musicians. That's where they began, that's the same path they're heading down even if they're not making anything new at the moment. As for the A-Teens, well, we haven't heard from them in about a year. In 1999, they released the ABBA Generation (with their take on the '70's group). In 2001, they released Teen Spirit (their first album of new material). In 2002, they released another new album with one of Elvis' songs as a cover (with another similar album in 2003). And in 2004, they released a Greatest Hits album. You'll find out more in the next column. And not only that, you'll hear about a Mexican singing sensation who began down the Latino path, and decided to take the American music world for a spin.

Final category is GAME SHOWS. This is the month you've all been waiting. It's where you finally get to know what's happening. Let's start with LINGO. It is now in its 5th season, and Chuck and Shandi are back. However, there's a new twist in a new progressive Bonus Lingo jackpot, which starts at $10,000 and goes up by $1K till someone wins it (last season, it was a staic $10K). As was the case in previous seasons, the jackpot is only good on the first draw, otherwise you're going for $5K or $100/word.

Now, the rest of the category will be dedicated to JEOPARDY!. 4 years ago this month, Jeopardy! took the show to New York City's Radio City Music Hall for its Million Dollar Masters Tournament and 4000th show (which was more of a retrospective, as the 3000th episode back in 1997 was an actual game). All the memorable players were brought in for this invitational. When all was said and done, the 3 finalists were Bob Verini (5-day champ from 1987), Eric Newhouse (1989 Teen Tournament champ) and Brad Rutter (2001 TOC winner, and 5-day winner of $55,102 and a Chevy). After the first day of the Finals, Brad had $11,800; Eric had $0 and Bob had $6800.

But it was the Second day that would have people's heads spinning. In the Double Jeopardy! round, Bob had $10,400 when he found the second Daily Double. He then made the gutsiest move ever: HE DECIDED TO BET IT ALL. That would come back to bite him in the neck, as he didn't know the question! However, he would end the round with $400 (enough to play Final Jeopardy) to Eric's $12,800 and Brad's $13,600. When all was said and done after THAT, here was Final Jeopardy in VICE PRESIDENTS: He was the only Vice President to be elected to, & serve, 2 full terms as President. Correct question was: "Who was Thomas Jefferson?" All 3 of them got it right, so it all came down to wagering. Bob bet it all to go to $800, and brought his 2-day total to $7600. Eric bet it all to go to $25,600, his 2-day total. Brad, however, played it conservatively. He bet $201 to go to $13,801. But add that to the 1st day, and that gave him a total of $25,601. That ONE DOLLAR made the difference, as Brad Rutter took home ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Eric took home $100,000 for 2nd place, and Bob took home $50,000 for 3rd place.

Fast forward 3 years later to the ULTIMATE Tournament Of Champions. After watching 145 of the show's former champs play their hearts out, we were left with 3 players who were champions in their own right: Jerome Vered, who broke Frank Spangenberg's one-day record of $30,600 (he won $102,597 in 5 days in 1990) by winning $34,000 in one day (and would wind up with $96,801 in 5 days in 1992); Brad Rutter, who won $55,102 and a Corvette in 5 days in 2000, then won the TOC in 2001, and then won the Million Dollar Masters Tournament in 2002 in NYC; and Ken Jennings, the man that boosted Jeopardy's ratings and popularity by winning 74 games and $2,522,700 in 2004, including a $75,000 one-day record win at the end of Season 20 (a few times, he tied the one-day record of $52,000 set by Brian Weikle. Weikle himself would win $149,200 and a Jaguar in 2003).

So, with that being said, we'll start with the first of the 3 Final games. On the Jeopardy! DVD, it's subtitled ANYONE'S GAME. At the end of the Double Jeopardy! round on this, the first day of the Finals, it truly WAS Anybody's Game, as all 3 ended in 5 figures (Jerome's $12,400-Brad's $14,200-Ken's $13,000).

Final Jeopardy! Category: Images Of America. Clue: Citing John Winthrop, who said, "The eyes of all people are on us", Ronald Reagan liked to compare the U.S. to this. The Correct question was: "What is a 'city on a hill'?" (Ronald Reagan added the word "shining" which wasn't in Winthrop's original saying)

All 3 players got it right, so it came down to wagering. Jerome added $4,000 to go to $16,400; Ken added $3,000 to go to $16,000; and Brad wagered $4,200 to go to $18,400.

On to the second day, subtitled BRAD TAKES CONTROL. As you may have expected, as per the title, Brad REALLY took control. And it showed in the scores after Double Jeopardy! He had $15,000 to Ken's $11,000 and Jerome's $8200. The last clue, worth $2000, would've tied Ken and Brad had Ken rang in first; but Brad rang in first, and thus prevented a possible first-place tie.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Law & Society. Clue: This Hollywood legend who died January 21, 1959 supported placing monuments that have since brought legal challenges. "Who was Cecil B. DeMille?" was the correct question.

Jerome put down "Who was (Jimmy) Dean?" That cost him $5000 to end with $3000 ($19,600 for 2 days). Ken put down "Who was Gary Cooper?" He wagered only $1000 to end with $10,000 ($26,000 for 2 days). Brad was the only one to get it right, and he added another $5000 to end with $20,000 ($38,400 for 2 days).

Now, here we go with the FINAL SHOWDOWN, as per the DVD's subtitle. And a showdown it was, as you could imagine how fierce the competition was between our 3 finalists. And it truly was a showdown between the Jeopardy juggernaut (Ken) and the Million Dollar Man (Brad). At the end of Double Jeopardy!, Brad had the lead all by himself with $23,600 to Jerome's $8300 and Ken's $9400.

Final Jeopardy! Category: 20th Century Americans. Clue: These names of 2 original Mercury astronauts, who orbited Earth in May 1962 & May 1963, are also occupations. "Who are Carpenter & Cooper?" was the correct question.

Jerome put down "Who are Carpenter & Shepherd?" That cost him $7300 to end with $1000 ($20,600 for his final tally). Ken put down "Who are Carpenter & Shepard? GO BRAD!" much to the laughter of everyone. He wagered only $801 to end with $8599 ($34,599 for his final tally). Alex then mentions that Alan Shepard did not orbit the Earth, he just went down the Atlantic. Brad was the only one to get it right, and upon the reveal of his response, put it best by saying "And I'll SAY 'Go Ken!' and 'Go Jerome!'" Sure, Brad. I'll say "Go Brad, Ken, AND Jerome." Alex then mentioned that Brad didn't have to risk anything, and as a matter of fact, he didn't risk anything. So, add the $23,600 to his $38,400 and his final tally is $62,000.

So, with that being said, as per Alex, "That gets bumped up to TWO MILLION DOLLARS. Congratulations. Brad Rutter. Now the biggest quiz or game show money winner in television history (with $3,270,102). And Ken is still up there too. He's the number 2 (with $3,022,700)." And Jerome is up to $499,102.

My opinion on this invitational: It was a good idea. After all, once Ken Jennings kept on winning until he lost, he boosted the show's popularity as well as its ratings. Even though he's not playing anymore, people like you and me are still talking about him and will contimue to do so for a long time. It was the producers who came up with this invitational by inviting in 145 former champs to see how they would do if they were to play under the now 3-year old "Sky's The Limit" rule, allowing for players to keep playing until they lost (and as we all saw, Ken really took advantage).

Well, on those words, I'll say "That's a wrap!" This is John Lee saying, "Go HOME!"