# Celebrity Death Pool 2016 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098 "2015-12-01T05:57:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 37
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/722 "2016-02-11T17:15:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s February. I think we’ve passed the challenge period. Also, whether we’ve passed the challenge period or not, he’s entitled to my opinion. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/723 "2016-02-11T19:12:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Well, when WAS the challenge period? > > Normally challenges are made before the new year begins - but when players don’t post their lists until the waning minutes of the year, there effectively IS no challenge period, as far as I can tell. I can understand players not wanting their picks vultured, but I don’t want to have to accept the legitimacy of their picks as a _fait accompli_, either. > > So **are** we allowed to challenge players’ picks after the year has begun? If so, how long do we have? When does the window close? And when did this become a thing that we knew? I’m not in charge of the rules. But my opinion is you have a valid point about people posting in the final hours of the year. They’ve effectively prevented the possibility of anyone challenging their picks before the new year starts. So I think it would be reasonable to extend the challenge period briefly into the new year. But six weeks into the year is, in my opinion, excessive. Everyone had a chance to look over other people’s lists long before now. I’d probably limit it to around a week. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/724 "2016-02-11T19:18:38Z")
When I was in charge of the rules, my basic standard for who was a celebrity was that they had to be famous enough to have a Wikipedia page. Under that standard, Phil Gartside, Tommy Kelly, and Lawrence Phillips were celebrities but Josh Haddon was not. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/725 "2016-02-11T20:59:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > When I was in charge of the rules, my basic standard for who was a celebrity was that they had to be famous enough to have a Wikipedia page. Under that standard, Phil Gartside, Tommy Kelly, and Lawrence Phillips were celebrities but Josh Haddon was not. And back in the Little Nemo era, there was no challenge window. We tended to contest celebrity status when someone was cashing in their dubious points. The people with iffy celebs protested that it was unfair that by the time their iffy picks were invalidated, they couldn’t substitute so effectively they got fewer picks than anyone else, so the challenge window was introduced. I think this solution sucks because it puts the onus on everyone else to research all the other player’s lists, and to do so within a limited window. I would like you see a return to the old days, where you chose local comedians at your own peril, knowing they’d be challenged the moment they died. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/726 "2016-02-11T21:05:17Z")
Well, no, there hasn’t been a “challenge period” so far. But if there had been I would think if would be like end of year deaths, you’d have twenty four hours to check up on other people’s entries. Thank goodness it’s not my problem now, as this is my last year as Death Mistress. Players can nag **Idle Thoughts** from here on out, since **IT** will be in charge for next year. That is, if they still want it. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/727 "2016-02-11T21:09:50Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > And back in the Little Nemo era, there was no challenge window. We tended to contest celebrity status when someone was cashing in their dubious points. The people with iffy celebs protested that it was unfair that by the time their iffy picks were invalidated, they couldn’t substitute so effectively they got fewer picks than anyone else, so the challenge window was introduced. I think this solution sucks because it puts the onus on everyone else to research all the other player’s lists, and to do so within a limited window. I would like you see a return to the old days, where you chose local comedians at your own peril, knowing they’d be challenged the moment they died. The problem with that method, as I see it, having worked with this game for so long, is that certain players are given to nit-picking celebrity status(no names of course) and it would be endless hassles through the year for the Death Master/Mistress. Kind of sours a person on what’s just supposed to be a fun game. And when judgement calls were made as to whether or not a person was enough of a celebrity, those “certain players” would probably wonder if the DM was playing favorites or not. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/728 "2016-02-11T21:21:11Z")
I wonder if this would have come up if **CAMJAY** wasn’t so far ahead of the rest of us. Look at it as Ido: now there are two games, **CAMJAYs** and the rest of us. And as for me, I would just be grateful for a death, any death, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/729 "2016-02-11T21:22:49Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > And when judgement calls were made as to whether or not a person was enough of a celebrity, those “certain players” would probably wonder if the DM was playing favorites or not. I have trusted you implicitly. I think the Wikipedia entry is a good rule. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/730 "2016-02-11T21:26:08Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have trusted you implicitly. > I think the Wikipedia entry is a good rule. Thanks for the trust. Now, where’s my chocolate?😃 I also think Wiki is a good idea, I guess we’ll see what **Idle Thoughts** decides. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/731 "2016-02-11T21:29:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not in charge of the rules. But my opinion is you have a valid point about people posting in the final hours of the year. They’ve effectively prevented the possibility of anyone challenging their picks before the new year starts. So I think it would be reasonable to extend the challenge period briefly into the new year. > > But six weeks into the year is, in my opinion, excessive. Everyone had a chance to look over other people’s lists long before now. I’d probably limit it to around a week. The problem is, who knew we could even make challenges on New Year’s Day? In the absence of a known window, the opportunity was certainly there to look over other people’s lists before now, but there was no particular _reason_ to. At any rate, I’m not trying to make an argument here that **CAMJAY** should be denied these points. Even though I think this particular pick stinks, I also think the the argument is pretty strong for accepting that, for 2016, what’s done is done. But the deadline for _expressing my opinion_ about this pick has not passed: there is no deadline on that. So I’m expressing mine. If there had been a known opportunity to challenge, I would have wanted to challenge this pick, because I think this guy is not a celebrity, even by our relaxed standards. FWIW, I posted the following nearly a month ago to **Idle Thoughts** ’ thread about proposed rules changes for next year: > [@What new rules, if any, would you like to see for the Celebrity Death Pool?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-rules-if-any-would-you-like-to-see-for-the-celebrity-death-pool/739805/33): > > There needs to be a way to challenge (and resolve challenges to) picks revealed only in the closing minutes of the old year. > > Quite reasonably, AFAIAC, some players want to keep their lists secret until the last minute, so that other players don’t get to piggyback on the research they did, and vulture their best picks. But it also means there’s no time to question whether their picks are legitimate celebrities before the game begins. > > There needs to be an adequate opportunity for players to review each other’s picks, and challenge picks that they don’t think qualify as celebrities, or are only famous for being sick. There also has to be a point after which people’s lists can’t be challenged. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be the beginning of the new year. It’s not like that many picks are going to die right off the bat. > > My suggestion would be to allow challenges through, say, the end of January 3. I’d say this kerfluffle has emphasized the need for a rule along these lines. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/732 "2016-02-11T21:33:55Z")
Here’s some possible points to think about > **[Ken Watanabe delays Broadway return for cancer treatment](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35539545)** > > Last Samurai star Ken Watanabe says he is suffering from stomach cancer and delays his return to Broadway while he has treatment. Actor Ken Watanabe has stomach cancer. He’s only 56. ---
**Author:** ![CAMJAY77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@CAMJAY77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAMJAY77)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/733 "2016-02-12T01:12:37Z")
I brought up the wikipedia thing last year. As far as Haddon goes, I had no idea he was only a “local” comedian/celebrity. I had heard of him, but maybe because I live in Northern Ohio which isn’t far from Windsor. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/734 "2016-02-12T01:16:13Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Here’s some possible points to think about > > [Ken Watanabe delays Broadway return for cancer treatment - BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35539545) > > Actor Ken Watanabe has stomach cancer. He’s only 56. Dammit, I just found him today! Hush! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![CAMJAY77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@CAMJAY77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAMJAY77)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/735 "2016-02-12T23:52:22Z")
Former UFC Champ Kevin Randleman has passed away at age 44 [Report: Kevin Randleman, former UFC champion and MMA pioneer, dead at 44 - MMAmania.com](http://www.mmamania.com/2016/2/12/10976328/kevin-randleman-mma-pioneer-ufc-champion-dead-age-44-pride-mma) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/736 "2016-02-13T17:38:08Z")
Read it and weep.[Tommy Kelly, the Little Pecker Head Who Played Tom Sawyer,](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/movies/tommy-kelly-who-played-a-hollywood-tom-sawyer-dies-at-90.html?_r=0)takes a final trip down the Mississippi, leaving Becky Thatcher and 10 points behind. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/737 "2016-02-13T17:59:32Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Read it and weep.[Tommy Kelly, the Little Pecker Head Who Played Tom Sawyer,](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/movies/tommy-kelly-who-played-a-hollywood-tom-sawyer-dies-at-90.html?_r=0)takes a final trip down the Mississippi, leaving Becky Thatcher and 10 points behind. Psst! Post [707](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19090495&postcount=707)… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/738 "2016-02-13T18:30:16Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Psst! Post [707](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19090495&postcount=707)… Ah! It was posted in today’s NY Times. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/739 "2016-02-13T22:06:57Z")
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at age 79. [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Senior-Associate-Justice-Antonin-Scalia-found-6828930.php](http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Senior-Associate-Justice-Antonin-Scalia-found-6828930.php) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/740 "2016-02-13T22:15:15Z")
I just saw the news about Scalia,and, being DeathMistress, my first thought was to check the list to see if he was picked by one of our players. Nope, nobody had him. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098/741 "2016-02-13T23:15:46Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at age 79. > > [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Senior-Associate-Justice-Antonin-Scalia-found-6828930.php](http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Senior-Associate-Justice-Antonin-Scalia-found-6828930.php) Of course he did. He wasn’t on my list. _glares at Ginsberg_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2016/739098.md?page=38)