Survivor Contestants Take on Rock & Roll Jeopardy

We got to see Colby, Elisabeth, Jeff, and Jeff Probst interact in the Outback, but Probst has another show that he hosts -- Rock & Roll Jeopardy. As a special edition, Probst brought these three Survivor II contestants to his other game show. It was interesting to see these four people together in this entirely different situation. It’s pretty clear that Jeff Probst has a lot of fun, as he doesn’t at all hold back his insults to these three – but all in fun. Overall, it was very enjoyable to watch, with some really funny moments.

They each chose a charity to play for. And even if their score still stunk at the end of the game, the winner’s charity gets $5000, 2^nd place gets $2500, and 3^rd place $1000. So, it’s a good deal for the charities.

Jeff played for the University of North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center;

Elisabeth for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation;

Colby for the Make a Wish Foundation.

Being a musician, I usually fare pretty well as I watch this show. I guess Colby, Elisabeth, and Jeff aren’t musicians. After the first round:

Colby has a score of –400 (that’s NEGATIVE $400)

Elisabeth has $900

Jeff is in the lead with $1700.

Mr. Probst reminds them that money values are doubled, but the questions are tougher. The audience then laughed at something that the cameras didn’t show. Based on their scores, I can only imagine.

First question (I should say ‘First ANSWER’ as Jeopardy provides people with the answers and the contestants must come up with the question. But I’ll still call them Question and Answers so I don’t confuse myself.)

Category: How to be a Survivor.

None of them answered, "Who are the Police?"

I groaned.

Elisabeth got the next two Beach Boys Lyrics questions and soon after she hit a Daily Double. (She wagers an amount based on how well she thinks she knows this category. No one else can answer.)

Elisabeth guessed, "East Coast girls." The answer was "Midwest farmer’s daughters."

Another question:

I groaned when none of them answered. Jeff Probst did, too. "What are Cheap Sunglasses? You are LIVING there, Colby!"

(For those who don’t know, both ZZ Top and Colby are from Texas, ZZ Top being probably the most well known band ever from this state.)

While watching the show, I notice that Elisabeth and Colby, especially Elisabeth, just do not have that charismatic presence – that larger-than-life persona – that I thought they might. Yes, they are both extremely likable and oh-so camera-friendly, but they don’t command attention like some people do.

Of the three of them, Jeff, surprisingly, has the most charisma. He seems the most comfortable, the most carefree in the things he says. Colby, as nice as he is, just doesn’t say anything extra. He keeps to the game – not at all like Jeff. And Elisabeth, well, I’m not sure if she said anything at all.

I imagine both Colby and Elisabeth will do quite well once they get those commercial scripts in front of them. But if they are required to ad lib, to make things up on the spot, I’m thinking it won’t work. Jeff – yes. But not Colby and Elisabeth.

After not answering the second "Disco Fever" category question:

Jeff said, "Oh my God. There are people that are going to kill me for not knowing that."

Answer: What is "I love the Night Life"

Jeff got the next few Disco Fever questions right, but not the $1000 question. After Mr. Probst gave the answer, Jeff said, "Yeah… yeah…"

Mr. Probst cut in, "I love you, Varner. You know every one of these…"

"Yeah, I know this stuff…"

"… TWO seconds after I tell you." Lots of laughter from everyone. Ha ha ha.

Another question:

None of the knew the answer. "What is…" Jeff Probst pause, "… Survivor?" Lots of audience laughter and applause.

Next question:

Once again, no answer. "Who is Celine Dion?"

Mr. Probst got in another dig, "Survivor’s looking easy compared to this game, isn’t it?"

After this $200 question:

Before the buzzer went off, Jeff said to Elisabeth and Colby, "And that’s the EASY one in this category."

Colby agreed, "Yeah, that’s the cheapest one." More audience laughter. Yee hee, what fun!

Answer: "Who is Rod Stewart?"

Colby answered an Allman Brothers question and finally got himself up to $0. After a long period of silence, Elisabeth got an Abba question correct to wild audience applause. "She’s here! She’s alive!"

Clean-cut and oh-so pearly-whites-cute Colby correctly answered this question:

Answer: "Who is Anthrax?"

Colby knows about Anthrax?! Isn’t this, like, DEATH metal? Colby??!

Elisabeth got the video clue question (a video of Mmm… Bop): "What is Hansen?"

And finally, the last question of the show (I left out of number of questions just in case you’re thinking this wasn’t that many).

The Manly Man in me thinks that, in addition to the serious interest in Disco, this last question is the sure sign that Jeff is the mysterious gay Survivor:

Answer: What is "Betty Davis Eyes"?

The score going into Final Jeopardy

The final Rock and Roll Jeopardy topic: Rock Groups

During the extremely long commercial break, each of the contestants had to wager how much they think they’ll know the answer to this "Rock Groups" question. The most they can wager is all the money they have. If Elisabeth bets everything and gets the question right, she’ll have a score of 6000. All Jeff needs to do, then, is wager $1500 and if he gets it right, he’s at least guaranteed a tie for first place. Let’s see what the question is and how much they wagered:

The question: Scientists named a new dinosaur they found while digging to this group’s music Masiakasaurus Knopfleri

"30 seconds – Good luck."

All three of them, Colby, Elisabeth, and Jeff don’t look all that happy. Jeff looks up into the camera like, "Oh my God, I really screwed this up. People I know are going to kill me!"

Their answers:

Colby wrote "What is Raptor"

He waged $1400 and so his scored dropped to $1000.

Elisabeth: "What is Brontosaurus"

She waged $1800 and so she now has $1200. Elisabeth is in second place.

Jeff wrote, "What is Led Zepplin"

Mr. Probst joked, "Well, this was the closest because this was a BAND. Uhh… no. Also wrong."

The answer: "Dire Straits" (The guitarist’s name in this band is Mark Knopfler.)

Jeff wagered almost everything, $4499, which brought him down to $1.

Elisabeth won! Silly Jeff. Silly, silly Jeff.

But I must admit, if I were on the show, I definitely would have wagered everything as I think I know the Rock Bands category pretty well. And apparently I did as I knew the answer. Aren’t I just the coolest?

That’s it. Hugs, pearly white smiles, and audience applause.

Be sure to check out Rob Daugherty's alter ego at the Manly Thoughts web page where, among other things, he takes a humorous yet insightful politically incorrect Babes-Galore view of Survivor!

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