Our dude’s on ‘Jeopardy!’
By Wade Kwon
Growing up in Birmingham, did we dream of a more peaceful world, free from nuclear devastation and racial strife? As idealistic teens, did we yearn for the end to hunger, poverty, disease?
Heck, no. We wanted big bucks, big bucks, no whammies. (Stop!)
Which may explain why so many of my high school classmates have tried out and appeared on game shows. Earlier tonight, Craig Smith of Maylene joined this elite club, going braino a braino a braino on “Jeopardy!”
Answer: How Craig did.
Be sure to phrase your recap in the form of a question.
(Thanks to Biff for the tip on tonight’s ep.)
Before we get to Thursday’s episode, meet my other classmate contestants.
Ken Cohen and John Neville both appeared on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” the nighttime Regis edition. Ken won $1,000 (a Paul Bunyan question tripped him up) exactly five years ago, Jan. 5, 2001.
Ken Cohen, with proud parents behind him,
on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ in 2001.
John didn’t make it past the Fastest Finger round, though he came in second place twice (he may have returned for another try).
John Neville on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ in 2001.
Michael Dimicco went on the Comedy Central Emmy-winning game show, “Win Ben Stein’s Money” with a pre-talk show pre-“Man Show” Jimmy Kimmel. We don’t know if or how much of Ben Stein’s money Michael won.
Another of my classmates was supposedly on “Wheel of Fortune,” but he likely did it to cop a feel off Vanna. Or Pat.
Another guy from Warrior was on “Fear Factor” in December, but I’m pretty sure that I didn’t go to high school with him. I’m almost sure no one went to high school with him.
OK, back to Craig. He graduated a couple of years ahead of me. And we bumped into each other at City Stages 2005, though I’m a little fuzzy on the details. Eh, blame the heat, the beer or the deep-fried Oreos.
How did he fare against five-time champion Tom Kavanaugh of St. Louis, Mo.? Let’s go to the TiVo …
But first, Craig wants to say hello. [Real] [Windows]
‘This … is … Jeopardy!’
Let’s meet Craig, a musician from Maylene.
Craig tells a funny story about his then-young son
working the ladies at the bookstores.
First Daily Double: Craig answers correctly with
‘What are the Everglades?’
At the end of the first round,
Craig’s holding his own against the champ.
At the end of Double Jeopardy, Tom has pulled away considerably. It’s not looking good …
All hail Saint Trebek!
He nails the Final Jeopardy with “Who is Billy Graham?’
But will it be enough?
‘And after I bitch-slapped the P.A., I told her to hit the road …’
Good try, Craig. Have some floor wax and Rice-A-Roni.
Friday, January 6, 2006, 9:37 am
OMG I totally forgot this guy existed. I loved him!!