# The Celebrity Death Pool 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262 "2008-12-01T23:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 86
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1701 "2009-12-21T15:46:55Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Nope - nobody did. I’d never heard of her. You can’t walk down any street in Hollywood without stepping on a Brittany. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1702 "2009-12-21T16:02:38Z")
[C.D.B. Bryan](http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-cdb-bryan21-2009dec21,0,6019055.story), whose book _Friendly Fire_ was made into an Emmy-winning 1979 television movie of the same name, has died at the age of 73. Bryan’s 1965 novel _P. S. Wilkinson_ was a fixture on one of my family’s bookshelves as I was growing up. When I was in high school, I learned the book was, “in point of fact”, expanded from a _New Yorker_ short story, _So Much Unfairness of Things_, that was contained in an anthology used for English class. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1703 "2009-12-21T18:25:33Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > It would be _way creepy_ if anyone had her. That came right out of left field. See, this is why I avoid picking old or ill celebrities. It’s easy to pick Swayze (which I know I did) and collect the points but if you pick a Brittney Murphy and she actually snuffs it, you look like Nostrodamus all of a sudden. So if you continually pick young apparently healthy celebrities then you’ll probably never win, but when you hit it just once … you’re a Death Pool legend. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1704 "2009-12-21T19:08:56Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > See, this is why I avoid picking old or ill celebrities. It’s easy to pick Swayze (which I know I did) and collect the points but if you pick a Brittney Murphy and she actually snuffs it, you look like Nostrodamus all of a sudden. > > So if you continually pick young apparently healthy celebrities then you’ll probably never win, but when you hit it just once … you’re a Death Pool legend. Nah…I disagree. If you pick 13 young,healthy celebs and score one, it would just get a “meh” from me. Score 3 or 4 ,different story. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1705 "2009-12-22T14:44:39Z")
The all time shocker death this year was Michael Jackson, and **45** people picked him. **Fourty-five**. How the shit did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1706 "2009-12-22T14:47:03Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The all time shocker death this year was Michael Jackson, and **45** people picked him. > > **Fourty-five**. How the shit did that happen? Because of [this report](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122201103.html) last December. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1707 "2009-12-22T14:50:12Z")
There were rumors in the press just before the new year that he had some serious health problems. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1708 "2009-12-22T15:18:36Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The all time shocker death this year was Michael Jackson, and **45** people picked him. > > **Fourty-five**. How the shit did that happen? There were a couple of stories released last year that he needed a new liver. He was on my short list, but didn’t make the final cut because I dismissed it as another “gee, isn’t Michael Jackson weird” story. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1709 "2009-12-22T17:18:36Z")
Let’s not all answer me at once Here: > **[How does the Death Pool work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=544893)** > > So I am on the fence about the entire Death Pool game here. On one hand, I find it " wrong ". OTOH, I like the idea of it; that is, if one could remove all emotion and " feelings " from it, it does seem like an intriguing mechanic. \[Did I just mush... ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1710 "2009-12-22T20:21:41Z")
[Kim Peek](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/medicine-obituaries/6867567/Kim-Peek.html), the savant on whom the character played by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man was based, at 58 on Dec. 19. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1711 "2009-12-23T16:44:24Z")
[Arnold Stang](http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-arnold-stang23-2009dec23,0,332365.story), who played numerous nerdy roles during a long career in radio, film, theater, and television, has died at the age of 91. Stang provided the voice of the title character in the _Top Cat_ cartoon series about a decade after portraying the stagehand, Francis, on Milton Berle’s top-rated TV show of the early 1950’s. [Connie Hines](http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-connie-hines22-2009dec22,0,1062451.story), who played Carol Post on the 1960’s sitcom _Mister Ed_, passed away at 78. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1712 "2009-12-24T03:47:44Z")
Army Officer Robert Howard has died. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert\_L.\_Howard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Howard) Among his MANY decorations received in service: Medal of Honor 2 Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal 4 Legion of Merit 4 Bronze Star 8 Purple Heart ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1713 "2009-12-24T07:21:22Z")
Also the Thai Balloonist’s Badge. Hellovaman ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1714 "2009-12-24T16:44:01Z")
[Sportscaster George Michael](http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/2009/12/longtime_dc_sports_anchor_geor.html), dead at 70. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1715 "2009-12-24T17:21:10Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [Sportscaster George Michael](http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/2009/12/longtime_dc_sports_anchor_geor.html), dead at 70. Hmm - here’s a tricky situation. There was only one pick for George Michael - by **stockton** , but with no explanation as to which George Michael. We have had ambiguous nominations before, but none that has actually died, while I have been game moderator. When a recent pick in the 2010 pool was questioned, the two choices were a current celebrity reported as having cancer, or a somewhat obscure 40s/50s baseball player. That’s an easy call to make. But here we have two well-known George Michaels (in the US at least - I expect overseas Dopers have never heard of the sportscaster). Maybe the answer is: **stockton** , fess up - who did you mean? Did any past game moderators have this situation? **Little Nemo**? **a35362**? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1716 "2009-12-24T17:39:13Z")
If giving the points to **stockton** puts him higher on the list than me, then he meant the singer. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1717 "2009-12-24T18:07:35Z")
subtle ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1718 "2009-12-24T18:10:43Z")
I don’t think I had to deal with it either. I remember we didn’t know for sure how old a couple of celebrities were at death, but they were unique names at least. It’s the honor system around here, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1719 "2009-12-24T18:16:47Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Army Officer Robert Howard has died. > > [Robert L. Howard - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Howard) > > Among his MANY decorations received in service: > > Medal of Honor > 2 Distinguished Service Cross > Silver Star > Defense Superior Service Medal > 4 Legion of Merit > 4 Bronze Star > 8 Purple Heart From the above link: > [@](#): > > **Howard was recommended for the Medal of Honor on three separate occasions** for three individual actions during thirteen months spanning 1967–1968. The first two nominations were downgraded to the award of the [Distinguished Service Cross](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_%28United_States%29) due to the [covert](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert) nature of the operations in which Howard participated. > > – snip – > > **It is believed by some historians that Howard is the most highly-decorated living American soldier in history.** Bolding and larger size mine. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/1720 "2009-12-24T18:16:53Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > It’s the honor system around here, folks. On my honor, when I typed “Don Meyer” it was a typo and I really meant to type “Michael Jackson”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=85) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=87)