April 10, 2005

Jason: LOL
Chico: Oh my god.. it's Katamari Damacy the game show...
Gordon: We are going to start with 20 Questions, and this should be a great set of questions for our guest, Cheryl Jackson. Alex Davis joins us for this set.
Travis: Let it never be said you don't have a sense of humor.
Cheryl: Thanks.
Travis: What do you do when someone wins the penny?
Cheryl: Hopefully that will NEVER happen. By name everyone should have learned a lesson from me. I want to keep the title as the biggest loser.
Jason: 1. Hello Cheryl. Were you an online auditioner or were you a person who did an open call?
Cheryl: Actually neither... When I saw the first commercial of DOND. I googled DOND and wrote down every name associated with the show, then I wrote down every address, went to the post office and hoped that one of the names or addresses would get to a real person for the show. They said my tape was the FIRST one they received.
Jason: That's cool. That sounds like something I would do.
Gordon: I am surprised you didn't think of it, Jason
Chico: Okay. 2) There's a philosophy in this game, "Make it your own". did you have a philosophy in mind going into game day?
Cheryl: Yes... I was going to be the first contestant to go all the way and to prove that I was Deal or No Deal's number one fan.
Chico: Good attitude to have, that.
Cheryl: A female with nuts...or who went nuts (she says while looking at this FIVE dollar check). LOL.
Gordon: #3. I attribute part of your poise up there to your past game show experiences. What other shows have you been on?
Cheryl: Scrabble with Chuck Woolery and Wheel of Fortune
Gordon: How did you do on those shows?
Cheryl: Scrabble - one years supply of orange juice and $500.00. Wheel - nothing but Pat Sajak telling me he loved me and wanted me to come back again.
Travis: $500 is better than most did for Scrabble, at least
Cheryl: I am happy with anything. I was also chosen for Greed but the show was cancelled before my appearance.
Chico: Yeah. We're still smarting over that one.
Travis: That is unfortunate. Doubly so.
Gordon: That would have been fun to see.
Travis: Well, I was going to ask if they actually cut you a check and all that. But since you still have it...
Cheryl: Yes.. I'm thinking about mailing it back and putting NO DEAL on it...
Gordon: ROFL
Travis: That really DID get me to LOL.
Cheryl: I think I will do it then. Maybe they will call me back
Travis: That's gotta be a great centerpiece for the coffee table, though.
Cheryl: Yes it is. Everyone wants to tape pictures with it. Maybe I could get something from it on EBay.
Travis: Don't do that! The guy from England did that with his 1p check, no one went for it.
Mike: The guy from England did? I would've bought it for 2p. He would've doubled his investment.
Gordon: It would not surprise me if they had a 'Second Chance' Week
Travis: They've got enough players now, after that one show. Oof.  "Total Prize Money: $63".
Cheryl: That was a week of terror.
Mike: (As an aside, there are two 1p winners in the UK now)
Travis: #4. How long was your tape day, from when you got there to when you won the big money?
Cheryl: We taped my show for 2 days.
Don: 5. How was Howie in person?
Cheryl: We connected. He wanted me to win sooo bad. During commercials, he kept asking was I alright especially when it hit 172k.
Chico: You were alright, right?
Cheryl: Yeah, I was just in shock and I was shaking (they edited that) it was like I was having and out of body and looking back out of mind experience.
Travis: What was the board when the deal was $172,000?
Mike: I have it right here - $1, $5, $300K, $750K
Cheryl: That's it.
Travis: Two craps and two Big Fellas.
Mike: Mathematically, she made the right choice. The banker's offer was practically asking her to play on.  You heard Cheryl, Chico. Raise. NOW. :-)
Chico: Squat to squat and a half :)
Cheryl: I thought so, too. Let me tell you what was going through my mind
Travis: True that. Expected value of $287,500. Go on, please, Cheryl.
Cheryl: The number 9 was up there and when I played the mock version the number 9 had a huge amount, so I stayed away from it. However I would do the same thing over if I went back. I mean with both 300k and 750k up there, you should go once more, right?
Chico: Right.
Don: Yep.
Cheryl: ok
Travis: Knock out anything other than $750k and you're in fat city.
Cheryl: That is so sweet. Another thing is I was playing to help alot of other people over a pledge that I made, so thats why i continued to play at 172k. The pledge was $100,000, and if I stopped at 172K, after taxes, it wouldn't have been enough.
Mike: 6) Are you recognized in your town, besides by your parishioners, because of your Deal appearance and has all the feedback been remorseful and/or positive?
Cheryl: Lets put it this way.. when we are outside of our house, there has been several people drive by and yell NO DEAl... One lady told my husband that a pastor used me for an example of 'The lord giveth and the lord taketh away'.
Chico: Very true.
Cheryl: But he loved how I represented myself and didn't fold under pressure - that took God. For the most part EVERYTHING and EVERYONE has been positive except for some of the people that knew I would give them money. They are STILL upset that I lost. LOL
Alex:  First off, thanks a lot for giving us an extremely entertaining game. 7. I have to be totally honest, when you gave up the $80,000, my jaw dropped. Did you have a set exit fee, or were you flying by the seat of your pants.
Cheryl: Actually, didn't you hear my husband say "Cheryl, listen to me - NO DEAL!". Since he doesn't say much I thought I better listen to him and I'm glad I did. I'm their biggest loser
Alex:  Hey, if anything, you made history.
Cheryl: Exactly. If they have a second chance show and I had taken the 80k I couldn't go back
Alex:  And again, it was an incredible game. You really showed the entire range of Deal or No Deal
Cheryl: I'm in the record books now, baby.
Jason: I am going to switch it up a bit. #8. You seem to be a very serious game show fan. We all know about how Millionaire overexposed themselves. What would you say to the producers right now to make sure DOND doesn't go the way of Prime Time Millionaire?
Cheryl: I would tell them to take a break to create a demand and I would try different formats i.e. a husband and wife team or matching money with charities to give the show more meaning. Maybe put double the next offer behind a suitcase. I'm an out of the box thinker.
Alex:  Or out of the case in this situation
Cheryl: lol
Chico: Alrighty. #9. I hear that one of your crowning achievements was interviewing Oprah. Could you tell us about that?
Cheryl: Sure. Oprah was doing her 'Live Your Best Life' tour and I had just been given my own newspaper column, so I attended this conference with the intent of interviewing Oprah. She started the conference by saying don't ask for anything, I am here to help you become a better you, don't ask for pictures autographs etc... Well I was the last person she pointed to before she left the stage and as tears rolled down my face, I asked for an interview and she gave me the ONLY interview in the house. I went crazy and so did the women there in the audience. See, I had guts before I appeared on Deal. She even wrote me after she read the article.
Chico: What did she think?
Cheryl: She said "I read your article.... Good Job." - Oprah. I told her I was going to raise 100k for my charity. Thats why I wanted to win. When I was offered 172k, after taxes, I didn't have enough for 100k. Can ya'll understood who I am and where I was coming from?
Chico: Absolutely.
Travis: Very.
Don: Indeed.
Jason: Sure.
Cheryl: :-)
Gordon: #10. Besides the result of the show, the other major remembering point was the choir. It was certainly more fun than the cheerleaders or any other group they have brought in so far. How did that idea come about?
Cheryl: I'm glad you asked. My brother is a writer and when I do things I include as many people as I can. When they said I was chosen, I was like, great They asked where I was - I was at church and I was like 'can my choir come'? My brother has always wanted to write a song. This was his first jingle and it was for Deal or No Deal. It was his song, talking about a chance of a lifetime.
Travis: A two part question from me. #11 - What advice might you give a writer such as myself who's looking to break into the newspaper thing, and would you tell us a bit about the charities for which you were trying to win bundles of cash?
Cheryl: My advice for a writer is to believe in yourself and always, always ask. As for the charity stuff, The Touch Ministry is my charity. We created it when my grandmother was on her death bed. She had an unofficial shelter in Dallas and she was the candy lady. We promised we would make her legacy live and the world would know her name.
Mike: Does the charity have a web site?
Cheryl: www.thetouchministry.com I created a website www.matchmymoney.com and I am giving the money to the touch ministry. The 'Match My Money' is about matching the 5 dollars. The first person sent 500.00 and he told me not to give up.
Travis: Yay!
Cheryl: I cried like a baby
Chico: True words. Jim Valvano.
Don: 12. Since you've mentioned past game show experiences earlier... Overall, which of those do you feel was your best, and why?
Cheryl: My best was Deal or No Deal because I was able to share the experience with the people I love the most... the other shows let you bring 2-3 people but DOND took care of 36 people and I have been able to talk to more people about how to win and lose gracefully and what REALLY matters most in life. I'm starting a book called my FIVE dollar lesson. It has opened more doors than if I had won the 80k.
Mike: You could write a book about the experience and everything else you've mentioned and honestly, I'd be the first person to buy that book.
Travis: Mike will be jockeying with me for first dibs on that book, by the way...
Cheryl: Great. Hopefully, the book will be out by June.
Chico: Mysterious ways, you know... yeah, what he said.
Mike: Please keep us apprised of the book. I will definitely buy it.
Cheryl: It's being edited now and there is a chaper titled 'Deal or No Deal the game of life'. Hopefully there will be a titled called Second Chance
Chico: Fingers crossed.
Gordon: Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Cheryl: I have heard that more in the past month than in my entire life
Mike: An odd coincidence I just noticed -- you said you wanted to avoid case 9 because it had big money. You were the 9th player on Deal. Start your conspiracy theories now. 13) You talked about Howie off-camera. How was the camaraderie between yourself, other contestants, staffers, and the models? Was it similar to what was seen on the behind-the-scenes clips last week?
Cheryl: When I walked away, they followed me, and at the time I wasn't crying. I was singing I had the time of my life.
Chico: Wow... that's class...
Cheryl: Security was moving people because they were trying to get to me to hug me and Howie was like, 'wow'. The models - they are so beautiful. The girl that had the 300k was crying. She ran toward me and she was hugging me, saying 'I am so sorry' and I was comforting her.
Alex:  That's one aspect of the show a lot of people forget. Those models have a ton of pressure on them, I'm sure.
Cheryl: The other models were saying it's bigger than this, Cheryl.
Chico: It truly is, you know.
Cheryl: I know its bigger than this but to experience that was incredible. I love the model Anya.
Mike: I love Anya too, but for different reasons :-D
Travis: I think the entire group here loves Anya...for the same reason.
Cheryl: LOLROTF
Alex:  Well, you thankfully answered one half of my question. This is one of the most emotional games that have been around in ages. You answered about the joy and more, but 14) how about the pressure of the money, Banker, lights, etc.
Cheryl: Pressure? What pressure? LOL. I mean, all you have is 200 people screaming on the top of their lungs different things - especially on my show. When I watch it now, you see the wife causally saying honey should we take the deal, but on my show, it was like number 5,10 there wasn't time to really sit and think like the others... it looks like they have slowed it down, which is
great for the contestants.
Alex:  You really brought a class to losing that I don't think we've seen in decades, I do have to say that.
Cheryl: Thank you. I was sweating on the first day like crazy, so the second day I had on a sweater
Alex:  ha
Cheryl: And they were like you need to change because we keep wiping your face after every commercial. I was like its 50 degrees in here. Its not about the clothes its about the pressure lol
Alex:  lol
Cheryl: I knew what was on the line and I will say that I love the banker and he loved me so much he gave me 5 dollars. LOL. So it really is the pressure cooker they make it out to be on the TV. I had this crazy person behind me. She was like 'Take the deal lady', even on 9k.
Alex:  I honestly think the aspect of the Banker would get me more nervous than anything. He use to act really staticy, but around your show, he started to get a personality.
Chico: And a pipe, if I remember correctly.
Alex:  And apparently a new Apple iBook
Cheryl: Lol. He bought that with the money I didn't win.
Jason: #15 - So what would you have won should you have stopped?
Cheryl: If I had won I would have had to pay 44% in taxes
Travis: For those keeping score at home, that would have been a robust $75,680 right off the top.
Cheryl: Exactly
Gordon: Which means that she wouldn't have had $100,000 to give to the charity, So you would have only had $98,000 and change. So to make the $100,000, you had to go for it.
Cheryl: Exactly
Gordon: Wow. A lot of pressure to play for a lot of people.
Cheryl: Yes.
Chico: Okay, now we go into the questions we ask everyone. Ready?
Cheryl: Ok.
Chico: 16) Favorite game show, past or present?
Cheryl: Deal Or No deal
Jason: Wow.
Chico: Excellent.
Cheryl: Does that surprise you?
Chico: Not in the slightest! :) 17) Favorite emcee, past or present.
Cheryl: Howie hands down
Chico: No surprise there either :)
Cheryl: He is wonderful! I felt like my brother was beside me the entire time.
Don: Cool!
Chico: That's always a good feeling...To have someone in your corner when you're at the big fight. Okey... 18) If you could bring back one show from the past, what would it be and why?
Cheryl: I would bring back Greed because I had auditioned and chosen as a contestant and also the show 21. I like shows where you can win lots of money.
Travis: I'm smitten. I never thought I'd find another "21" fan.
Cheryl: That show was the bomb.
Chico: I thought it was killed off prematurely.
Cheryl: I wanted to be on it soo bad and when I finally found information it was cancelled. Let's start a bring back 21 fan club...with 3 members lol
Chico: Remember folks, the revolution started here :)
Travis: We all could have moved to Canada to watch their version of the show a few years ago.
Gordon: I hate to break this to you, guys, but Cheryl is married. Sorry.
Travis: Lucky man, he is, then.
Chico: 19) What game show would you like to challenge next?
Cheryl: Second chance DOND of course and Unan1mous... I think people would hear my story, feel my heart and vote for me.
Mike: Ooooh, tugging the heartstrings! I like it!
Travis: That answer did not fill me with happiness.
Gordon: Uh oh, Travis wants a divorce.
Travis: Though you'd be a clear shoo-in to win the lot.
Cheryl: I luv you anyways, Travis
Mike: Disregard the show but consider her reasoning. I like it.
Chico: She's already more interesting than the entire lot of Unan1mous put together.
Don: Agreed.
Travis: Well, if you did Greed, Millionaire might have you.
Cheryl: Not millionaire or Jeopardy. I couldn't be still that long.
Chico: heh... Okay, last question!
Cheryl: I hate that this is the last question. I love you guys!
Chico: This is the Soapbox Question. Basically, this is you time. If you want to get anything out to the general public that you didn't get the chance to... Now's your shot.
Cheryl: Thank you. Cheryl Jackson appearing on DOND was not about herself. It wasn't because of Greed that I continued to go and not accept the 100k. I made a promise to Oprah for heavens sake that I would donate 100k to charity, and if I had accpeted the 172k after taxes that is only 98k. I love the show DOND, and I would go back. For anyone who appears on the show, remember this - if it's only about you, then be realistic. Live life, have fun, and remember what really matters in life. Life is a game too... have fun while you are
playing it. No regrets. This is Cheryl Jackson, the biggest Deal Or No Deal loser and thank you for this opportunity.
Travis: No no, thank YOU. :)
Chico: Amen to that. And guess what... you survived the 20! :)
Cheryl: Yay!
Chico: When we come back, we have more deals...sort of...after this.

(Brought to you by I Think It's Butter, But I'm Not Quite Sure. WARNING: only 35 percent butter).

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE