An author, comedian, and radio commentator from Los Angeles, California...

Bob Harris

Bob Harris is a Los Angeles-based author, comedian, syndicated radio commentator and--ever since becoming a five-time Jeopardy! champion in 1997--a popular lecturer on ways to develop memorization and learning techniques. Of his radio style, the Hollywood Reporter recently described him as "the 'air' apparent to Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and Dr. Laura." (To which he responds, "I think they intended that as a compliment.") With interview subjects ranging from Ralph Nader to Arianna Huffington, and writing projects that include his own online game show, an animated cartoon series, and a book of children's poetry, his goals are simple: "Whatever comes up next that looks like fun, a good learning experience, or both."

Hi, I'm Bob Harris, 5-time Jeopardy! champion. Watch me participate in Jeopardy!'s Million Dollar Masters tournament! But right now, you're watching me on jeopardy.com.

What is your present occupation?
Um, what do I do for a living... I'm a writer... and a comedian, I do radio stuff and comic books, and uh... I dabble, basically! I'm a dilettante.

Did anything unusual happen when you were on the show?
Oh, I was--in our Tournament of Champions, um, I was actually really sick, I had a 102° fever for most of it. Um, somehow, through a miracle, I made it to the final, and then the fever really welled up, and Dan Melia--who is now one of my best friends--kicked my keister solid on national TV.

What do you remember most from your previous appearances on Jeopardy!?
It's what I try to forget most about most of my previous Jeopardy! competitions! You know, it's hard enough to play Jeopardy! as it is, but, when you can barely stand, uh, I've already been to hell. I have no fear of death.

How has being on Jeopardy! changed your life?
Well, I was a woman when I was on it before... uh... so, yeah, sex change... How has Jeopardy! changed my life? The only thing is that it gives me a certain, um, legitimacy in a lot of arguments, y'know, 'cause, when people disagree, or whatever, I'm not the one to usually say, but somebody else in the room usually says, "Hey. He was a Jeopardy! champion, you know. You should listen." And then I can pretty much get away with whatever bull I feel like.

Any special strategy for the competition?
Try not to pass out from nerves. Uh, not be intimidated by the fact that I'm onstage with some of the most brilliant people I've ever met in my life, um, and, um, y'know, just try to smell nice, 'cause any edge I can get with Alex, y'know, that's, that's a bonus.

"A 5-time champion and a finalist in the Tournament of Champions, now an author, comedian, and radio commentator from Los Angeles, California..."

2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Round 1 winner: $34,400.
2002 Million Dollar Masters tournament semifinalist: $25,000.
1998 Tournament of Champions 2nd runner-up: $10,000.
Season 14 5-time champion: $58,000 + 2 1999 Chevrolet Camaros (worth ~$42,000) + various parting gifts.

Bob won $200,000 on Super Greed and $8,000 on Smush in 2000.

Author of Prisoner of Trebekistan (2006) and Who Hates Whom (2007).

Blog at bobharris.com.

Jeopardy! Message Board user name: BobHarrisdotcom