Transcript 11/6/09: Sam Murray

[BBTranscriptTeam]

Sam Murray
Philadelphia, PA
Waiter/Bartender

Meredith: “Do you like having people around you?

Sam: "Yeah, especially this audience, hopefully.”

Categories (Introduced at the $3,000 question)

Genetics
Broadcast History
Literature
Advertising
Insects
Automobiles
Economics
South America
Celebrities
Cartoon Characters
States of the Union
Rock Bands
Junk Food
It’s the Law
Health

$500 (Health)- The common infection known as “swimmer’s ear” is a result of what getting trapped in the ear canal?

A- Pollen B- Water
C- Insects D- A Black Eyed Peas song

Spoiler

B- Water (9)

$1,000 (It’s the Law)- In the U.S., “right-to-dry” laws protect homeowners who want to hang what outside their homes?

A- Wind chimes B- Clotheslines
C- Birdfeeders D- State Flags

Only in America would we need such a stupid law!

Spoiler

B- Clotheslines (9)

$2,000 (Junk Food)- What chocolate snacks were named after the bells heard in Hostess’ original TV commercials?

A- Ho Hos B- Kit Kat bars
C- Nutter Butters D- Ding Dongs

Spoiler

D- Ding Dongs (9)

Commercial Break

Meredith remarks that Sam is probably the last contestant with a shot to make the Tournament of Ten leaderboard.

$3,000 (Rock Bands)- A tribute band to a popular 70s rock group, Lez Zeppelin features members who are all what?

A- African-American B- Teenage boys
C- Women D- Asian-American

Spoiler

C- Women (6)

$5,000 (States of the Union)- The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail commemorates a famous 1965 civil rights march in what state?

A- Alabama B- Louisiana
C- North Carolina D- Tennessee

Spoiler

A- Alabama

$7,500 (Cartoon Characters)- In the cartoons in which he stars, Tweety Bird is often portrayed as the pet of a woman simply referred to by what name?

A- Auntie B- Momma
C- Granny D- Sis

Spoiler

C- Granny (25)

$10,000 (Celebrities)- In 2009, “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin said he considered moving to what state to run against Joe Liebermann for his U.S. Senate seat?

A- Maine B- Pennsylvania
C- Rhode Island D- Connecticut

Spoiler

D- Connecticut (25)

(Note to clock-keepers- a little faster, please- you ticked off another second after Sam answered!)

$12,500 (South America)- Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is a national park in what South American country?


A- Peru B- Brazil
C- Argentina D- Venezuela

At 21 seconds, Sam uses his ATA lifeline.

ATA Results:

Spoiler

A- 14%, B- 17%, C- 53%, D- 16%

Spoiler

C- Argentina (14)

Commercial Break

A peek at a question from Monday- no monetary value given...hmm!

In what decade did the FBI popularize the term “public enemy” to describe high-profile criminals like John Dillinger?

A- 1930s B- 1950s
C- 1970s D- 1990s

Once again, no contestant banter. Just Meredith “building tension” by mentioning the ToT leaderboard again.

$15,000 (Economics)- In a 2007 book, Wall Street guru Nassim Taleb popularized what “animal” term to describe rare and unpredictable events?

A- Flying pig B- Short giraffe
C- Land whale D- Black swan

At 14 seconds, Sam uses his ATE lifeline.

Joel tries to reason it out. They all seem good to him.

Spoiler

“Flying pig”

seems good to him, but again, he doesn’t really know. Sam is also leaning towards

Spoiler

”flying pig”

, but he also mentions

Spoiler

black swans

as being rare, but thinks it wouldn’t mean unpredictable because it’s

Spoiler

“beautiful”

. Meredith again ends the call, mentioning “if you don’t know, better to say that than to mislead” (I don’t remember Meredith ever “chastising” the expert like that before. That’s twice now).

At 10 seconds, Sam wants to phone a friend.

Sam’s PAF team:

Nick, Scott, and Daulton- all from Philadelphia, PA. Sam chooses Daulton.

Daulton, without any hesitation (after Sam uses most of the time to read the question and choices, and spell Nassim Taleb’s name) says it’s

Spoiler

black swan

. Saying

Spoiler

”D is for Daulton”

, Sam goes with his friend’s answer.

Spoiler

D- Black swan (8)

$25,000 (Automobiles)- Used to “decommission” automobile engines, sodium silicate is better known to mechanics as “liquid” what?

A- Glass B- Wood
C- Steel D- Velcro

Sam knows that silica makes up

Spoiler

glass

, but at 13 seconds, perhaps fearing a “trap”, goes with his Double Dip.

Sam’s first guess is

Spoiler

A- Glass

Spoiler

A- Glass (13)

Meredith again reminds Sam of the importance of this next question vis a vis the Tournament of Ten. Sam looks a little nervous now!

$50,000 (Insects)- To defend against predators, certain moth species have organs called “tymbals” that do what?

A- Make ultrasonic sounds B- Absorb heat
C- Produce dark pigments D- Release toxic venom

Noting the similarity between the words

Spoiler

”tymbal” and “tympani drum”

, Sam goes for it.

Spoiler

A- Make ultrasonic sounds (30)

$100,000 (Advertising)- Before becoming a bestselling novelist, which of these men came up with the ad slogan “I’m a Toys’R’Us kid!”

A- John Grisham B- Elmore Leonard
C- James Patterson D- Carl Hiassen

Sam has an idea, but because he thinks he has enough time to displace Fred Roberts (guillotine06) from the leaderboard, walks with $50,000.

Spoiler

C- James Patterson (and Sam knew it! If he doesn’t make the ToT…)

HORN

And the participants in the Tournament of Ten will be:
.
.
.
W

A

I

T


F

O

R


I

T

.
.
.

Tournament of Ten Leader Board

Spoiler

1. Jehan Shamsid-Dean $250,000 - 2:09
2. Keilani Goggins $100,000 - 1:53
3. Jeff Birt $100,000 - 1:53
4. Matt Schultz $100,000 - 2:26
5. Tim Janus $100,000 - 2:44
6. Ralph Cambeis $50,000 - 1:13
7. Robin Schwartz $50,000 - 1:40
8. Sam Murray $50,000- 1:52
9. Tony Westmoreland $50,000 - 2:08
10. Alex Ortiz $50,000 - 2:19

Sorry, Fred! Tough luck!

Note- had Sam gone with his correct notion, he most likely (if he answered before 11 seconds were left) would have finished in 4th place.

[MarleysGh0st]

Dang! Meredith was practically in tears for this guy making it to the ToT at the last second. What about poor Fred being bumped at the last second, Meredith?

And, if the ToT turns out to be a one-time gimmick, what about all the contestants who get their turn in upcoming shows? Why should they miss out on this second chance at a million? What if the horn had sounded before Sam had walked away from the $100K question?

[Jeemie]

Dang! Meredith was practically in tears for this guy making it to the ToT at the last second. What about poor Fred being bumped at the last second, Meredith?

And, if the ToT turns out to be a one-time gimmick, what about all the contestants who get their turn in upcoming shows? Why should they miss out on this second chance at a million? What if the horn had sounded before Sam had walked away from the $100K question?

I was wondering what would have happened if he had gone for the $100,000, made it, and then the horn sounded.

I get the idea they would have edited this episode even more heavily (although how, I don't know, since there was absolutely no banter in this episode) so that didn't happen.

[NellyLunatic1980]

I'm perfect up to the $100,000 question.

$100,000 (Advertising)- Before becoming a bestselling novelist, which of these men came up with the ad slogan “I’m a Toys’R’Us kid!”

A- John Grisham B- Elmore Leonard
C- James Patterson D- Carl Hiassen

I like either Grisham or Patterson, but I'm not confident enough to use DD. I will PAF.

Sam has an idea, but because he thinks he has enough time to displace Fred Roberts (guillotine06) from the leaderboard, walks with $50,000.

...

Tournament of Ten Leader Board

Spoiler

1. Jehan Shamsid-Dean $250,000 - 2:09
2. Keilani Goggins $100,000 - 1:53
3. Jeff Birt $100,000 - 1:53
4. Matt Schultz $100,000 - 2:26
5. Tim Janus $100,000 - 2:44
6. Ralph Cambeis $50,000 - 1:13
7. Robin Schwartz $50,000 - 1:40
8. Sam Murray $50,000- 1:52
9. Tony Westmoreland $50,000 - 2:08
10. Alex Ortiz $50,000 - 2:19

Dammit!

[earendel]

Sam Murray
Philadelphia, PA
Waiter/Bartender

Meredith: “Do you like having people around you?

Sam: "Yeah, especially this audience, hopefully.”

Obviously taped before the World Series.

$12,500 (South America)- Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is a national park in what South American country?

A- Peru B- Brazil
C- Argentina D- Venezuela

At 21 seconds, Sam uses his ATA lifeline.

ATA Results:

Spoiler

A- 14%, B- 17%, C- 53%, D- 16%

Spoiler

C- Argentina (14)

This might have been harder if Chile had been one of the choices.

$15,000 (Economics)- In a 2007 book, Wall Street guru Nassim Taleb popularized what “animal” term to describe rare and unpredictable events?

A- Flying pig B- Short giraffe
C- Land whale D- Black swan

At 14 seconds, Sam uses his ATE lifeline.

Joel tries to reason it out. They all seem good to him.

Spoiler

“Flying pig”

seems good to him, but again, he doesn’t really know. Sam is also leaning towards

Spoiler

”flying pig”

, but he also mentions

Spoiler

black swans

as being rare, but thinks it wouldn’t mean unpredictable because it’s

Spoiler

“beautiful”

. Meredith again ends the call, mentioning “if you don’t know, better to say that than to mislead” (I don’t remember Meredith ever “chastising” the expert like that before. That’s twice now).

At 10 seconds, Sam wants to phone a friend.

Sam’s PAF team:

Nick, Scott, and Daulton- all from Philadelphia, PA. Sam chooses Daulton.

Daulton, without any hesitation (after Sam uses most of the time to read the question and choices, and spell Nassim Taleb’s name) says it’s

Spoiler

black swan

. Saying

Spoiler

”D is for Daulton”

, Sam goes with his friend’s answer.

Spoiler

D- Black swan (8)

I might have been gone on this question. "Flying pig" seems like the right answer; after all "when pigs fly" is used to refer to rare occurrences. But since the "animal" term was "popularized" in 2007 and "when pigs fly" has been around for a long time, I hope I'd have had the presence of mind to pause before making "A" my final answer. Then it would be time for lifelines. Start with PAF and hope.

$50,000 (Insects)- To defend against predators, certain moth species have organs called “tymbals” that do what?

A- Make ultrasonic sounds B- Absorb heat
C- Produce dark pigments D- Release toxic venom

Noting the similarity between the words

Spoiler

”tymbal” and “tympani drum”

, Sam goes for it.

Spoiler

A- Make ultrasonic sounds (30)

I know that a "timbal" is a type of drum, so let's hope that spelled with a "y" it still has something to do with sound production.

$100,000 (Advertising)- Before becoming a bestselling novelist, which of these men came up with the ad slogan “I’m a Toys’R’Us kid!”

A- John Grisham B- Elmore Leonard
C- James Patterson D- Carl Hiassen

Sam has an idea, but because he thinks he has enough time to displace Fred Roberts (guillotine06) from the leaderboard, walks with $50,000.

No idea, and it's doubtful that the expert would know it, either. Since I've still got PAF, use it.

[hanzz]

A part of me is wondering whether this stack wasn't made a little easier for the last contestant to build up suspense, kind of like Ken Basin's comparitively easy stack during PTBAM? I mean, most well-read people should be able to tease out "tympanum", "tympanic membrane", or some variant of that to arrive at a reasonable definition for "tymbal". The economics question was a bit out there, but "black swan" isn't an unheard-of term. I'm so sorry, Fred, it would have been great to see a BB compete in this convoluted tournament. Enjoy your $50k!

[MarleysGh0st]

The economics question was a bit out there, but "black swan" isn't an unheard-of term.

Have you heard the expression used in this context, outside of a direct reference to this book? (I've got the book on my bookshelf, waiting patiently for its turn to be read.)

[Jeemie]

The economics question was a bit out there, but "black swan" isn't an unheard-of term.

Have you heard the expression used in this context, outside of a direct reference to this book? (I've got the book on my bookshelf, waiting patiently for its turn to be read.)

I have.

[Phil Ken Sebbin]

The economics question was a bit out there, but "black swan" isn't an unheard-of term.

Have you heard the expression used in this context, outside of a direct reference to this book? (I've got the book on my bookshelf, waiting patiently for its turn to be read.)

I have not read the book but I may have heard of it and remembered it subconsciously. I thought of black swan before the options came up and thought it was an easy question but maybe it wasn't common knowledge.