I can offer services in sports (except maybe boxing), politics, and general pop trivia kind of stuff. Otherwise, I have a decent cursory knowledge in lots of areas.
Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none kind of thing.
I will have a cheering section set up for you.
…well, a friend of a friend. She had “speciaists” for all her lifelines (a music person, a science person, etc.) but her fifth person, my pal Kim, was a generalist. So Kim set up an irc channel and asked their brightest pals to be online during the calling period. She’s a fast typist (and has a headset. WWTBAM does not allow speakerphones). She would type in the Q as she heard it. She wouldn’t waste time typing the answer choices (her philosophy: if you know it, you know it without the answer choices. Besides which, there ain’t time).
All was well and good EXCEPT that the candidate didn’t make it up to the magic chair. We had a hell of a good time waiting for the call, though.
Alternatively, a good plan would be to get a bunch of smart people in one room and give them whiteboards. The friend who gets phones scribbles the Q as soon as they hear it–and everyone else can scribble down their answer if they know it. Hold up signs, no one is the wiser that 10 minds are offering answers instead of 1.
Cranky, that’s one hell of a good idea!
Bori, I’m good at math, the Bible, history and geography, if I can be of any help.
Way to go Bori.
BTW, I know the back of my hand like the back of my hand.
Way to go Bori!
Tho I’ve never watched the show, I will definitely change that when your episode airs.
And if you need a lifeline who is expert in what Dinsdale thinks, I’ll give you Mrs. Dinsdale’s number (I think).
Way to go, winky, on the simulpost!
Thanks Dinsdale, I forgot the ! at the end of mine.
I won’t even offer my services. No way in hell do I want to be possibly responsible for you blowing it on “Millionaire.”
[aside]If one of my friends made it on there, and phoned me up, most of the 30 seconds would be spent with me asking questions like, “Well, how much have ya won so far? What’s in it for me? Let’s talk percentage cut …” [/aside]
Bori, when they pan the fastest-finger contestants, think of some signal to give us on the SDMB! That would be kind of cool.
My tip would be to only briefly skim over refresher info for subjects in which you are knowledgeable. Have confidence in yourself on that stuff. Figure out your trouble spots, find good resources and study like hell in those areas.
I think half the battle is getting over how nervous and freaked out you are to be on national TV with Regis – ACTUALLY ON THE SHOW – enough to focus and think clearly.
Think of some mental relaxation techniques. And, if you make it past fastest-finger, don’t get in a hurry! There’s no time limit. Even as much as it bothers viewers like me at home, make sure you fully understand the question and all the possible answers before blurting something out – even on the questions a house plant could answer.
Good luck!
After giving this some more thought, I think I may have some usefull advice afterall. It seems that a lot of people miss questions that are related to current events. I say read the newspaper, Time, Newsweek, etc. for next 2 weeks along with any other boning up you need to do.
And please, for our sake, don’t go into an epic discussion on why you know Lima is the capital of Peru is because your mother’s sister went backpacking there one summer and sent you a postcard. Answer the question, tell Regis “Your bet your goat felching ass that’s my final answer” and move on.
If you find a way to use the word felch on national television, you may very well move into the pantheon of SDMB icons.
I like the idea of an SDMB signal, or finding someway to give a shout out to the dopers.
Congrats!
I’d love to be a “phone a friend”
I am knowledgable in:
Music trivia
Computers
Cooking
Literary information
Pop culture
Roman history (early)
Hinduism/Buddhism
Movies
Why not tell them that Felch is your middle name?
Or, when Regis asks you what you do, say something like, “I felch.” Be sure not to mumble. That way, Regis can look at the camera, puzzled, and say, “Felching? What is that?”
That would be the second funniest thing in the world.
The funniest would be when you tell him.
I can see it now:
Regis: “Who would you like to call?”
Bori: “SwimmingRiddles, Regis”
Regis: “Swimming-who?”
That’s awesome, TheBori, congratulations!!!
You’ve just gotta find a way to let us know who you are - either reveal your real name, or - I think you should be wearing a Straight Dope t-shirt. It would contrast nicely with Regis’s overstuffed shirt look, don’t you think?
And winky, you’re right, that would be a riot.
Followed by, “And how do you know Swiddles?”
Bori, “Actually, we’ve never met.”
You could tell him I’m from some new Eastern European block country or something. It’s a regional name. Regis would NEVER question it.
And if you say the world felch on national television, I will personally send you a thank you card. Right after I start breathing again.
Yo Bori, I was third man on my high school’s team for the state version of the Quiz Bowl; it was our first year and we took the championship. I was described as being good at the “handyman” questions, i.e. all the useless trivia known to mankind. If you need me I can be at one of two phones on the 26th, if you’ll let me know what hours you’re likely to be taping.
Oh, and SwimmingRiddles? The year was 1066. The date was October 14th.
If you want to give a shout, all you gotta do is say “I wanna say hi to my Uncle Cecil” and we’ll all know.
I’m good at science questions, movies, and geography. E-mail me if you want to use me as a lifeline.
I remember this episode; I saw it twice. But it wasn’t a $32,000 question. It was the stupid $100 question.
Glad they weeded that guy out fast.
grats
I’d double up on my ginko, maybe triple up!
g’luck
Remember this if you win: More Ferrari owners die in auto accidents than Pinto owners.