Leader of the Universe of Wisdom

[MarleysGh0st]

That's the title students have given high school teacher Tom Witek, who is going to appear as a contestant on Jeopardy! on Friday. He sounds like a great teacher to have!

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article

Although he is not allowed to try out for "Jeopardy!" again as long as Alex Trebek is the host, he still plans to enjoy the show.

"I'd like to try out for 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'" Witek said.

Get in line, Mr. Witek, get in line.

[frogman042]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

[Bob Juch]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

They also don't use film.

[MarleysGh0st]

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

Maybe it's one of several so-called green rooms in the Sony studios!

[earendel]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

If so, then shouldn't you have spelled the word "grammar correctly?

[SportsFan68]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

Somebody around here splained this all a while back. That splanation would make "a green room" correct even though it's not green. It's nomenclature (Merriam-Webster has decided to allow this more generic usage) for a waiting room. IIRC, it started with Johnny Carson, who often talked about the guests waiting in the green room, The Tonight Show's guest waiting room which actually was painted green.

[frogman042]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:

Witek and fellow would-be contestants had to wait in a green room until they were randomly selected to appear in a game episode. They film five episodes a day, Witek said.

Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

Somebody around here splained this all a while back. That splanation would make "a green room" correct even though it's not green. It's nomenclature (Merriam-Webster has decided to allow this more generic usage) for a waiting room. IIRC, it started with Johnny Carson, who often talked about the guests waiting in the green room, The Tonight Show's guest waiting room which actually was painted green.

Actually, my point was not on the 'green' part but on the 'a' part, they waited in 'a green room' vs 'the green room' - which just struck me as funny in the way it phrased (oooh, we got to stay in a 'green' room - it made me wonder if the person writing the article didn't understand the term, 'green room').

Also, I think the term predates Carson by decades if not century's. We were given an explantion of why it was called a 'green room' but that will be part of my post on some future date.

---Jay

[SportsFan68]

Sounds like a great teacher - hope he has a long run.

Since I'm the resident expert on both spelling and grammer and will not tolerate any text that doesn't meet my exacting standards - this section in the article stood out to me:
Shouldn't it be "...to wait in the green room" instead - maybe former J! contestants could confirm, but I highly doubt that the room is actually green.

---Jay (What is the total number of different opening moves in a game of chess? If you know the answer then you will also know the number of days...)

Somebody around here splained this all a while back. That splanation would make "a green room" correct even though it's not green. It's nomenclature (Merriam-Webster has decided to allow this more generic usage) for a waiting room. IIRC, it started with Johnny Carson, who often talked about the guests waiting in the green room, The Tonight Show's guest waiting room which actually was painted green.

Actually, my point was not on the 'green' part but on the 'a' part, they waited in 'a green room' vs 'the green room' - which just struck me as funny in the way it phrased (oooh, we got to stay in a 'green' room - it made me wonder if the person writing the article didn't understand the term, 'green room').

Also, I think the term predates Carson by decades if not century's. We were given an explantion of why it was called a 'green room' but that will be part of my post on some future date.

---Jay

No, I knew what you meant; I was supporting the "a green room" usage. You would say "a waiting room" if you weren't sure which room it was out of several, same with "a green room."

No need to wait on some future date for a rehash of the splanation, here's from Wikipedia:

A green room is a room in a theater, studio, or other public venue for the accommodation of performers or speakers when not required on the stage.

Its function is as a break/touch-up lounge so that performers do not have to go back to wardrobe/dressing rooms and are still easily accessible for their call.

The first recorded use of the term was in 1701 but the origin of the term is unknown and is the source of many folk etymologies such as:

The term Green Room can be easily traced back to the East End of London England. In Cockney rhyming slang, Greengage is Stage, therefore Greengage Room is Stage Room and like most rhyming slang it gets shortened, hence Green' Room. (this info came from the late great comedian and dancer Max Wall).
In some explanations it is said that the colour was a response to limelight – early stage lighting.
Green is also thought to be a calming and soothing colour.
The most widely accepted origin of the term dates back to Shakespearean theatre. Actors would prepare for their performances in a room filled with plants and shrubs. It was believed that the moisture in the topiary was beneficial to the Actors' voices.
Richard Southern, in his studies of Medieval theatre in the round, states that the acting area was "The Green". The central space, often grass-covered, was used by the actors, while the surrounding space and circular banks were occupied by the spectators. Since then "The Green" has been a traditional actor's term for the stage. Even in proscenium arch theatres there was a tradition that a green stage cloth should be used for a tragedy. The green room is thus the room on the way to the green. Technical Staff at some West End theatres (such as the London Coliseum), still refer to the stage as "the green".
It has been suggested that the original 'green room' was in a London theatre converted from office buildings. The room behind the stage had previously been used to cut deals and was known as the 'agreeing room,' and the phrase has become corrupted over the years.[citation needed]
According to a professor of theatre history, long before modern makeup was invented the actors had to apply makeup before a show and allow it to set up or cure before performing. Until the makeup was cured, it was "green" and people were advised to sit quietly in the "green room" until such time as the makeup was stable enough for performing. Uncured makeup is gone, but the green room lives on.[citation needed]
Some studies state that the green room was originally called the retaining room. The ensemble of a production would wait there for their appearance onstage, listening to the performance of the principal actors and critiquing their acting. When made aware of this practice, the leads began to call the retaining room the green room, mocking the envy of the "lesser actors."[citation needed]

[frogman042]

...
No need to wait on some future date for a rehash of the splanation, here's from Wikipedia:
...

'cept that the reason we were told it was called the green room when we were in the green room was none of those listed in wiki.

To be continued...

---Jay

[SportsFan68]

...
No need to wait on some future date for a rehash of the splanation, here's from Wikipedia:
...

'cept that the reason we were told it was called the green room when we were in the green room was none of those listed in wiki.

To be continued...

---Jay

Yes, indeed, "the origin of the term is unknown" leaves plenty of room for Wikipedia and everybody to make stuff up. Especially after three centuries! Holy cow! The phrase is almost as old as English as we know it!

Looking forward to the new version...