Release

ACTOR MICHAEL McKEAN WINS "JEOPARDY!" MILLION DOLLAR CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL AND GIVES $1 MILLION GRAND PRIZE TO CHARITY

INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION RECEIVES
SINGLE LARGEST DONATION EVER
 

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (MAY 7, 2010) -- Today, actor Michael McKean ("Laverne and Shirley" and star of Broadway's "Superior Donuts") prevailed as champion of the "Jeopardy!" Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament -- winning $1 million for his charity the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF).  This is the biggest amount ever awarded to charity in "Jeopardy!" history.  It is also the largest single donation ever received by the IMF.

Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer after lymphomas, affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide.  McKean became passionate for the cause when his friend, musician Lee Grayson, passed away from myeloma eight years ago. Regarding today's victory, McKean said, "If some breakthroughs can be made or more research can be done due to this win, it would be incredible.  There are so many amazing people at IMF who do great work."

According to Susie Novis, president and co-founder of the IMF, McKean's donation will be used for a special fund in honor of McKean and Grayson. "The money will fund research to find a cure and to help patients and their families through education," Novis said.  "His win has shown us how empowering being informed can be -- it can change the lives of people all over the world!"

McKean defeated actress/comedienne Jane Curtin ("SNL," "3rd Rock From the Sun" and "Kate & Allie") and Cheech Marin ("Cheech & Chong" and "Lost") in the two-day finals for the $1 million grand prize.  As runner-up Curtin won a quarter million dollars on behalf of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, and Marin received $100,000 for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  These earnings are in addition to the $50,000 each received during the quarterfinals. After the tournament, McKean said, "It was really daunting to play against such smart people.  Everyone was really fast on the button!"

Host Alex Trebek said, "This was a really close match up.  Each of the celebrities played brilliantly over the two days.  It really came down to that second final match.  It's what makes ‘Jeopardy!' so exciting - you never know who will win!"

Since its September kick-off, the tournament has hosted 27 celebrity contestants who competed in a series of monthly quarterfinal matches.  A total of over $2.5 million has been donated to local and national charities selected by the stars.

The other celebrities who participated, their charities and total winnings:

Celebrity:

Charity:

Total Winnings:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Skyhook Foundation Literacy & Learning Through Sports

$25,000

Wolf Blitzer

American Cancer Society

$25,000

Julie Bowen

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

$25,000

Anderson Cooper

Friend Indeed, Inc.

$25,000

Dana Delany

Scleroderma Research Foundation

$25,000

David Duchovny

UNICEF

$25,000

Hill Harper

Manifest Your Destiny

$25,000

Neil Patrick Harris

Food on Foot

$100,000

Jane Kaczmarek

Clothes Off Our Back

$100,000

Rebecca Lobo

Saint Mary's School

$25,000

Joshua Malina

The Archer School for Girls

$25,000

Chris Matthews

LaSalle College High School

$25,000

Christopher Meloni

Smile Train

$25,000

Isaac Mizrahi

Good Shepherd Services

$100,000

Soledad O'Brien

The Soledad O'Brien and Brad Raymond Family Foundation

$25,000

Elizabeth Perkins

Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund

$25,000

CCH Pounder

The African Millennium Foundation

$25,000

Robin Quivers

The SEED School of Maryland

$25,000

Andy Richter

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

$68,000

Pat Sajak

Vietnam Veterans of America

$105,300

Doug Savant

St. Vincent Meals on Wheels

$25,000

Charles Shaughnessy

1736 Family Crisis Center

$100,000

Harry Shearer

Common Ground Relief

$100,000

Aisha Tyler

The International Rescue Committee

$25,000

"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. 


For more information, please contact:

Phil Zimmerman, "Jeopardy!" Senior Publicist, 310-244-6514
phil_zimmerman@spe.sony.com

Susie Eun, "Jeopardy!" Publicity Coordinator, 310-244-6517
susie_eun@spe.sony.com