I should be decent at recent movies, especially corny ones like Wild Wild West.
What else? Well, I’ll know some computer science, chemistry, physics, and Native American studies.
And I’m an expert at listing the following cities in order from west to east, although you can’t use a lifeline for that.
I’m pretty knowledgeable about rock/pop/soul music from the 50s-present, if that helps. Also a little physics and cognitive science. Oh, and literature. Mostly just the music, though.
And perhaps, the inestimable, tomndebb.
Xploder,
Whoever you end up using, (If you pass the audition and if you win the fastest finget question) I think it would be awesome if you somehow mention the SDMB while on the show.
Well, I know the chances are slim to actually get in the hotseat or even on the show for that matter, but I can always hope. 
And yes, if I do get on, I’m definitely gonna work in the SDMB somehow or other.
Bill
Feel free to send any baseball question my way.
The more important question is, “What’s my cut if we win?”
Aigh! No! I’m imagining the boards getting even slower as 500,000 people decide to come check what we’re all about. I’m all for some new blood, but that’d be a little TOO much…
LOL!!! Actually, I really like the IRC idea and if necessary, plan to implement it.
Gotta go now, Mike Keneally and Beer For Dolphins has a live performance on DCN.COM
Bill
Juniper: what school do you play for? I do quizbowl as well.
I’ll third or fourth or whatever the IRC idea. And it would probably be wise to find someone with a good connection so there’s little lag.
You can add my name to the volunteer list if you wish. I usually average around 75% right on Jeopardy or WWTBAM? I have a good knowledge of history, decent in pop and classical culture and science, unfortunately very weak in sports.
I would think, if you need movie knowledge, Cervaise would be your man.
My only Millionaire-related skill is heckling the contestants from the safety of my living room, so I’m pretty much useless.
punha: I’m at University of Missouri, so I doubt we cross paths much, unless you were at Trashionals '99 or something (that was the last time in living memory that we ventured east of Tennessee).
However, we did a packet in practice once that I think you wrote. It had a reference to the packet author being related to some personage, and you had recently mentioned a similar relationship on the boards. This was a few months ago, though, and I could be out of my mind. I definitely wouldn’t rule that out.
Juniper: check your email.
It would seem to me that in addition to someone being in mIRC #straightdope, one of us college quizbowlers could be in that chatroom, in case people actually go there in droves like they used to:)
Thanks for the plug, Lux Fiat. 
In addition to movies, I’m dead-solid on Shakespeare and theatre in general, pretty good in terms of the kind of general science questions they usually ask on that show, well-rounded in pop culture, history, and literature, and, of course, from years of reading stuff on this site, general trivia. I don’t know if I could handle the pressure of being a solo lifeline, but I’d absolutely be willing to participate in a chat-room roundtable.
Oh, and regarding working an SDMB reference in: You wouldn’t have to be explicit about it. Just something like – if Regis asks, “Are you sure? How do you know?” …give him a nice, beatific smile, and say, “I’ve got the straight dope.”
And thousands of people across the country will hoot and cackle.
I’ve played the game, made the Hot Seat and won some money on the second time I appeared, and can help with a lot of the nitty-gritty details if you like. Knowing what to expect made a huge difference the second time, believe me. I’ll be happy to help - best categories are history, geography, sports, science/technology, literature, classical (but not pop) music, general trivia.
There exists a substantial community of Millionaire players and hopefuls, with data bases of lifeline volunteers and their/our strong suits as well as qualifying questions. I can put you in touch with the gatekeeper with a positive recommendation if you like - send me an e-mail. You might also drop a note on the open ABC site.
The best lifeline person to have available is one with a high-speed connection and Google already open. Have more than 1 available (you can have up to 5 people on your list), just in case - they have to meet eligibility requirements, too.
Everyone I know of who has been both a Phone A Friend and a contestant says the former is MORE nerve-wracking - just sitting by the phone, knowing a friend may be depending on you for more money than either of you have ever seen, and not being able to be distracted by anything else … I can see it.
Well. One thing that I didn’t expect was that the initial test would be 30 fastest finger questions. :mad:
In any case, out of 140 people, they actually kept less than 30. What really sucked was that each question counts as FOUR answers as opposed to one. So. I may have lost on the basis of only one lame ass answer.
We’ll never know as the Producers that administer the test will not tell you the criteria for passing.
Oh well…there’s always next time