Thank you all for your support.

[IntravenousDemilo]

And thank you for watching my appearances on Jeopardy! I had the best time with these fellow (moderate) left-wingers who were my competition, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I am absolutely ecstatic at having taken second place. Of course, if I'd won, I'd be 2.5 times as ecstatic, but a hundred grand, minus taxes, is much better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick any day. And remember, since we were all more or less lefties, you know the big prize didn't fall into Freeper hands.

[lost-in-nj]

1. WHOOO HOOOO

oh man

congrats..... I am in awe...



lost

[IntravenousDemilo]

14. Thanks, lost.

I am now something very dangerous... a socialist with money and free time for political work.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Congratulations!!!

You did extremely well.

[IntravenousDemilo]

16. Many thanks indeed!

I did what I had to do, so as not to embarrass my country. There was that added (self-imposed) pressure as well, as I was the only Canuck, so I'm glad I didn't crash and burn.

[Bennyboy]

3. Great job.....

The damn jazz question cost ya though..... But hey, really was awesome....

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. Thanks, Bennyboy

Naw, I think it was that damn $2,000 clue where the answer was "bots", but I said "worm". Had I got that right, I'd have had a lock game. Had I not buzzed in for it, I probably would have lost by $201, which would have made me feel somewhat worse than losing by $401. Or we might even have had another tiebreaker like that on Tuesday, but in the final game, and wouldn't THAT have been something!

[Bennyboy]

50. yeah that was a tough one too....

BOTS? WTF is that? (which explains why i will never be on the show...)

[HughBeaumont]

4. Congratulations on the win!

Glad to see someone out there making good on knowing your facts, figures and culture.

I SO wish I could go on Jeapordy, but after reading Jenning's book, it seems like the odds of even getting ON the show are about the same as winning $5000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket.

[IntravenousDemilo]

7. If you think you have the stuff...

...get yourself on Jeopardy's email list, and you can find out when they're having their next online test. That's how I got on. They should be having one soon, I think, maybe in January. Go to jeopardy.com and sign up for their newsletter, and you'll get updates for that: http://www.jeopardy.com/communicate_newsletter.php

[Omphaloskepsis]

5. I hosted one of the edisodes you were on...

Can I have back the 7.00$ it cost me to host. I'm just kidding, I don't want the money but I did pay seven bucks to host a episode you were on. Maybe give the 7$ to the next person you see that looks needy.. And congrats, great job.

[IntravenousDemilo]

11. Alex? Is that... is that YOU?! n/m

[SPKrazy]

6. 'grats!

:woooo:

[IntravenousDemilo]

31. Woooo back, and thanks, Lefty. n/m

[Blue-Jay]

8. You were wonderful, my friend.

Congratulations on your success. Next time you're in Chicago, you're buying the beers!

[IntravenousDemilo]

12. Thanks, buddy.

It's a deal. Drinks on me.

[Blue-Jay]

17. Oh.... You misunderstood me.

I didn't mean that you had to buy the beers. I just figured that we'd drink them out of your belly-button. I suppose that you could buy them too if you want.

[IntravenousDemilo]

21. Well, I guess you could do that.

Just no tongue, OK? I'm ticklish.

[redwitch]

65. Locking.

Congratulations! I love Jeopardy, but missed the whole deal and am very unhappy that I did. Nice to know my neighbor to the north and a fellow lefty did so well. Did you win in loonies or those worthless American dollars?

[IntravenousDemilo]

68. Yup, I'm getting paid in pesos, uh, I mean, greenbacks.

In fact, I picked up the cheque from the FedEx depot on Lakeshore Avenue today, along with a new picture of me and Alex, and a snazzy group pic, the same one at the J! website (jeopardy.com).

The loonie is trending downward (more of a correction, really). It was at $1.10 US at one point a week or so ago, but since then it's gone down to about $1.02. Keeping in mind that every penny it goes up or down makes a difference of $1,000, I shall be waiting for the loonie to go down even farther before I cash the cheque -- maybe at about $0.95.
And I will insist that my bank convert it to Canadian dollars without charging a 4 per cent conversion fee, or else I'll just take the cheque to another more compliant bank.

[redwitch]

76. I can see why you are a Jeopardy champion!

Smart!

[AwakeAtLast]

25. Sorry, replied in wrong spot

[Maestro]

10. Way to go! Awesome!

And I had no doubt that a freeper would win. They are just too dumb! You are one intelligent guy!

[IntravenousDemilo]

22. You are too kind! Thanks very much!

Freepers aren't dumb, exactly. I'm sure there are lots of them who can fix a car, which is something I don't have the aptitude for. The problem is that they're intellectually uncurious and not open to new stimuli and ways of thinking, so their knowledge never seems to advance beyond the safe.

[gmoney]

13. Are you a Republican now?

Congratulations!

[IntravenousDemilo]

18. Heh, I'm practically marxist in a lot of ways, so, no, not really.

Thanks for the congrats, gmoney.

[Joe Fields]

15. You are my hero...

I was proud to see you do so well.

I have, over the years taken the Jeopardy test three times and passed each time. I did well during the mock games, and was told each time that I would be on call for a year. But alas, not once did I ever get a call.

You my friend have lived a dream. You must be on cloud nine.

[IntravenousDemilo]

28. That's exactly the cloud I'm on, you got that right!

I didn't get called back the first time I tried out either, 12 years ago. And there was never another contestant search in Toronto after that, so I was really happy when the first online test was announced. You bet I jumped on that one. Opportunity does come knockin', but you have to leave a light on so it can find your door.

Keep trying is all I can suggest. Go to http://www.jeopardy.com/communicate_newsletter.php and get notification of when the next test is, if you haven't done so already. And next time you audition, get a good night's sleep beforehand and remember to be bright and cheerful and lose any shyness -- they're not looking for shy people. Get noticed (without being obnoxious of course). Be "on". Also important: when Maggie or Tony or Robert or whoever says to talk louder, be the first person to do so, because they're also looking for someone who can take direction.

As you probably suspected, Jeopardy! is probably one of the nicest experiences in the world. The staff treat you with kid gloves (unless you have to go out for a smoke, then they laugh). I hope to see you on my TV one day. And if you ever try out for Millionaire, I'd be pleased to be one of your phone-a-friends.

[Beausoir]

19. You were so great! The comeback in the semi-final was truly a thing of beauty.

In the blink on an eye....you came back and won.

Truly amazing.

Enjoy your success! Most of us could only dream of such grace under fire.

[IntravenousDemilo]

29. I'll admit I was pretty damn proud of the comeback when I saw it,...

...but you know, I didn't even remember that I'd been in the hole in that game -- does that sound odd? You could have asked me five minutes after, what had happened in the game and I wouldn't have been able to tell you -- the game is gone, forgotten, in the past. It's like Jeckyll & Hyde. Most of the time, I'm Dr Jeckyll, but when I get in front of a camera and behind the Jeopardy! lectern, as soon as the game starts I turn into Mr Hyde. When the game's over, Dr Jeckyll can't remember all the stuff Mr Hyde did.

But I did time how long it took me to go from a thousand in the hole to $9,000 when I watched the tape. One minute and 40 seconds, during which time no one but Alex and I did any talking. I more or less saw what I had to do, and I did that thing.

As to grace under fire, thanks, but nah, it's not really, because I love being in front of a camera, and I feed off the studio audience reaction. But not everyone is the exhibitionist I am.

[bigwillq]

20. I had a great time watching you.

Thanks! and Congrats!

[IntravenousDemilo]

30. Well, thanks!

Funnily enough, so did I. I used to hate how my voice sounded, but now I'm used to it.

Jeopardy! is something that anyone with any aptitude for it should do, even just to say they tried out and took the test. They're ALWAYS looking for new blood on the show, and they've actually asked us to encourage people we know to audition.

[bigwillq]

40. My sister took the test

For the College Tournament down in Philly. See didn't get a call back.

Her and I watched you in the finals and she said a few things:

1. That you were very smart.
2. That you were funny.
3. That you seemed like a nice guy.

I said, yup he is!

[IntravenousDemilo]

54. It's probably easier for her to get onto the regular show than the college tournament.

In any given 230-game season, about 30 games are taken up by tournaments of various sorts, each tournament being made up of a pool of 15, for which, in the case of the college championship, many thousands of students try out. The odds of getting into a regular season game are much better, since there are 200 X 3 = 600 spots they have to fill. Andrew Rostan, whom I played in my QF game, is the right age for the college tourney, but he chose to forego that and try his luck with the grown-ups. He retired after five wins and about $125K. Compare that with the $100K that the college champ gets. Sis should try out for the regular season.

Please thank your sister for the nice compliments on my behalf.

[bigwillq]

59. My sis and I play every chance we get

We did poorly in your final game.

She led 15-9 going into final jeopardy. Yes, she only got 15 right and I only got 9, how sad is that?!?!?

We both got the final wrong. I bet it all. She bet 7 so she ended up winning 8-0.

She always used to kick my ass back in the day but in the last several years it's been a toss-up. Either I am getting smarter or she is slipping!

[JohnnyLib2]

23. We were cheering at this house.

Enjoyed it all the way. Congratulations!

[IntravenousDemilo]

33. That means quite a bit to me, you know.

Thanks for the cheers. I could practically hear them all the way over here in Toronto.

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. .

[IntravenousDemilo]

34. Merci, Peake! n/m

[AwakeAtLast]

26. Absolutely fantastic!

Congrats!

[IntravenousDemilo]

35. Happy not to disappoint! Thank you! n/m

[Gormy Cuss]

27. If it's any consolation

I thought "burgher" was the answer too. D'oh!

[IntravenousDemilo]

37. Well, now I feel less like a dork for having guessed it.

Thanks for the reinforcement, you Gormy Cuss, you. It helps.

[maddezmom]

32. Congrats

[IntravenousDemilo]

38. Thanks. It would have been a little emptier without people to cheer me on and share my joy. n/m

[GenDem]

36. CONGRATULATIONS!

It was a great run and very entertaining. My family and I watched you on Monday night while we were eating in a diner. We broke out in applause after that incredible comeback.
The other diner patrons thought we were nuts.
You were fabulous!

[IntravenousDemilo]

41. Well, thank you very much, GenDem. With this extra cash, I now FEEL fabulous!

I'm surprised they had the sound up on the diner TV. Sometimes places have TVs on with no sound, while they have the radio on. What's that all about?

So did you explain to the other patrons what you were clapping about, or did they go home thinking you were nuts?

[GenDem]

74. It was later than the dinner crowd.

We sat down around 7:30 (exactly when Jeopardy comes on in our market) -- after a trip to the funeral home for an elderly aunt. We were sitting right next to the counter where the TV was mounted. There were not too many patrons so we could hear perfectly. Of course I made the big announcement that I knew who you were, so that drew everyones attention. It was classic.

[LibDemAlways]

39. It sucked that it all came down to an American History

question. That gave your Philadelphia competition somewhat of an advantage I thought, though she came up on the short end of that question too. However, you absolutely rocked, and you owned the second game. Job very well done.

I've known Jeopardy producer Lisa Finneran for a long time. Her son and my daughter have been in many classes together in school. She's a very nice person, but, unfortunately, the reason why I'm now Jeopardy ineligible - though I passed the test one time many years ago but never received a call back.

Congratulations on making the finals and making it a squeaker. It was a pleasure to watch.

[IntravenousDemilo]

45. Ah well, don't be sad about that.

I knew I was going to be on an American game show, so I prepared accordingly. And after all, in my QF Final Jeopardy!, I was the only one who knew who designed the White House, while my American competitors didn't.

I've even heard of the House of Burgesses, and if I'd had a couple more minutes instead of just those 30 seconds, I would have arrived at the right response eventually. I was working backwards through the etymology of the word, through "bourgeois" and "burgomeister" and then to "burgher". "Burgess" would have come a couple of steps later.

That sucks about your being ineligible because you know Lisa. But there are otherwise perfectly acceptable people who've been turned away because they might have met Alex on the golf course or something like that. I even know of one journalist who'd interviewed Alex decades earlier for all of 15 minutes, and even that rendered him ineligible.

But anyway, as for the tournament in general, I'd venture to say that Sony Pictures Studios got their money's worth from us. It was exciting TV all around, not just my back-to-back comebacks, but the tiebreaker in the following game as well, followed by a close Final.

[LibDemAlways]

53. They are very strict about eligibility rules. I remember

auditioning for another game show many years ago, and seeing one woman turned away because the contestant coordinator recognized her as a fellow tenant of the apartment building her parents lived in!

How you could mentally go through the etymology of a word in 30 nervewracking seconds and even come up with something close is just amazing. I'd wilt under the pressure. I was on a show called "Split Second" back in 1973 and pulled out a come from behind victory at the last second because of my knowledge of then popular sitcoms - certainly not the most highbrow of topics! Nevertheless it was a thrill and a memory I cherish to this day.

If I ever appear on Millionaire, I'll take you up on that phone a friend offer!

[SeattleGirl]

42. Congratulations to you!

You were great to watch!

[IntravenousDemilo]

48. Thanks, SeattleGirl. I tried hard to sparkle for the camera.

I'm happy you think I succeeded.

I just love playing this game, and I've always had a competitive streak. As soon as the tournament was over, I said, "I want to play some more", but alas, the taping was all done.

[Dystopian]

43. Congratulations!!

Holy Cow!

That's fantastic! I wish I had seen you....I've been a tad lost...but very happy for you.





peace~

[Tuesday Afternoon]

44. You sir, are a cutie! Congratulations.

[IntravenousDemilo]

47. Thanks, Tuesday. You're not thinking of Cliff, are you? HE's the cute one!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

51. no. He was fine looking, no doubt. You were very dashing and

quite debonair. A true cutie in every sense of the word

[IntravenousDemilo]

55. Aww, shucks...

(Too bad they didn't make the blush smily with a smile, because I have a big grin on, too!)

[Shell Beau]

46. Congratulations to you!! You did great!!

[IntravenousDemilo]

57. Thank you kindly, Shell Beau! n/m

[Shell Beau]

58. What it must be like to have so much random knowledge! Kudos to you!!

We are all so proud!

[IntravenousDemilo]

62. That's what happens when you've had your brain as long as I've had mine.

It gets filled up with a bunch of stuff, whether you're trying to cram it in or not. It all comes from paying attention to what's happening in the world, and maintaining a liberal, open-minded attitude towards new things (unlike, say, Barbara Bush, who didn't want to bother her "beautiful mind" etc). And since I've become used to my brain over the years, I can't imagine NOT having all that random knowledge. I wouldn't know what it's like.

Thanks again. Maybe they'll call me back for another tournament, maybe not. But the Jeopardy! 25th Anniversary celebrations are being planned as we speak, and that could mean another super-tournament. I'll keep everyone posted.

[Shell Beau]

66. Jeopardy has always been my favorite game show because

you must know a lot about a lot of different stuff!! I love to play it at home and hardly ever get the Final Jeopardy question right! It is the the best game show ever to me! And the hardest!

[IntravenousDemilo]

69. It is the champagne and caviar of game shows.

No other show packs so many questions into a half hour -- sixty one! In some of the new one-hour game shows like "1 vs 100", there's so much extraneous shit that they manage to ask only about eight or ten questions, and the rest of the time is taken up with Bob Saget's unfunny jokes and ridiculously over-the-top contestants who, face it, don't come across as being very bright -- just loud.

[rug]

49. Burgess.

[IntravenousDemilo]

56. Yeah, I know...

Oh, well...

[CBHagman]

52. You were amazing.

Love that stance you assume for ringing in, and of course the Fred MacMurray and the Horse routine went down a treat.

On edit: I wanted to take the last online test, but the one night it was scheduled for my region of the U.S., I found out I had to work (and it was because of Bush's State of the Union address).

[IntravenousDemilo]

60. Thanks, it was an amazing experience all around.

Some people at other sites have said that my stance made me look prissy, standoffish, and smug. One person said she wished Alex would punch me in the throat. To that I say, it was a comfortable way to give my buzzer arm support so it wouldn't tire out, so who cares how it looks? and besides, one way you know you're successful is when you have detractors who are complete strangers.

I'm glad you liked Fred MacMurray sitting on a horse. During the first break, Cliff, Celeste, and I were practising our "game faces" and that's when I did it for them. Tony Pandolfo, one of the contestant co-ordinators and a hell of a nice guy, saw it and rushed backstage to tell Alex, so instead of the interview topics that were on the card, Alex decided to get me to look goofy in front of millions of people, which I did happily.

Keep trying for the online test. I think the next one will be just after the new year.

[CBHagman]

63. No, you looked cool.

It's a rare contestant who has a distinctive approach to ringing in (and I've seen some contestants rendered helpless by the system, punching madly at a recalcitrant button). Obviously your technique worked.

It must worry you contestants to think what aspects of your personal lives Alex Trebek will seize upon for discussion after the commercial break! I used to think he was pompous (as Joe Piscopo said, the kind of man who would correct your pronunciation of your own name), but his sense of humor has come more to the fore in the recent past.

Here's some Jeopardy! weirdness: I was rooting for you to take top honors, but I had a very strong and persistent premonition that Celeste would take the #1 spot. Go figure. But you were all fun to watch.

[SallyMander]

61. It was great to see you

and i hope you're EXTREMELY proud of your performance!!!

I'm more on the level of a Wheel of Fortune contestant, myself


CONGRATS!!!

[IntravenousDemilo]

64. Thank you. It was great to be seen, but then, I'm a bit of a show-off.

I am indeed proud of my performance, particularly in the last game (well, except for Final Jeopardy!).

And don't discount Wheel -- there's good money to be made there, especially if you like solving crosswords. I'd try out for it, no problem, but I do have to wait six months at least until I can apply for another game show of any sort (it's in the contract). Too bad the host is such a Bush-lover, but I could probably overlook that if someone wanted to give me cash.

[SallyMander]

67. I've actually put my name in online

for WoF... i do crosswords like mad, and i can almost always get the puzzles before the contestants. I'm sure it's quite different when you're standing up in front of all those lights and people though!

I've heard that about Sajak too... do you think they'd mind if i listed "attending peace rallies, registering underprivileged minority voters, and reading lefty blogs" as my interests?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

70. Congrats!

I wish I could have watched the show; but between kiddie concerts and an opera that both ran all week, I wasn't able to catch it. Maybe when the reruns come around.

Cheers to you!

[Swede]

71. Congrats from a fellow stubble jumper.

Go Riders,go.

[ellisonz]

72. Congrats!

I thought you had it right until Alex cut you down.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burghers_of_Calais

[Heidi]

73. The Swiss Cheapter of the International IntravenousDemilo Fan Club

congratulates you!

[terrya]

75. You were...and are...amazing

I was so glad to have been there in the audience, cheering you on. And then watching on television last week and this week...I was practically bursting with pride.

Congratulations again on a dazzling performance on ToC.

SHMILY

[redqueen]

77. Congrats & well done!

Oops on edit: also, you looked great... very nice!

[madinmaryland]

78. Congratulations!

Glad you had a great time. It was great for us here to see a DU'er do so well!

BTW, can freepers spell Jeopardy? Seriesly!!

[LynneSin]

79. I would not expect the freepers to be able to have such intelligence

seriously!

[underpants]

80. As a long-time viewer I have to say that you were remarkable

I even had a buddy of mine call me up )we used to watch and "compete" together) and he mentioned you. He said that he liked how in control and uneffected by the passing events you stayed.

I told him you were a DU'er and he said "Okay now I have to check it out"

Fantastic very well done. I was sitting there with the final show on pause (cheating I know) telling my wife I KNOW THIS!! but wondering more why I knew it (I grew up in Yorktown not 20 minutes from Williamsburg).

Anyway - great showing.

[Highway61]

81. awesome

Great Job and congratulations!

[dolo amber]

82. You shoulda told the Pope/camera joke

[Magrittes Pipe]

85. ...

You should have!

[Call Me Wesley]

83. Wow! Big congratulations!

[idgiehkt]

84. Best championship ever

You made it exciting. I'm sad that annoying woman won, but happy you came in second place, what an acheivement!!! Many Congrats!!

[eyesroll]

86. Congratulations!

I had my torts section (I'm TA-ing) cheering you on.

[soleft]

87. Congratulations - you had a couple of amazing comebacks