WWTBAM Bored

Billie Johnston (vettech)
Old Town, ME


Billie only had time to answer three questions on yesterday's show, but her bank is already up to $16,000 and she still has all of her lifelines.

Billie says she was really nervous with anticipation before the game, but once she got out here she entered into a little zen place.

Billie's husband Craig is in the audience.


Topic Tree (Randomized)
9: British TV
3: Running Wild
4: TV Catchphrases
7: In the Stacks
6: Say Cheese
10: X Factor
8: Top Tunes
2: $5,000
5: $10,000
1: $1,000


Question #4 - Level 8: Top Tunes
Which of these is a palindromic song title of a Top 40 hit released by a band with a palindromic name?

A: Hannah B: Racecar
C: SOS D: Party Trap

Billie notes that these are all palindromes, but

Spoiler

SOS was recorded by ABBA

, which is also a palindrome.

Answer/Value/Bank

C: SOS
Question Value: $15,000
Bank: $31,000

Meredith says that Billie's bank is $31,100, disagreeing with the official total displayed on screen.


Question #5 - Level 10: X Factor
In a surprising 2008 study, researchers demonstrated that it was possible to produce X-rays by doing what?

A: Tearing paper B: Sharpening a pencil
C: Bending a paper clip D: Unrolling Scotch tape

Billie doesn't remember hearing this study. She jumps the question.

Answer/Value/Bank

D: Unrolling Scotch tape
Question Value: $25,000
Bank: $31,000

Question #6 - Level 6: Say Cheese
Gorgonzola cheese is named for a small town just outside what major European city?

A: Milan B: Marseilles
C: Madrid D: Munich

Billie is pretty sure that Gorgonzola is Italian and only one of these cities is in Italy.

Answer/Value/Bank

A: Milan
Question Value: $7,000
Bank: $38,000

Question #7 - Level 7: In the Stacks
The University of California, San Diego's Geisel Library bears the real surname of what author?

A: George Orwell B: O. Henry
C: Dr. Seuss D: Mark Twain

Answer/Value/Bank

C: Dr. Seuss
Question Value: $100
Bank: $38,100

Question #8 - Level 4: TV Catchphrases
Which of these classic TV catchphrases was not popularized b a character on Saturday Night Live?

A: You look mahvellous! B: Well, isn't that special?
C: Yeah that's the ticket! D: Dyn-o-mite!

Billie remembers all of these are from Saturday Night Live, except for

Spoiler

Dyn-o-mite! which was from Good Times

.

Answer/Value/Bank

D: Dyn-o-mite!
Question Value: $3,000
Bank: $41,100

Question #9 - Level 3: Running Wild
For many years, what tech company was represented by an iconic mascot known as the "Running Man"?

A: AOL B: Dell
C: Microsoft D: IBM

Billie remembers this, just vaguely. She asks the audience.

ATA

A: 73% B: 10% C: 7% D: 10%

Billie says she wouldn't have remembered that on her own, but that's a really good percentage.

Answer/Value/Bank

A: AOL
Question Value: $2,000
Bank: $43,100

-- Commercial Break --


Billie has wanted to get on Millionaire since it first went on the air in 1999. Back when the did the Phone Game, she would call call and get through and they'd say they'd randomly call back tomorrow. She sit and wait by the phone like the lonely date that wonders why he doesn't call.

Meredith: But you kept trying and here you are!


Question #10 - Level 9: British TV
In the U.K. version of the TV series "The Office," the character that inspired Dwight Schrute has what name?

A: Nigel B: Gareth
C: Clive D: Kieran

Billie isn't going to hazard a guess; she hasn't watched either version of "The Office." She jumps the question.

Answer/Value/Bank

B: Gareth
Question Value: $500
Bank: $43,100

It is time to play Classic Millionaire!


$100,000
In the video game "Donkey Kong," the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?

A: Climbman B: Runman
C: Jumpman D: Smashman

Billie: I don't think it's

Spoiler

Climbman

. I think I'm going to take a chance. Leaving with 25 is a lot more than I came here with. I'm going to go with

Spoiler

C: Jumpman,

final answer.

Answer

C: Jumpman

-- Commercial Break --


Billie says that last answer was a pure guess.

Billie: I knew I would regret more not going for it than if I went for it and missed. So I went for it.

Meredith: I guess because you waited so long to get on the show--

Billie: I waited so long and I wanted to play! I'm not ready to leave yet!


$250,000
Which of these pairs of Native American tribes share their names with horses that have won the Kentucky Derby?

A: Omaha and Spokane B: Kiowa and Narragansett
C: Choctaw and Hopi D: Mohawk and Zuni

Billie: I'm pretty sure Omaha is a horse that won the Kentucky Derby. I really don't know about the others.
You know what, I came to play!

Meredith: The whole audience goes "ahhhh!" [she makes the hand biting her fist gesture].

Billie: I'm not responsible for any heart attacks.

Meredith: I'm checking your husband. He's looking cool.

Billie: He's very calm about everything. I'm going to say

Spoiler

A

, final answer.

Billie gives Meredith a questioning look.

Meredith: I know. Oh, oh--yeah!

Answer

A: Omaha and Spokane

$500,000
Who was the only person besides John Hancock to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?

A: Abraham Clark B: Charles Thomson
C: Lewis Morris D: George Clymer

Billie: Well, Meredith, I may be a little bit crazy, but I'm not a complete lunatic.

Billie walks away with $250,000.

Meredith prompts Billie for what she would have guessed and Billie says probably

Spoiler

B

.

Answer

B: Charles Thomson

-- Commercial Break --

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question #5 - Level 10: X Factor
In a surprising 2008 study, researchers demonstrated that it was possible to produce X-rays by doing what?

A: Tearing paper B: Sharpening a pencil
C: Bending a paper clip D: Unrolling Scotch tape

If Vettech had watched Bones, she would have known this.

Oh wait...I think that episode came out after she taped.

Congratulations, Billie!

It was a pleasure transcribing today's episode. You even worked in a shout-out for the Phone Game!

That was awesome!!

Well done!

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$100,000
In the video game "Donkey Kong," the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?

A: Climbman B: Runman
C: Jumpman D: Smashman

Billie: I don't think it's

Spoiler

Climbman

. I think I'm going to take a chance. Leaving with 25 is a lot more than I came here with. I'm going to go with

Spoiler

C: Jumpman,

final answer.

Answer

C: Jumpman

Love to see the old school video game questions in here.... but seriously, Jumpman for 100K?

Still waiting for a question about Metroid. Still..... waiting....................

Terrific game! Lots of fun following you in the transcript!

Great job! I see why they moved your appearance date back lol.


(Personal Commentary): I knew the $100K question cold, but probably would have crashed at the $250K question since one of the names in B sounded familiar. I don't know if I would've pulled the trigger, but if I had, I would've went with B and crashed.

Congratulations Billie! It was also nice to see on the Geisel Library question a mention of my alma mater, UCSD.

Jeemie wrote:

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question #5 - Level 10: X Factor
In a surprising 2008 study, researchers demonstrated that it was possible to produce X-rays by doing what?

A: Tearing paper B: Sharpening a pencil
C: Bending a paper clip D: Unrolling Scotch tape

If Vettech had watched Bones, she would have known this.

Oh wait...I think that episode came out after she taped.

That was one of those stories I happened to read in the strange news areas where I get my news (I figure those stories might come up as Millionaire questions) and that they're thinking of using this concept to make cheap X-Rays or X-Ray machines that can fit and be used in an ambulance.

You know something stupid that's been getting to me? In Round One, the stage is purple and the borders are purple. In Round Two, for the $100,000 and $250,000 questions, the stage is blue and the borders are blue. But for some reason, for the $500,000 question, the blue stage has white borders. Why? That's been the case on all the half-million-dollar questions we've seen so far.

First things second. You are very smart and incredibly gutsy. There aren't many players like you playing the game anymore. If there were, we'd have had a third millionaire by now.

Congrats vettech, certainly tied for the big win of the season!!

Q#4- Another shoutout to Tangredi, who must have a hand in these ABBA stacks!

Q#11- Much like the previous contestant, it looked like a decision based on how much $ in the pot. Something like $66,100, I'd run like that AOL man with the $$. Something like $40K after "jump"ing $25K, it becomes worth a gamble.

Q#12-While Confessor has been to numerous Derbies, I've been to the Belmont, whenever possible, when a Triple Crown is a possibility since the 90s. (I only saw near misses) So I immediately recognized Omaha as a TC winner; I'd probably recognize all the TC winners. No other names rang a bell, so the only worry was the slight chance that Spokane was not a winner at all and two of the unknown names won the Derby years ago, which would make it an awfully nasty question.
How about that, a Kentucky Bluegrass early, and a big KY Derby one late.

Q#13- No idea either. That means I must not have a historical marker for this among my IBE game photos. I don't think so.

Excellent job!!! MBFFB would admire your guts in going for those two big questions you weren't 100% sure of....

How cruel of the show to make you sit on that kind of secret for 6 months (and make you wait yet another for the payday!).... I'd say you probably handled that a lot better than I would have!

Congrats on the big win vettech!!!! This is almost as prestigious as your Rookie of the Year win in the LSWE......

lb13

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Billie Johnston (vettech)
Old Town, ME

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question #4 - Level 8: Top Tunes
Which of these is a palindromic song title of a Top 40 hit released by a band with a palindromic name?

A: Hannah B: Racecar
C: SOS D: Party Trap

Billie notes that these are all palindromes, but

Spoiler

SOS was recorded by ABBA

, which is also a palindrome.

Answer/Value/Bank

C: SOS
Question Value: $15,000
Bank: $31,000

elwing loves "Mamma Mia!" so I've seen it more than I would have cared to, and this is one of the songs in that movie.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question #8 - Level 4: TV Catchphrases
Which of these classic TV catchphrases was not popularized b a character on Saturday Night Live?

A: You look mahvellous! B: Well, isn't that special?
C: Yeah that's the ticket! D: Dyn-o-mite!

Billie remembers all of these are from Saturday Night Live, except for

Spoiler

Dyn-o-mite! which was from Good Times

.

Answer/Value/Bank

D: Dyn-o-mite!
Question Value: $3,000
Bank: $41,100

And I still say that you do look marvelous, vettech.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Billie has wanted to get on Millionaire since it first went on the air in 1999. Back when the did the Phone Game, she would call call and get through and they'd say they'd randomly call back tomorrow. She sit and wait by the phone like the lonely date that wonders why he doesn't call.

Meredith: But you kept trying and here you are!

Thanks for mentioning The Old Phone Game - I'm sure Marley is smiling.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:Question #10 - Level 9: British TV
In the U.K. version of the TV series "The Office," the character that inspired Dwight Schrute has what name?

A: Nigel B: Gareth
C: Clive D: Kieran

Billie isn't going to hazard a guess; she hasn't watched either version of "The Office." She jumps the question.

Answer/Value/Bank

B: Gareth
Question Value: $500
Bank: $43,100

I'd JTQ also. I also have never watched either version of the show.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$100,000
In the video game "Donkey Kong," the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?

A: Climbman B: Runman
C: Jumpman D: Smashman

Billie: I don't think it's

Spoiler

Climbman

. I think I'm going to take a chance. Leaving with 25 is a lot more than I came here with. I'm going to go with

Spoiler

C: Jumpman,

final answer.

Answer

C: Jumpman

This is what makes for great watching - and good on you for going for it, vettech.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$250,000
Which of these pairs of Native American tribes share their names with horses that have won the Kentucky Derby?

A: Omaha and Spokane B: Kiowa and Narragansett
C: Choctaw and Hopi D: Mohawk and Zuni

Billie: I'm pretty sure Omaha is a horse that won the Kentucky Derby. I really don't know about the others.
You know what, I came to play!

Meredith: The whole audience goes "ahhhh!" [she makes the hand biting her fist gesture].

Billie: I'm not responsible for any heart attacks.

Meredith: I'm checking your husband. He's looking cool.

Billie: He's very calm about everything. I'm going to say

Spoiler

A

, final answer.

Billie gives Meredith a questioning look.

Meredith: I know. Oh, oh--yeah!

Answer

A: Omaha and Spokane

Two Kentucky-related questions in the same stack.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$500,000
Who was the only person besides John Hancock to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?

A: Abraham Clark B: Charles Thomson
C: Lewis Morris D: George Clymer

Billie: Well, Meredith, I may be a little bit crazy, but I'm not a complete lunatic.

Billie walks away with $250,000.

Meredith prompts Billie for what she would have guessed and Billie says probably

Spoiler

B

.

Answer

B: Charles Thomson

I had no idea, either. You did the right thing.

MarleysGh0st wrote:Congratulations, Billie!

It was a pleasure transcribing today's episode. You even worked in a shout-out for the Phone Game!

I knew you'd be smiling at that...

Snaxx wrote: So I immediately recognized Omaha as a TC winner; I'd probably recognize all the TC winners. No other names rang a bell, so the only worry was the slight chance that Spokane was not a winner at all and two of the unknown names won the Derby years ago, which would make it an awfully nasty question.

This was the main issue I was mulling over - just how nasty did the writers want to be? I immediately recognized Omaha and Spokane seemed familiar for some reason, so...

Congratulations!

vettech wrote:

Snaxx wrote: So I immediately recognized Omaha as a TC winner; I'd probably recognize all the TC winners. No other names rang a bell, so the only worry was the slight chance that Spokane was not a winner at all and two of the unknown names won the Derby years ago, which would make it an awfully nasty question.

This was the main issue I was mulling over - just how nasty did the writers want to be? I immediately recognized Omaha and Spokane seemed familiar for some reason, so...

Living in Louisville it's hard to escape the Derby this time of year - and trivia competitions often feature categories or questions about Derby winners, so I've tried to learn as many as I could. Spokane won in 1889 and Omaha won in 1935. As snaxx noted, Omaha went on to win the Triple Crown.

It was so fun!

You are gracious and fun loving and so clearly thrilled with the opportunity and not stoopid!

It was also clear that your husband was behind you, no matter what you did, what you won or how you gambled.

I LOVED it!

Great job vettech of making every BB proud. Well done.

I liked the risk you took on the 100,000. Why not risk 18,000 for 57,000? I would. Good move.

How did you know the Derby answer?

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$500,000
Who was the only person besides John Hancock to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?

A: Abraham Clark B: Charles Thomson
C: Lewis Morris D: George Clymer

Billie: Well, Meredith, I may be a little bit crazy, but I'm not a complete lunatic.

Billie walks away with $250,000.

Meredith prompts Billie for what she would have guessed and Billie says probably

Spoiler

B

.

Answer

B: Charles Thomson

Having lived in Philadelphia for eight months and taken the Independence Hall tour twice, I was pretty sure of the right answer - he was the secretary IIRC - but might not have pulled the trigger.

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$100,000
In the video game "Donkey Kong," the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?

A: Climbman B: Runman
C: Jumpman D: Smashman

Billie: I don't think it's

Spoiler

Climbman

. I think I'm going to take a chance. Leaving with 25 is a lot more than I came here with. I'm going to go with

Spoiler

C: Jumpman,

final answer.

Answer

C: Jumpman

Feedback on this question from somebody named Jens Erik Vaaler on a gaming site:

A contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire was asked the rediculously easy question “In the video game ‘Donkey Kong‘, the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?” This question was worth $100,000! “Lol, wut?”, anyone?

http://www.thegamingvault.com/2011/04/r ... llionaire/

Clearly, Jens, the question was easier for you than spelling "ridiculously".

Here's an article about Billie's run.

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/04/ ... ref=latest

With her “Millionaire” winnings, she plans to buy her husband, Craig, a Jeep, and they’re talking of buying a new house.

MarleysGh0st wrote:

BBTranscriptTeam wrote:$100,000
In the video game "Donkey Kong," the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?

A: Climbman B: Runman
C: Jumpman D: Smashman

Billie: I don't think it's

Spoiler

Climbman

. I think I'm going to take a chance. Leaving with 25 is a lot more than I came here with. I'm going to go with

Spoiler

C: Jumpman,

final answer.

Answer

C: Jumpman

Feedback on this question from somebody named Jens Erik Vaaler on a gaming site:

A contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire was asked the rediculously easy question “In the video game ‘Donkey Kong‘, the hero now known as Mario was originally called what?” This question was worth $100,000! “Lol, wut?”, anyone?

http://www.thegamingvault.com/2011/04/r ... llionaire/

Clearly, Jens, the question was easier for you than spelling "ridiculously".

He meant "reediculously"......

lb13

Congrats! Awesome.