PAT SAJAK WINS $55,300 FOR CHARITY
DURING THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE 'JEOPARDY!'
MILLION DOLLAR CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL
"I'm going to go home and brag to my family about how smart I am because they don't believe it."
- Pat Sajak
Watch the exclusive post-game interview here!
CULVER CITY, CALIF. (January 21, 2010) – "Wheel Of Fortune" icon Pat Sajak prevailed in this week's quarterfinals of the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament. As a result of his win, his charity, the Vietnam Veterans of America, will receive $55,300 and Sajak will advance to the next round of the tournament.
Sajak defeated actress Elizabeth Perkins (Showtime Network's "Weeds"), who won $25,000 on behalf of the Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund, and actor Doug Savant (ABC's "Desperate Housewives"), who earned $25,000 for St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.
"It all came down to Final Jeopardy!", Sajak said, "which scared the heck out of me, but it paid off. I'm thankful we're going to send a lot of money to theVietnam Veterans of America."
Sajak, who has hosted more than 6,000 "Wheel Of Fortune" episodes, enjoyed the rare experience of being on the other side of the podium. "It's fun when you don't have to drive the train. When you're the host, as Alex is, and as I am, you're responsible for all the elements," commented Sajak. "However, as a contestant it's exciting just to play, put everything else on hold and only worry about playing the game."
Sajak joins previous winners Andy Richter, Michael McKean, Jane Kaczmarek and Harry Shearer in advancing to the May semifinals and a chance to play for the $1 million grand prize.
The Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitationalwill play host to 27 popular TV stars, newsmakers and pop culture icons competing in a series of nine quarterfinal games. These special episodes will be broadcast on the third Thursday of every month through May 2010, with a guaranteed cash prize of $1 million going to the winning star's favorite charity. A total of over $2.5 million will be donated throughout the season.
Jeopardy!, the winner of 28 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp.