# The Celebrity Death Pool 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523 "2010-12-01T09:16:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/41 "2010-12-02T19:18:46Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m not quite sure how VinderBob appointed himself the rule-master - particularly since his suggestion was “shot down”, but anyway… That would be by way of me asking for a courtesy, not making a demand. The proposed rule was shot down for being unenforceable. FWIW, MMr.M, since having the addadicktome, Chastity Bono has changed names legally to Chaz. ---
**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 2, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/42 "2010-12-02T19:21:58Z")
**MeanMt.Mustard** , it’a _thirteen_ people, not ten. **Stephe96** didn’t mention his list’s theme of Beatles and associates. I woul dhave included Ringo Starr’s daughter Lee Starkey, who battled a serious form of brain cancer a while back. ---
**Author:** ![meghan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@meghan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meghan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/43 "2010-12-02T19:35:53Z")
I have a list. It’s a nice list, full of old people, young people, self-destructing people. It’s the same list I have used since I started playing this game. But I fear that if I replace any of them, that person will wait until January 1st, chortle quietly, and then die. Keith Richards Amy Winehouse Jerry Lewis Kim Jong-Il Bill Clinton Mary Kate Olsen Brittney Spears Fidel Castro Lance Armestrong Vladimir Putin Hamid Karzai Dick Cheney Nancy Reagan Alternates: Billy Graham Bernie Madoff ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/44 "2010-12-02T20:52:11Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Chastity Bono > Aretha Franklin > Artie Lange > Vincent Pastore > William “Refrigerator” Perry > Randy Quaid > Gabourey Sidibe > Phyllis Smith > Sally Struthers > Reuben Studdard > > Alternates: > > Oprah Winfrey > Kirstie Alley > Kevin Smith As you need 13, I am going to use all your alternates until I hear otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/45 "2010-12-02T21:10:43Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > **Stephe96** didn’t mention his list’s theme of Beatles and associates. I woul dhave included Ringo Starr’s daughter Lee Starkey, who battled a serious form of brain cancer a while back. I did not know that. Of course, I’m not in any way trying to _win_ this ghoulish contest…😉 ---
**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 2, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/46 "2010-12-02T21:27:57Z")
Katy Perry Jessica Simpson Justin Timberlake Britney Spears Christina Aguilera Beyonce Knowles Jennifer Lopez Nick Lachey Lance Bass Natasha Bedingfield Kelly Clarkson Lady Gaga Rihanna Alts Taylor Swift Hilary Duff Chris Brown The theme is Teen Pop Idols. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/47 "2010-12-02T21:28:05Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Barrack Obama > Michelle Obama > George W. Bush > Laura Bush > Bill Clinton > Hillary Clinton > George H. W. Bush > Barbara Bush (the elder) > Nancy Reagen > Jimmy Carter > Rosalyn Carter > Betty Ford > Jeb Bush You never fail to deliver. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/48 "2010-12-02T21:30:30Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Okay, here goes: > > . Richards Griffiths is an alarmingly fat English actor who played Uncle Vernon in the _Harry Potter_ movies. **amarone**. In HP6, he looked horrid. In the brief bit we see Mr. Dursley, Uncle Vernon looked like he lost a few pounds or a very clever camera angle and spanx. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/49 "2010-12-02T21:55:37Z")
Doris Day (originally Kappelhoff, later Jorden, Weidler, Melcher, and Comden) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. Brigitte Bardot (sex kitten turned animal activist) Fidel Castro (_muerte_ will finally come now that his country is beginning to abandon _socialismo_) Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans, father of WNBA player Mistie Bass) Bob Dylan (it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta meet somebody) Peter O’Toole (one of his major roles fits the theme) Paul McCartney (“was in a band besides Wings? I never heard of Wings” is the updated punchline to an old joke) Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey, leader of All-Starr Band) John Glenn (shared a plane with Ted Williams, went up in _Friendship 7_ alone, served in the Senate with 99 other people at a time) Christine Keeler (figure in UK’s Profumo scandal) Sally Ride (first American woman in space) Bernie Goetz (New York’s “Subway Vigilante”) Plain text: Doris Day Queen Elizabeth II Brigitte Bardot Fidel Castro Chubby Checker Bob Dylan Peter O’Toole Paul McCartney Ringo Starr John Glenn Christine Keeler Sally Ride Bernhard Goetz Theme, in case you haven’t figured it out: All mentioned directly or indirectly in lyrics to Billy Joel’s _We Didn’t Start the Fire_. O’Toole played the title role in _Lawrence of Arabia_, McCartney and Starr were half of the quartet that set off “British Beatlemania”, Keeler was involved in “British politician sex”. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/50 "2010-12-03T01:01:43Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > As you need 13, I am going to use all your alternates until I hear otherwise. Sorry about that, Amarone. > [@](#): > > FWIW, MMr.M, since having the addadicktome, Chastity Bono has changed names legally to Chaz. You’re right; thanks, VunderBob. Updated list: My theme: “Please don’t sit on the Queen Anne!” Mario Batali Chaz Bono Aretha Franklin Jorge Garcia Jonah Hill Artie Lange Rosie O’Donnell Vincent Pastore William “Refrigerator” Perry Randy Quaid Gabourey Sidibe Sally Struthers Reuben Studdard Alternates: Kirstie Alley Kevin Smith Oprah Winfrey ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/51 "2010-12-03T01:13:57Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My theme: “Please don’t sit on the Queen Anne!” You’re going to have to explain that one to me. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/52 "2010-12-03T02:01:33Z")
It’s a fat joke. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/53 "2010-12-03T02:16:19Z")
My theme: striving for immortality by being on my list. Connie Newton Needham, actress (Eight is Enough) Paul Tuttle, OC Choppers George Karl-Denver Nuggets coach Mari Hulman George-Indy 500 big shot Adam Yauch, of the Beastie Boys Louis Farrakhan Michael Douglas Harlan Ellison Marcia Strassman Lindsay Lohan Theresa Heinz Kerry Elizabeth Edwards Andy Whitfield – Spartacus: Blood and Sand Alternates: Maggie Smith George Soros Michael Moore The clean list: Connie Newton Needham Paul Tuttle George Karl Mari Hulman George Adam Yauch Louis Farrakhan Michael Douglas Harlan Ellison Marcia Strassman Lindsay Lohan Theresa Heinz Kerry Elizabeth Edwards Andy Whitfield Alternates: Maggie Smith George Soros Michael Moore ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/54 "2010-12-03T02:36:54Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > You’re going to have to explain that one to me. > [@Uncle\_Goat](#): > > It’s a fat joke. Yeah they’re all heavyweights. [Queen Annes](http://contursi.freeyellow.com/queenanne/images/chipchair2.jpg) are often old, valuable furniture pieces. mmm ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/55 "2010-12-03T02:45:19Z")
Couldn’t push any of my neo-cons over the edge from my theme last year. New theme this year: EVANGELICALS WHO NEED TO MEET THEIR MAKER Tony Alamo – Cult leader and sex with minors Warren Jeffs – Poligamist – child abuse Fred Phelps -Westbobo Baptist Church Charles Manson – Still around Kent Hovind – Young Earth Christian (extreme) and tax protester Jim Bakker – Telethief – adultery - corruption Sun Myung Moon – Cult, tax fraud, corruption Shoko Asahara – Sarin gas attack in Tokyo - awaiting execution Jimmy Swaggart – Telethief – adultery - corruption Robert Tilton – Corrupt televangelist James Dobson – Focus on Family, hate group, political corruption Ted Haggard – “Over-repented from his gay prostitute and drugs days” Joseph Ratzinger – Con man, Cult leader Clean list with alternates at bottom. Warren Jeffs Fred Phelps Charles Manson Jim Bakker Sun Myung Moon Shoko Asahara Jimmy Swaggart James Dobson Ted Haggard Joseph Ratzinger Tony Alamo Kent Hovind Robert Tilton I’ve got other lists if you need a theme: Clinton impeachers (caught doing the same thing), Evil sexy politicians - enough to populate a list from either party, Political/Talk show commentators (yep - Rush, Oberman, Palin, and Carville are in there - you betcha). ---
**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 3, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/56 "2010-12-03T07:49:29Z")
Short list: Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-chul Kim Jong-nam Kim Jong-un Fidel Castro Michael Douglas Roger Ebert Elizabeth Edwards Margaret Thatcher Zsa Zsa Gabor Blake Fielder-Civil Amy Winehouse Courtney Love Annotated list: Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-chul, Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-un - Reaching for the big points on this one. If there’s a coup in Pyongyang, I’ll score huge. Fidel Castro, Michael Douglas, Roger Ebert, Elizabeth Edwards, Margaret Thatcher - Perennial favorites. I tried to balance age with reports of ill health. Zsa Zsa Gabor - A low scorer but I’m hoping for a few safe points here. Blake Fielder-Civil, Amy Winehouse, Courtney Love - Another longshot. Picking a few young trainwrecks in the hopes of a big score. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/57 "2010-12-03T11:57:12Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Yeah they’re all heavyweights. [Queen Annes](http://contursi.freeyellow.com/queenanne/images/chipchair2.jpg) are often old, valuable furniture pieces. > mmm If that is a genuine attempt at a theme, I’m not going to accept it. 68% of the US adult population is overweight or obese, 34% obese. That’s too broad a category. It would be like allowing a theme of “men” or “women”. I think we need to be looking at themes that are a tiny percentage of the population. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/58 "2010-12-03T13:04:53Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Shoko Asahara – Sarin gas attack in Tokyo - awaiting execution Unless he dies of natural causes or via “extra-judicial” means (e.g., beaten to death by a guard), you won’t get points for him. See the rule about “persons under sentence of death” on the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/59 "2010-12-03T16:19:43Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > My theme: striving for immortality by being on my list. I thought about this yesterday. I’m going to do it today. \*\*If Death Pool did not exist, a normal person could not look at your list and theme them. \*\* This perhaps isn’t the best metric, but, I think we all know your list isn’t a theme. Better to institute a rule for this now, before we get more lists. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/60 "2010-12-03T16:53:34Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I thought about this yesterday. I’m going to do it today. > \*\*If Death Pool did not exist, a normal person could not look at your list and theme them. \*\*. Well, I never saw the memo about having a theme and my list has been a work in progress for 11 months. Plus, I figured the sarcasm smilies were automagically implied. Plus, for those with HTG themes and lists, I 'd be whooshed if I wasn’t told about it at the outset. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=4)