# Celebrity Death Pool 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517 "2016-12-01T07:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/1 "2016-12-01T07:00:03Z")
Hiya, I’m **Idle Thoughts** and I took over for **Baker** starting this year. I thank her heartily for running it all those years, as should you. I doubt very many will be new to this game, but just in case you are, I’ve written out the rules below. Also, since I’m the new host of this, I have made a few changes. I will put these changes in bold. [Here is the thread for 2016’s game, by the way](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=776787). **The Rules** : 1. You pick 13 celebrities that you predict will die in the year 2017. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 points minus their age at death. Whoever has the most points at the end of the year…wins. It’s just that simple. 2. All picks must be made by December 31st, 2016, at 11:59PM, MOUNTAIN TIME. I don’t care who you are or what your reason is, if you are even ONE MINUTE late, at midnight of Jan 1st, you will be turned away, I’m sorry. 3. Valid picks CANNOT be: a. already dead **b. already over 100** c. fictional d. non-human e. under age 18 f. a registered member of the SDMB g. hostages held by terrorist organizations h. famous solely as a result of their illness or the events surrounding their death If you have any questions about who is or is not a celebrity, feel free to PM me. 4. If we are uncertain about the celebrity’s age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score). 5. Prisoners held on death row count only if they die by means other than official execution. 6. If you kill anyone on your list to try to get ahead or cheat, then you’re automatically disqualified. 7. Editing your choices: You can change the people on your list as many times as you wish before the deadline above, just make sure that your FINAL list is known, otherwise I’m going to take the first 13 of yours I see listed. 8. ADD TWO OR THREE “ALTERNATES” if you want IN CASE SOMEONE ON YOUR LIST DIES EARLY. Sharing news of celebrities in ill health and whatnot is up to individual posters. If a player changes their username at some point, post this news on the thread, or PM me, so I know who you are. **I’M HUMAN, I MAKE MISTAKES. I’m also very bad at math. This includes SIMPLE math, so if I have made a mistake, please tell me via PM. You ARE ALSO BEST SERVED TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR OWN, PERSONAL SCORE…JUST IN CASE.** \*\*I will probably update the thread with scores once or twice a week. \*\* * * * I’ve decided to keep the awards, because they’re always fun…so they are: _The “Opening Kickoff” Award_: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2017. _The "Quantity Not Quality_\*" Award\*: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the greatest number of celebrities who died, regardless of their actual point value. _The “Inside Track With the Grim Reaper” Award_: awarded to the poster or posters who had the most unique picks that died. _The “Robbing the Cradle” Award_: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the youngest celebrity to die in 2017, but see rule 3.d. _The “Final Hours” Award_: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2017. **And THE NEWEST ONE, added by yours truly** : _The Best Themed List Award_: Awarded to the funniest themed list as voted on by…let’s say…me! Example of a submitted list Oogie Boogie Pat Edited Lynn Notsame Jerry Different Unique Huelskamp Mike Ellen Ellen Kevin Kevin Derek Homer “You Thought I Was Gonna Name Him Derek Didn’t You” Smith Bob Roberson Jeff Somethingorother (and it even says so on his birth certificate) Ron Changes Ken Changing However, if you want to add commentary, like below–it’s fine, just clean up the list after by posting it a second time. Abe Vigota (I think he’s still alive, right?) Fidel (I’m **FINALLY** freaking dead!) Castro Donald Trump (I can wish) REMEMBER TO ADD TWO OR THREE ALTERNATES IN CASE OF EARLY DEATHS BEFORE THE GAME STARTS. **Scoring** \*\*Most things will be kept the same. However ONE major change I’m implementing is a change in how score will be kept. I’m going back to the roots of it. How it was originally done. With as simple a score as possible. This means I will display the poster’s name, their place, and their score only…and that’s it. All as it should be. If two people have a score of 87 and everyone else has 0, those two are TIED AT FIRST. If one has 87, two have 78, and everyone else zero, then those two are TIED AT SECOND. You don’t like this way of scoring? Well, I’m very sorry. Cover your eyes, then, whenever it’s posted. If that small of a change is seriously going to bother you so much that you can’t bear it…you’re probably better off not playing at all. …but that’s the way the scores were originally kept and that’s the way I will be doing it. I’m sorry to anyone who is really upset over this.\*\* _ **And that’s about it…If anyone has any questions at all, PM me and I will get back to you ASAP.** _ Have fun, everyone. Good luck! Go. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/2 "2016-12-01T10:50:49Z")
On those special awards, you do mean 2017, not 2016, right? I guess I’ll have to deal with the changes in how scores are ranked, I don’t like it but it’s your game now. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/3 "2016-12-01T11:01:43Z")
Can someone pick someone who is exactly 100? If the celebrity dies at age 101 does the contestant get 0 points? Brian Just a spectator, but wants the rules to be clear ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/4 "2016-12-01T12:10:12Z")
Just to get it over with I am going to post my list now. Since I finally had one celebrity to kick the bucket after years and years of no points, I am replacing him with one of my alternates. So, here goes… David Hasselhoff Jonathan Rhys Meyers Michael Douglas Penny Marshall Courtney Love Charlie Sheen Pamela Anderson Lady Gaga Mary Tyler Moore Lindsay Lohan Miley Cyrus Toni Braxton Billy Joel Alternates: Alex Trebec Michael Fox ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/5 "2016-12-01T12:25:40Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Just to get it over with I am going to post my list now. Since I finally had one celebrity to kick the bucket after years and years of no points, I am replacing him with one of my alternates. So, here goes… > > David Hasselhoff > Jonathan Rhys Meyers > Michael Douglas > Penny Marshall > Courtney Love > Charlie Sheen > Pamela Anderson > Lady Gaga > Mary Tyler Moore > Lindsay Lohan > Miley Cyrus > Toni Braxton > Billy Joel > > Alternates: > Alex Trebec > Michael Fox And you get the _ **First Posted List Award 2017.** _ Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/6 "2016-12-01T14:35:46Z")
Thanks for taking on the job, **Idle**! Can I get the **First to Suck Up to the New Deathmaster** award? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/7 "2016-12-01T15:46:06Z")
Harlan Ellison Meat Loaf Jimmy Carter Rosalynn Carter The Amazing Johnathan Pat Boone Pat Robertson Kirk Douglas John Rhys-Davies Hal Holbrook Donald Trump Larry Flint James Randi ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/8 "2016-12-01T16:23:28Z")
In case of Apocalypse, does the person with the lowest total in ages automatically win? If so, I’ve got an alternate list of 18 year old celebrities ready to post. ---
**Author:** ![moldmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@moldmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/9 "2016-12-01T16:28:48Z")
Tom Berenger Shane MacGowan Al Jourgensen Justin Bieber Russel Crowe Mel Gibson Steve Bannon Bashar al-Assad Bill Clinton Mickey Rourke Bill Cosby Donald Trump Dennis Rodman Dick Cheney Joe Biden I’m doubling down on last years list with just a couple changes even though I should go with my favorite musicians judging by 2016. Most are household names but these two: Shane MacGowan-singer for the Pogues Al Jourgensen-singer for Ministry ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/10 "2016-12-01T16:32:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Harlan Ellison > Meat Loaf > Jimmy Carter > Rosalynn Carter > The Amazing Johnathan > Pat Boone > Pat Robertson > Kirk Douglas > John Rhys-Davies > Hal Holbrook > Donald Trump > Larry Flint > James Randi Too late to edit: For alternates, The Olsen Twins. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/11 "2016-12-01T17:18:59Z")
I know you are wanting to keep the scoring simple, but would you consider having a rule for a tiebreaker for first place? Number of deaths, or number of unique deaths, or youngest death, or some such? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/12 "2016-12-01T17:35:45Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I know you are wanting to keep the scoring simple, but would you consider having a rule for a tiebreaker for first place? Number of deaths, or number of unique deaths, or youngest death, or some such? Or a Deathmatch! ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/13 "2016-12-01T17:55:51Z")
You guys are wasting your picks. Donald Trump is not going to die next year. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/14 "2016-12-01T19:23:56Z")
When I removed Fidel Castro from my list, he died. Same thing happened when I removed Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse. So…I am not gonna make too many changes to my next list. Sumner Redstone Kirk Douglas Charlie Sheen Karl Rove Dick Cheney Jimmy Carter Hal Holbrook Ginger Baker George H.W. Bush Frances Sternhagen Shelley Duvall Paul Dooley Val Kilmer ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/15 "2016-12-01T19:34:22Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > On those special awards, you do mean 2017, not 2016, right? > > I guess I’ll have to deal with the changes in how scores are ranked, I don’t like it but it’s your game now. Yeah, I meant 2017, sorry. I forgot to change those dates. :smack: > [@N9IWP](#): > > Can someone pick someone who is exactly 100? If the celebrity dies at age 101 does the contestant get 0 points? > > Brian > Just a spectator, but wants the rules to be clear Yes and yes, although since it would result in 0 points, I’m not sure why the person would want to pick them, heh. > [@Tangent](#): > > I know you are wanting to keep the scoring simple, but would you consider having a rule for a tiebreaker for first place? Number of deaths, or number of unique deaths, or youngest death, or some such? Yes, although I’m not sure I remember any ties for first ever happening before. Seems like a long shot, but if there is, uh, whoever got to that high score FIRST is the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/16 "2016-12-01T19:56:44Z")
Clint Eastwood Kirk Douglas Zsa Zsa Gabor Jimmy Carter George HW Bush Dick Cheney Glen Campbell Betty White Bob Barker Kylie Jenner Dan Rather Dennis Hastert Charlie Sheen Alternates: Bill Clinton Caitlyn Jenner ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/17 "2016-12-01T20:13:47Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Just a spectator, but wants the rules to be clear What are you afraid of? Going to Hell? ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/18 "2016-12-01T20:25:18Z")
Carrot Top John Goodman Ozzy Osbourne Elton John Chuck Yeager Buzz Aldrin Keith Richards Charlie Watts Carlos Santana Jean Chretien John Turner (Also former Canadian PM) Alec Baldwin Kanye West Why are people submitting alternates? I see nothing about that in the rules (or maybe I just didn’t read clearly enough?). ---
**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:** [December 1, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/19 "2016-12-01T20:33:36Z")
I decided to jump in early this year and get my list on the front page. I’m pretty much just re-using last year’s picks. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi George H.W. Bush Amanda Bynes Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter Tommy Chong Shannon Doherty Leo Gallagher Steve Gleason Hugh Hefner Val Kilmer Hosni Mubarak Thien “Tila Tequila” Nguyen Jerry Sandusky Alternates: Kirk Douglas Jimmy Carter ---
**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:** [December 1, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517/20 "2016-12-01T20:38:17Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Why are people submitting alternates? I see nothing about that in the rules (or maybe I just didn’t read clearly enough?). You don’t have to pick alternates. People do it in case one of their picks dies before 2017 (or is ruled ineligible). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-death-pool-2017/773517.md?page=2)