Do the celebrity contestants try out for the show? I’d think they’re invited on, at least partly because the producers think they might do well at it.
Of course, their celebrity is a factor as well; everybody enjoys watching their favorite personality competing in a match for charity. But I’d also think a senior network newscaster would be expected to do very well indeed.
I remember years ago watching Cheech Marin and he was pretty good.
I think he ran some obscure column on Spanish Impressionists or something.
Did not see that coming!
MtM
I remember him being very damn good, and wondering why I was so surprised by it.
Could it possibly be because he and Tommy Chong spent years portraying characters who were idiot potheads?
As a side note, Cheech Marin just released his autobiography. In it he talks about his time on Jeopardy! and how much fun it was playing against Jane Curtain and Michael McKean in the million dollar tournament.
Possibly, but only if at a subconscious level, because I’d known for ages that Cheech in real life wasn’t an idiot pothead and only played one professionally. I knew he was smart, but was surprised by just how smart he was on J. Dunno why.