Transcript 09/14/09 Xann Wilson

[BBTranscriptTeam]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Meredith shows us the new money tree:

$1M
$500K
$250K
$100K
$50K
$25K
$12.5K
$10K
$7.5K
$5K
$3K
$2K
$1K
$500

Topic Tree:

On the House
Cover Stories
North Korea
U.S. History
Authors
Amelia Earhart
Movie Characters
Card Games
Politicians
Members Only
American Idol
Medicine
World Records
The Holy Land
In the Kitchen

$500 Which of these ingredients would most likely be used in a fruit salad?
A. Apples
B. Chicken
C. Potatoes
D. Darryl Strawberry

Spoiler

A. Apples (10)

$1K The Holy Land is a geographical region that lies on the eastern shore of what body of water?
A. South China Sea
B. Gulf of Finland
C. Mediterranean Sea
D. Lake Michigan

Spoiler

C. Mediterranean Sea (9)

$2K In 2009, over 2,500 Welsh students painted themselves blue to set a new world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as what?
A. Muppets
B. Smurfs
C. Fraggles
D. Gummi Bears

Spoiler

B. Smurfs (10)

$3K Because it is inert, which of these pharmacological treatments is often referred to as a “sugar pill”?
A. Sedative
B. Steroid
C. Anesthetic
D. Placebo

Spoiler

D. Placebo (11)

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

ATA (9)

80% A. Randy Jackson
3% B. Paula Abdul
9% C. Kara DioGuardi
8% D. Simon Cowell

Spoiler

A. Randy Jackson ( 8 )

$7.5K Members of the elite “seven summits club” are an international collection of people dedicated to what particular interest?
A. Nuclear disarmament
B. Monetary policy
C. Mountain climbing
D. Transcendental meditation

Spoiler

C. Mountain climbing (23)

$10K Suggesting his career ambitions, Joe Biden bought a puppy in 1967 and named the dog what?
A. Mayor
B. Governor
C. Senator
D. Judge

PAF (26)

Xann’s PAF team:

Sean from Los Angeles, CA
John from Findlay, OH
Artimus from Stuart, FL

PAF – Artimus

Art asks Xann to read it again.
Art: Senator. Joe Biden became a Senator.

Spoiler

C. Senator (24)

commercial break

$12.5K Perhaps best-known in its computerized version, Klondike is a popular variety of what card game?
A. Rummy
B. Blackjack
C. Bridge
D. Solitaire

ATE (25)

Ali: I really want to help you so badly. It’s funny. I only know it as the ice-cream bar. I have no idea at all.

Xann decides to leave with $10K.

Spoiler

D. Solitaire ( 8 )

Answers:
$500 A. Apples
$1K C. Mediterranean Sea
$2K B. Smurfs
$3K D. Placebo
$5K A. Randy Jackson
$7.5K C. Mountain climbing
$10K C. Senator
$12.5 D. Solitaire

[MarleysGh0st]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

The first SyndieBAM contestant of Season Eight who did not come from the lucky ROF.

Can you say WE/WE?

[AlphaDummy]

$1K The Holy Land is a geographical region that lies on the eastern shore of what body of water?
A. South China Sea
B. Gulf of Finland
C. Mediterranean Sea
D. Lake Michigan

Spoiler

C. Mediterranean Sea (9)

Spoiler

Couldn't be D, of course; just about everybody knows that Hell is on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan

[gatordoc]

She was not from the "lucky" RoF, but she was IN a RoF. Xann was in my tape group, and on the same show as mikehardware last month.

[Jeemie]

She was not from the "lucky" RoF, but she was IN a RoF. Xann was in my tape group, and on the same show as mikehardware last month.

I think MHW might have mentioned her in his writeup.

[NellyLunatic1980]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Another ROFer from the 10th anniversary show gets a second chance. She's a WE/WE®, but she's a teacher. We always root for teachers.

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

Can I phone Steve Perry on this one? What about the other Steve Perry?

Seriously, though, I'm leaning toward Randy Jackson, but I'm not sure enough to lock it in. ATA.

[Jeemie]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Another ROFer from the 10th anniversary show gets a second chance. She's a WE/WE®, but she's a teacher. We always root for teachers.

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

Can I phone Steve Perry on this one? What about the other Steve Perry?

Seriously, though, I'm leaning toward Randy Jackson, but I'm not sure enough to lock it in. ATA.

Really?

Randy Jackson is pretty much the only one of them that's old enough.

Well- except for Simon Cowell...and there's no way he was the right answer. Journey's an American band.

[ulysses5019]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Another ROFer from the 10th anniversary show gets a second chance. She's a WE/WE®, but she's a teacher. We always root for teachers.

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

Can I phone Steve Perry on this one? What about the other Steve Perry?

Seriously, though, I'm leaning toward Randy Jackson, but I'm not sure enough to lock it in. ATA.

Really?

Randy Jackson is pretty much the only one of them that's old enough.

Well- except for Simon Cowell...and there's no way he was the right answer. Journey's an American band.

I could have sworn that was Grand Funk Railroad.

[NellyLunatic1980]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Another ROFer from the 10th anniversary show gets a second chance. She's a WE/WE®, but she's a teacher. We always root for teachers.

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

Can I phone Steve Perry on this one? What about the other Steve Perry?

Seriously, though, I'm leaning toward Randy Jackson, but I'm not sure enough to lock it in. ATA.

Really?

Randy Jackson is pretty much the only one of them that's old enough.

Well- except for Simon Cowell...and there's no way he was the right answer. Journey's an American band.

Sorry, but Steve Perry is the only person I know in Journey. Besides, I'm not a big Journey fan.

[Kazoo65]

Double Dip on the American Idol Q. I can't imagine either Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell doing this.

After seeing her performance on today's show with both of the contestants that used her as a lifeline, I think Alexandra Wentworth is NOT going to be a good Expert. Bring back someone like Ogi or KJ, PLEASE.

[Weyoun]

Blasphemy, Bo!

[Jeemie]

Blasphemy, Bo!

[Jeemie]

BTW, I wonder how the new money tree played into the decision-making to walk?

Since, for the first time in US BAM history, there is a question at the lower tier (the $12,500 question) where one must risk more money than one can gain.

[Snaxx]

BTW, I wonder how the new money tree played into the decision-making to walk?

Since, for the first time in US BAM history, there is a question at the lower tier (the $12,500 question) where one must risk more money than one can gain.

Actually there was the 16K-25K leap before this, but I am wondering the same. For me the greater 5K fallback would be more of a reason to guess in an effort to make the 25K and a chance at a much greater payoff. However if too many contestants only look at that one question and see they are risking more than they are gaining, then the new tree will backfire in the form of more walks at that level.



.

[Jeemie]

Actually there was the 16K-25K leap before this...

I always forget about this one for some reason.

We DID see a lot of people stop at $16,000 after the change to $25,000 was made.

[hanzz]

$10K Suggesting his career ambitions, Joe Biden bought a puppy in 1967 and named the dog what?
A. Mayor
B. Governor
C. Senator
D. Judge

PAF (26)

Xann’s PAF team:

Sean from Los Angeles, CA
John from Findlay, OH
Artimus from Stuart, FL

PAF – Artimus

Art asks Xann to read it again.
Art: Senator. Joe Biden became a Senator.

Wow, so someone actually manages to one-up London Pfahler's ignorance of front-page for-Christ-sakes-you'd-get-this-by-have-CNN-running-in-the-background-as-you-do-other-things-around-the-house current events.

[Estonut]

$10K Suggesting his career ambitions, Joe Biden bought a puppy in 1967 and named the dog what?
A. Mayor
B. Governor
C. Senator
D. Judge

PAF (26)

Xann’s PAF team:

Sean from Los Angeles, CA
John from Findlay, OH
Artimus from Stuart, FL

PAF – Artimus

Art asks Xann to read it again.
Art: Senator. Joe Biden became a Senator.

Wow, so someone actually manages to one-up London Pfahler's ignorance of front-page for-Christ-sakes-you'd-get-this-by-have-CNN-running-in-the-background-as-you-do-other-things-around-the-house current events.

Just because he was most recently a Senator does not mean that he couldn't have aspired to be a mayor, governor or judge 42 years ago.

[ten96lt]

$10K Suggesting his career ambitions, Joe Biden bought a puppy in 1967 and named the dog what?
A. Mayor
B. Governor
C. Senator
D. Judge

PAF (26)

Xann’s PAF team:

Sean from Los Angeles, CA
John from Findlay, OH
Artimus from Stuart, FL

PAF – Artimus

Art asks Xann to read it again.
Art: Senator. Joe Biden became a Senator.

Wow, so someone actually manages to one-up London Pfahler's ignorance of front-page for-Christ-sakes-you'd-get-this-by-have-CNN-running-in-the-background-as-you-do-other-things-around-the-house current events.

Just because he was most recently a Senator does not mean that he couldn't have aspired to be a mayor, governor or judge 42 years ago.

That was the only thing making me do a double take when I saw the question. I knew he became senator and since that's the position he held before being VP it should be that. But was that his political ambition?

[silverscreenselect]

It took one day for both my hypotheses about the new money tree to be proved correct. The first five questions, especially the 5K, are significantly tougher than last year. A lot of people will give up a LL or two here. And more people will walk in the middle level if they aren't positive (especially if they've had to burn their LLs going for 5K). Look for lots more 5-12.5 winners this year.

[Jeemie]

Just because he was most recently a Senator does not mean that he couldn't have aspired to be a mayor, governor or judge 42 years ago.

At this pretty-much-low-level question, I think you can safely put aside such thoughts of there being such a wicked distractor in place.

[Jeemie]

It took one day for both my hypotheses about the new money tree to be proved correct. The first five questions, especially the 5K, are significantly tougher than last year. A lot of people will give up a LL or two here. And more people will walk in the middle level if they aren't positive (especially if they've had to burn their LLs going for 5K). Look for lots more 5-12.5 winners this year.

I don't think they're significantly harder.

They're not complete gimmes, but they're not significantly harder.

[earendel]

Xann Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
8th grade science teacher

Xann previously worked in a circus. She was a ballerina on horseback and an aerialist.

Meredith shows us the new money tree:

She's a WE and since she was once in the entertainment field, a WE/WE®. I wonder what made her switch from circus performer to science teacher?

$1M
$500K
$250K
$100K
$50K
$25K
$12.5K
$10K
$7.5K
$5K
$3K
$2K
$1K
$500

Ah, the new money tree makes its appearance. It seems to me that those who compete under this new structure have the advantage in the TofT rankings, since their dollar values at the intermediate level are higher. The exception is the step right below the $25K safe level - under the old tree someone stopping there would win $16K, but now it's only $15K.

$3K Because it is inert, which of these pharmacological treatments is often referred to as a “sugar pill”?
A. Sedative
B. Steroid
C. Anesthetic
D. Placebo

Spoiler

D. Placebo (11)

I don't like this question. A "placebo" refers to any treatment that has no real medicinal value but may work.

$5K What “American Idol.” Judge was once a bassist for the rock band Journey?
A. Randy Jackson
B. Paula Abdul
C. Kara DioGuardi
D. Simon Cowell

ATA (9)

80% A. Randy Jackson
3% B. Paula Abdul
9% C. Kara DioGuardi
8% D. Simon Cowell

Spoiler

A. Randy Jackson ( 8 )

I'm no Idol worshipper but even I knew this one.

$10K Suggesting his career ambitions, Joe Biden bought a puppy in 1967 and named the dog what?
A. Mayor
B. Governor
C. Senator
D. Judge

PAF (26)

Xann’s PAF team:

Sean from Los Angeles, CA
John from Findlay, OH
Artimus from Stuart, FL

PAF – Artimus

Art asks Xann to read it again.
Art: Senator. Joe Biden became a Senator.

Spoiler

C. Senator (24)

Again how quickly they forget. Joe Biden was a senator before becoming VP.

$12.5K Perhaps best-known in its computerized version, Klondike is a popular variety of what card game?
A. Rummy
B. Blackjack
C. Bridge
D. Solitaire

ATE (25)

Ali: I really want to help you so badly. It’s funny. I only know it as the ice-cream bar. I have no idea at all.

Xann decides to leave with $10K.

Spoiler

D. Solitaire ( 8 )

elwing has a CD of card games and this is one of the versions of solitaire on the CD. So far the "expert" is 0 for 2. Doesn't sound promising for the rest of the week.

[MarleysGh0st]

Actually there was the 16K-25K leap before this...

I always forget about this one for some reason.

We DID see a lot of people stop at $16,000 after the change to $25,000 was made.

I don't suppose TPTB ever considered restoring the $32K and $64K and $125K levels as part of their "stimulus program"? Or getting rid of the annuities and paying the top prizes in cash?

[Jeemie]

I don't suppose TPTB ever considered restoring the $32K and $64K and $125K levels as part of their "stimulus program"? Or getting rid of the annuities and paying the top prizes in cash?

Unlike the federal government, WWTBAM can't print its own money.

[mcd1400de]

That was the only thing making me do a double take when I saw the question. I knew he became senator and since that's the position he held before being VP it should be that. But was that his political ambition?

It's not an absolute validation of the answer, but it is worth noting that Biden was among the youngest ever elected to the Senate. He was still only 29 on Election Day in Nov. 1972, but turned 30 before his term started the following January. So it seems pretty likely.

Of course, to know that it helps to have grown up in Delaware in the '70s...