The Resume

(December 19, 1926-April 7, 2020)
Born in The Bronx, New York
Contestant on the game show 'Twenty One'
After a series of tie games, lost to Charles Van Doren
Portrayed by John Turturro in 'Quiz Show' (1994)

Why he might be annoying:

Like Van Doren, he was provided with answers ahead of time.
On the show, he looked and acted like a stereotypical nerd.
After Van Doren beat him, a producer said, 'Now we have a clean-cut intellectual as champion, instead of a freak with a sponge memory.'
His initial attempts to reveal that the show was fixed were dismissed as sour grapes over Van Doren's success.
It took a contestant-in-waiting on the game show 'Dotto' accidentally discovering an answer sheet for another contestant to get authorities to investigate.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was particularly annoyed at having to answer incorrectly 'What film won the Academy Award for Best Picture for 1955,' since the right answer, 'Marty,' was one of his favorite movies.
'Twenty One' producer Dan Enright failed to deliver on his promise to get him a job in television in return for losing to Van Doren.
After the quiz show scandal, he attended college on the G.I. Bill and became a social studies teacher.
After the release of 'Quiz Show,' he appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, which taped in the studio once occupied by 'Twenty One.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 13]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [December] (Ranked: 12191926)
• His and Hers
• I am a Bronxite
• I Attended Bronx High School of Science
• I Come from Queens
• I Died in 2020 (Ranked: 93)
• I Went to a Psychiatrist
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing Headphones
• Nerds and Nebbishes
• Profiles 23251-23500 (Ranked: 23396)
• Teachers
• Twenty-One ‘Quiz Show’ Scandal [1955-59]
• Whistleblowers

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 64 Votes: 71.88% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 24 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying