# The Celebrity Death Pool 2005 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574 "2004-12-01T21:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/381 "2005-01-06T00:05:30Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I am still working on typing all the submissions into a file on a disk. Can anyone give me advice on how to set up a free website? I want to eventually have everyone’s picks posted somewhere so that everyone can see them. Someone else did it last year and I think it’s my responsibility… **a35362** , On Tuesday afternoons here at the office I usually have a few hours set aside where I babysit our system (a.k.a extremity twiddling time). I _used_ to tally the weekly Top 6@6 Polls from Cafe’ Society – but now that those threads were halted, I figured it would be fun to drop your pool data onto a spread sheet, alphabetize/concatenate it, and calculate some odds. If you want me to e-mail the file to you as a cross reference; just say so. Some interesting 2005 Death Pool Facts[list=A] [li]There were **197 Dopers** who played[/li][li] **826 Different** ‘Celebrity’ Names were chosen[/li][li]The total number of selections was **2,557** (4 Dopers only selected 12 names).[/list][/li] About the Celebrities ‘Chosen’ 517 Selections Were Unique to One Poster (Received One Vote): Dan Ackroyd Don Adams Marvin Lee (Meatloaf) Aday Mark Addy Ben Affleck Clay Aiken Lou Albano Alan Alda Karras Alex Jason Alexander Abdul Aziz al-Hakim Ibrahim al-Jafari Woody Allen Kirstie Alley Ali Hassan (Chemical Ali) al-Majid Moqtada al-Sadr Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani Ghazi al-Yawer Ayman al-Zawahiri John Amos Louie Anderson Ursula Andress Maya Angelou Hopkins Anthony Franklin Aretha Jean-Bertrand Aristide Diego Armando James Arness Brooke Astor Jeffery (Ja Rule) Atkins Oksana Baiul Ralph Bakshi Paul Banke Christine Baranski Drew Barrymore Barbara Bel Geddes Andy Bell Tony Bennett Lloyd Bentsen Elizabeth Berkley Silvio Berlusconi Chuck Berry Max Biaggi Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud Robert Blake John Bloom Brian Boitano Tom Bosley Umberto Bossi Lucien Bouchard David Bowie Camilla Parker Bowles Peter Boyle Ed Bradley Ian Brady Sara Brady Richard Branson Lilian Jackson Braun Brian Brian Bobby Brown David Darnell (Young Buck) Brown Sylvia Browne Brunson Brunson Kobe Bryant Warren Buffett Vincent Bugliosi Eric Burdon Gary Burghoff Carol Burnett Stanley Kirk (MC Hammer) Burrell Kurt Busch Joey Buttafucco Michael Caine John Cale Jim Callaghan June Callwood Glen Cambell Jose Canseco Pierre Cardin Mariah Carey King Juan Carlos I Of Spain David Carradine Nick Carter Roslyn Carter Shawn (Jay-Z) Carter Dana Carvey Dick Cavett Jack Chalker Robert Chambers Bobby Charlton Hugo Chavez Don Cherry Jack Chick Tommy Chong Jean Chretien Charlotte Church Louise Veronica (Madonna) Ciccone Van Cliburn George Clooney Johnnie Cochran Gary Cole Joan Collins Chuck Colson Betty Comden Sean Connery General Lonsana Conte Jackie Cooper Irwin Corey Kenny Dalgleish Roger Daltry William Daniels Tony Danza David David Newell David David Rockefeller John Davidson Al Davis William B Davis Richard Dawson Dino De Laurentiis John Dean Bill Deedes Bruce Dern Rick Derringer Leonardo DiCaprio Jimmy (Little Jimmy) Dickens Bo Diddley Mike Ditka Bobby Doerr Placido Domingo Vincent D’Onofrio Art Donovan Ashanti Douglas Hugh Downs Frank Drake Shane Drury Kitty Dukakis Olympia Dukakis Brett Easton Ellis Harlan Ellison Melissa Etheridge Eunice Kennedy Shriver Morgan Faichild Mike Farrell Perry Farrell Kevin Federline Corey Feldman Maynard Ferguson Cecil Fielder Albert Finney Bobby Fischer Carrie Fisher Geraldine Fitzgerald Theo Fleury Calista Flockhart Lara Flynn Boyle Carl Fogerty Jared Fogle Joan Fontaine Michael Foot Andy (Viking) Fordham John Forsythe Larry Fortensky Bill France Jr Dick Francis Ace Frehley Milton Friedman Tito Fuentes Terry Funk Alphonso Gagliano John Galbraith John Garang Peter Garrett Uri Geller Gil Gerard Joe Gibbs Frank Gifford Newt Gingrich Ruth Bader Ginsburg John Glenn Crispin Glover Tracey Gold Dwight Gooden Robby Gordon Frank Gorshin Louis Gosset Jr Harold Gould Kelsey Grammer Farley Granger Günter Grass Kathryn Grayson Hubert Green Tom Green Joel Grey Merv Griffin Kenneth Griffith Bob Guccione Carl XIV Gustaf Steve Guttenberg Jürgen Habermas Rob Halford Tom Hanks Barret (Dr Demento) Hansen Emmylou Harris Youree Dell (Miss Cleo) Harris Deborah Harry Ray Harryhausen David Hasselhoff Cornell (Nelly) Haynes Jr Edward (Ted) Heath Ted Heath Anne Heche Tippi Hedren Leona Helmsley Lou Henson Don Herbert Howard Hesseman Paul (Bono) Hewson Sir Edmund Hillary Dustin Hoffman Lou Holtz Karla Homolka James Hong Dennis Hopper Lena Horne Bobby Hull E Howard Hunt Ian Huntley Hussein Hussein Lee Iacocca Eric Idle Don Imus John Inman George S Irving Jennifer (J Lo) J. Lo Jane Jacobs Jesse James Kevin James Ken Jennings Peter Jennings Ron Jeremy Steve Jobs Billy Joel Holly Johnson Jimmie Johnson Phillip Johnson Ollie Johnston Ben (Cooter) Jones Hank Jones Jerry Jones Mickey Jones Wynona Judd Mikhail Kalashnikov Frank Kameny Stacey Keach Garrison Keillor R(obert) Kelly Don Kent Deborah Kerr Graham Kerr Theresa Kerry Margot Kidder Evel Knievel Wayne Knight Harry Knowels Beyonce Knowles Ed Koch C. Everett Koop Ron Kovic Kris Kristofferson Emeril Lagasse Frankie Laine Jake LaMotta Dave (Squiggy) Lander Diane Lane Nathan Lane Artie Lange John Larroquette Martin Lawrence Kenneth Lay Denis Leary Christopher Lee Leapy Lee Madeline L’Engle Ed (Brutus The Barber Beefcake) Leslie Claude Lévi-Strauss Emmanuel Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis G. Gordon Liddy Jennifer (J Lo) Lopez Sophia Loren Tina Louise Jim Lovell Jeff Lynne Yo-Yo Ma Gavin MacLeod Bill Maher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi John Mahoney Rick Majerus Winnie Mandela Bernard Manning Wellington Mara Jerry Maren Bam Margera McPartland Marian Rose Marie Gabriel Garcia Marquez George Martin Steve Martin Peter Max Ralphie May Peter Mayhew Anne McCaffrey Shirley McClain Elizabeth McGovern George McGovern Shane McGowan Ali McGraw Matthew McGrory Mark McGwire Ian McKellen Vince McMahon Jr Jayne Meadows Sukarnoputri Megawati Allan Melvin Sir John Mills Mary Ann Mobley Art Modell Walter (Fritz) Mondale Sir Patrick Moore Robert Morgenthau Pat Morita Tommy Morrison Van Morrison Bill Moyers Yon Hyong Muk Ben Mulroney Frankie Muniz Rupert Murdoch Jan Murray Stan (The Man) Musial Jim Nabors Joe Namath Patricia Neil Noel Neill Leslie Neilson Bryon Nelson Prince Rogers (Formerly Known As) Nelson Edwin Newman Bert Newton Jack Nicholson Ivan Noble Nick Nolte Manuel Noriega Larry David Norman Oliver North Sandra Day O’Connor Shaquille O’Neal Mary Davies (Nurse Carmen) Orfield Annette O’Toole Frank Oz Joy Page Chris (King Kong Bundy) Pallies Geoffrey Palmer Bill Parcells Lawrence Kris (KRS-One) Parker Dolly Parton Joe Paterno Tatjan Patitz Floyd Patterson Les Paul Rhea Perlman Matthew Perry Joe Pesci Tom Petty Phil Brown Phil Spector Emo Philips Lafitt Pincay Jr Brad Pitt Jeremy Piven Ron(co) Popeil John Popper Jeff Probst Paul Prudhomme Colin Quinn Joyce Randolph Sally Jessy Raphael Dizzee Rascal Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Castro Raul Thurl Ravenscroft Anthony (Sir Mix-A-Lot) Ray Usher Raymond Sumner Redstone Lou Reed Della Reese Charles Nelson Reilly Anne Rice Nicole Ritchie Jake (The Snake) Roberts Pernell Roberts Louis Robichaud Anne Robinson Chris Robinson Bobby Robson Chris Rock Dennis Rodman Pete Rose David Lee Roth Mickey Rourke Louis Rukeyser Donald Rumsfeld Salman Rushdie Kurt Russell Fr Barry Ryan Winona Ryder Horatio Saanz Morley Safer Bob Saget Eva Marie Saint Yves Saint-Laurent Saint-Laurent Adam Sandler Randy (Macho Man) Savage Phyllis Schlafly Bo Schmbechler Daniel Schorr Arnold Schwarzenegger Barbara Ann Scott Gene Scott Allan (Bud) Selig General John Shalikashvili Ariel Sharon Rev Al Sharpton Rowsch Shaways Sidney Sheldon Robert Sargent Shriver Jr Robert Silverburg Gene Simmons Richard Simmons O J Simpson Irina Slutskaya Dean Smith Tommy Smothers Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Suzanne Somers Aaron Spelling Wendie Jo Sperber Mickey Spillane Brent Spiner Sylvester Stallone Harry Dean Stanton Scott Stapp Frances Sternhagen Martha Stewart Ben Stiller Jerry Stiller Steve Stills Michael Stipe James Stockdale Hank Stramm Barbara Streisand Andrew Sullivan Ethan Suplee Inga Swenson Loretta Swit Johnny Tapia Lawrence Taylor Raymond Joseph Teller Billy Bob Thornton Vern Troyer Wilson (Bob) Tucker Ike Turner Ted Turner Cicely Tyson Bob Uecker John Updike Steve Vai Wilmer Valderama Charles Van Doren Jerry Van Dyke Eddie Van Halen Robert (Vanilla Ice) Van Winkle Luther Vandross Ken Venturi Fay Vincent Bobby Vinton Claus Von Bulow Claude Vorilhon Lyle Waggoner Christopher Walken Mike Wallace John Waters Raquel Welch George Wendt Jason White James Whitmore Anson Williams Don Williams Esther Williams Ricky Williams Bruce Willis Ralph Wilson Henry Winkler Tom Wolfe John Wooden Tiger Woods Jane Wyatt Zakk Wylde Phanom (Tony Ja) Yeerum Burt Young Franco Zeffirelli Brian Zembic Jiang Zemin Catherine Zeta-Jones Efrem Zimbalist Jr Rob Zombie …More DP05 Facts In Next Post ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/382 "2005-01-06T00:12:34Z")
Celebrities Selected By Ten Or More (Out Of 197) Dopers:[ol] [li]George H W Bush 10[/li][li]Macaulay Culkin 10[/li][li]Whitney Houston 10[/li][li]Anna Nichole Smith 10[/li][li]Boris Yeltsin 10[/li][li]Nelson Mandela 11[/li][li]Wilford Brimley 12[/li][li]Annette Funicello 12[/li][li]Liza Minelli 12[/li][li]Prince Phillip Mountbatten (Duke of Edinburgh) 12[/li][li]Scott Peterson 12[/li][li]Mickey Rooney 12[/li][li]Billy Graham 14[/li][li]B.B. (Riley Blues Boy) King 14[/li][li]Abe Vigoda 14[/li][li]Tammy Faye Bakker-Messner 15[/li][li]Jimmy (James) Earl Carter 15[/li][li]John Goodman 15[/li][li]Viktor Yushchenko 15[/li][li]Bob Barker 16[/li][li]Stephen Hawking 16[/li][li]Keith Richards 17[/li][li]Queen Elizabeth Windsor II (Queen of England) 17[/li][li]Kirk Douglas 18[/li][li]Nancy Reagan 19[/li][li]Osama Bin Laden 20[/li][li]Johnny Carson 20[/li][li]Charlton Heston 20[/li][li]Ladybird (Claudia Alta Taylor) Johnson 20[/li][li]Jerry Jerry Lewis 21[/li][li]Muhammed Ali 23[/li][li]Walter Cronkite 23[/li][li]Dick Cheney 24[/li][li]Mary-Kate Olsen 25[/li][li]Rosa Parks 25[/li][li]Michael Jackson 26[/li][li]Margaret Thatcher 33[/li][li]Dick Clark 34[/li][li]Richard Pryor 35[/li][li]James (Scotty) Doohan 37[/li][li]Fidel Castro 44[/li][li]Courtney Love 47[/li][li]Elizabeth Taylor 55[/li][li]Gerald R Ford 59[/li][li]William H Rehnquist 70[/li]Pope John Paul II (Karol Josef) Wojtyła 132[/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/383 "2005-01-06T00:16:03Z")
**JohnbckWLD** , somewhere on the third page I stopped trying to do what you seem to have done here, but it looks as if our numbers would have been much the same. One thing I noticed was that a number of Dopers made the selection “The Pope” I was assuming this was JPII, but it’s conceivable, although unlikely, one could get points twice for such a choice. John Paul II could kick off in 2005. Then, as inded did happen with JP’s predecessor, there could be a very short reign. So a person who claimed “The Pope” could say “Hey, gimme points for both deaths!” **a35362** , how will such a situation be handled? ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/384 "2005-01-06T00:21:57Z")
Wow. More than half my list is made up of completely unique picks! ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/385 "2005-01-06T00:22:47Z")
Hmmm, Does MC$E’s Shirley McLaine Selection Count? Most Ironic Selection: George Wendt If you take each doper’s picks & add the total number of selections a celebrity received, the 25 Dopers with the most popular selections are:[ol] [li] DeVena § 524[/li][li] Cinnamon Girl § 507[/li][li] Carm6773 § 503[/li][li] Etherman § 502[/li][li] Suburban Plankton § 477[/li][li] drewbert § 469[/li][li] a35362 § 462[/li][li] Anni § 459[/li][li] Diceman § 456[/li]WIGGUM § 456 (Tie) [li] Sean Factotum § 451[/li]Wallflower § 451 (Tie) [li] melondeca § 448[/li][li] Scruloose § 443[/li][li] Mehitabel § 428[/li][li] Earthman § 424[/li]The Vorlon § 424 (Tie) [li] Rico § 421[/li]SandyHook § 421 (Tie) [li] MC$E § 413[/li][li] hammos1 § 407[/li][li] cadolphin § 398[/li][li] LVgeogeek § 396[/li]Zsofia § 396 (Tie) [li] Squonk § 394[/li][li] Mona Lott § 392[/li]VunderBob § 392 (Tie) [li] eman77 § 387[/li]WVmom § 387 (Tie) [li] CowPatty § 385[/li][li] _Deva_ § 382[/li]brianjedi § 382 (Tie) [li] Uvula Donor § 379[/li]zamboniracer § 379(Tie)[/ol] ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/386 "2005-01-06T00:27:41Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Wow. More than half my list is made up of completely unique picks! With that in mind, The 30 Dopers with the _Most Unique \* Selections (Least # Of Cummulative Voters)[ol] [li] Horseflesh § 10 [/li][li] Zoog § 11 [/li][li] Captain Lance Murdoch § 19 [/li][li] pohjonen § 20 [/li][li] HelloKitty § 23 [/li][li] williamweigand § 25 [/li][li] Casey1505 § 27 [/li][li] TellMeI’mNotCrazy § 30 [/li][li] Tikki § 31 [/li][li] Edward The Head § 31 (Tie)[/li][li] Saitou § 37 [/li][li] Garfield226 § 37 (Tie)[/li][li] Headspace § 40 [/li][li] Lady Venom § 42 [/li][li] ParentalAdvisory § 46 [/li][li] tpayne § 47 [/li][li] Mullinator § 47 (Tie)[/li][li] Sublight § 48 [/li][li] JohnBckWLD § 49 [/li][li] plnnr § 50 [/li][li] CuriousCanuck § 52 [/li][li] sWitchazel § 58 [/li][li] Qwisp § 59 [/li][li] wolf\_meister § 59 (Tie)[/li][li] smam § 63 [/li][li] RumMunkey § 63 (Tie)[/li][li] Grace § 67 [/li][li] Mr. Goob § 70 [/li][li] Bricker § 75 [/li][_] spooje § 78 [/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/387 "2005-01-06T00:33:45Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > With that in mind, > > The 30 Dopers with the \*Most Unique \* Selections (Least # Of Cummulative Voters) I must not understand your formula…how could one end up with less than 13 points? Unless you’re not counting the poster him or herself (so all the unique picks count for nothing). . . It will be interesting to see if there are trends between these lists and the overall winner. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/388 "2005-01-06T00:50:39Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > I must not understand your formula…how could one end up with less than 13 points? Unless you’re not counting the poster him or herself (so all the unique picks count for nothing). . . > > It will be interesting to see if there are trends between these lists and the overall winner. It should’ve read 37. ```auto Sel # Celebrity Votes #09 Chris Baranski 01 #10 Warren Beatty 02 #03 Kobe Bryant 01 #11 Bobby Fischer 01 #01 John Goodman 15 #07 Gene Hackman 02 #05 Dustin Hoffman 01 #04 Jerry Lewis 21 #08 Nathan Lane 01 #06 Tom Lehrer 02 #13 Mary Ann Mobley 01 #12 Sir Mix-A-Lot 01 #02 Bob Saget 01 ``` (50-13) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/389 "2005-01-06T00:51:31Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > One thing I noticed was that a number of Dopers made the selection “The Pope” > I was assuming this was JPII, but it’s conceivable, although unlikely, one could get points twice for such a choice. John Paul II could kick off in 2005. Then, as inded did happen with JP’s predecessor, there could be a very short reign. So a person who claimed “The Pope” could say “Hey, gimme points for both deaths!” Not to mention that the elderly Coptic Pope, Shenouda III, could pass away at any time. I was tempted to pick him just to be a contrarian. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/390 "2005-01-06T00:54:41Z")
I’ve actually heard of that guy, but never thought of him as a “contrary choice”! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/391 "2005-01-06T00:57:11Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > (4 Dopers only selected 12 names). Did anybody pick a celebrity who’s already dead? I run a small death pool for a few friends IRL and every year at least one person picks somebody who’s already dead. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/392 "2005-01-06T00:58:18Z")
Wow, **JohnBckWLD** , you really do have some twiddle time (said the guy who had to winnow down his list from 88 possibles). [QUOTE=JohnBckWLD] With that in mind, The 30 Dopers with the \*Most Unique \* Selections (Least # Of Cummulative Voters)[ol] [li] Horseflesh § 10 [/li][li] Zoog § 11[/ol][/li][/QUOTE] \ ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/393 "2005-01-06T02:06:34Z")
[QUOTE=JohnBckWLD] The 30 Dopers with the \*Most Unique \* Selections (Least # Of Cummulative Voters)[list=1] Woohoo!!! I’m Number 9! I’m Number 9! Thanks for coming up with all these interesting facts! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/394 "2005-01-06T05:10:05Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Hmmm, Does MC$E’s Shirley McLaine Selection Count? > Most Ironic Selection: George Wendt > > If you take each doper’s picks & add the total number of selections a celebrity received, the 25 Dopers with the most popular selections are:[ol] > [li] DeVena § 524[/li][li] Cinnamon Girl § 507[/li][/ol] > > :: snip :: That’s embarrassing. To be fair, this is my first death pool. Not that I ever thought I had a chance of being in the top 5 of anything, but thanks all the same. ☹ CG, not quite as unimaginative as DeVena 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/395 "2005-01-06T10:52:48Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Hmmm, Does MC$E’s Shirley McLaine Selection Count? > Most Ironic Selection: George Wendt > > If you take each doper’s picks & add the total number of selections a celebrity received, the 25 Dopers with the most popular selections are:[ol] > [li] DeVena § 524[/li][li] Cinnamon Girl § 507[/li][li] Carm6773 § 503[/li][li] Etherman § 502[/li][li] Suburban Plankton § 477[/li][li] drewbert § 469[/li][li] a35362 § 462[/li][li] Anni § 459[/li][li] Diceman § 456[/li]WIGGUM § 456 (Tie) > [li] Sean Factotum § 451[/li]Wallflower § 451 (Tie) > [li] melondeca § 448[/li][li] Scruloose § 443[/li][li] Mehitabel § 428[/li][li] Earthman § 424[/li]The Vorlon § 424 (Tie) > [li] Rico § 421[/li]SandyHook § 421 (Tie) > [li] MC$E § 413[/li][li] hammos1 § 407[/li][li] cadolphin § 398[/li][li] LVgeogeek § 396[/li]Zsofia § 396 (Tie) > [li] Squonk § 394[/li][li] Mona Lott § 392[/li]VunderBob § 392 (Tie) > [li] eman77 § 387[/li]WVmom § 387 (Tie) > [li] CowPatty § 385[/li][li] _Deva_ § 382[/li]brianjedi § 382 (Tie) > [li] Uvula Donor § 379[/li]zamboniracer § 379(Tie)[/ol] Well, at least I’m famous for _something_. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/396 "2005-01-06T13:48:24Z")
**JohnBckWLD** , You rock. Thanks for making my favorite thread (for this year at least) more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/397 "2005-01-06T14:45:12Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > One thing I noticed was that a number of Dopers made the selection “The Pope.” I was assuming this was JPII, but it’s conceivable, although unlikely, one could get points twice for such a choice. John Paul II could kick off in 2005. Then, as inded did happen with JP’s predecessor, there could be a very short reign. So a person who claimed “The Pope” could say “Hey, gimme points for both deaths!” > > **a35362** , how will such a situation be handled? I’m assuming “The Pope” is John Paul II. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/398 "2005-01-06T14:53:26Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I’m assuming “The Pope” is John Paul II. Surely “The Pope” means “The guy who was Pope as of midnight, Dec 31 2004”. If anyone tries to claim they were nominating the guy who was Pope as of September 23rd 2005 (for instance) I’ll have to raise an eyebrow at them :dubious: Ah ha! In the rules (excerpt below) it actually says that nominations for The Pope will be assumed to mean Pope John Paul II, so that kinda takes care of the wiggle room. > [@a35362](#): > > Some celebrities have common names or similar names. It is helpful to specify whether you’re picking Barbara Bush, the former First Lady or Barbara Bush, her granddaughter, to use examples from the past. If you pick “the Pope,” I’ll assume you mean “Pope John Paul II,” but it is helpful to be more specific. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/399 "2005-01-06T15:25:47Z")
People really should try to point out who their celebs are when they pick them. Even if it’s someone who’s well-known. The “Pope” and “Barbara Bush” selections are pretty infamous here, but there were also picks for people like John Madden and Jason Alexander. These names are shared by more than one celebrity. John Madden the football guy or John Madden the director of Shakespeare in Love? Jason Alexander who was George Costanza or Jason Alexander who was Mr. Spears? Some people specified which one, but others did not. Someone picked two famous Robert Smiths (but he said who was who). Though no one picked them, names like Mike Scott (Waterboy, Astro) and Amanda Peet (actress, physicist) are not unique names either. There are many others, so it helps to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574/400 "2005-01-06T15:53:18Z")
Damn, I picked the wrong Mandela, I guess. [Nelson’s son, Makgatho Mandela, succumbs to AIDS.](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/01/06/mandela.son.reut/index.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2005/277574.md?page=21)