This! Is! Srinivas!

I wish I'd remembered to mention it earlier in the day, but my friend and former co-blogger Srinivas will be on Jeopardy tonight. Check your local listings. He'll be the skinny kid with a funny name who thinks Alex Trebek has some money for him, too.

UPDATE: Srinivas dominant before the first commercial break! He makes it look easy. Take that, returning champion Babatope Ogunmola. Take that, "Joanne."

UPDATE 2: Alex goes right to Srinivas's well-known participation in the National Spelling Bee during the introductions. Srinivas looks taken aback—what else does Trebek know?—but remains cool and collected.

UPDATE 3: At the end of the first round, Srinivas is in a close third, 3400 to 4200 to Babatope's punishing 5800. Obviously Trebek's barbs have gotten inside his head.

UPDATE 4: More taunting from Trebek at the start of round 2: All right, Srinivas, it's up to you. Then he brings up the Spelling Bee again! Damn you, Trebek!

UPDATE 5: Srinivas retakes the lead!

UPDATE 6: And promptly loses it again on "the father of condensed milk." Damn you, Gail Borden.

UPDATE 7: Steals an answer from Joanne by being able to properly pronounce "Nosferatu." Sometimes it pays to know how to spell.

UPDATE 8: Daily Double for Srinivas at the end of Round 2. Srinivas bets 1500—playing it safe. Should have bet it all—he nails it with "What is Stalingrad." Takes the last question in the round as well, ending Round 2 in second place: Babatope with about 10,000 and Joanne with about 15,000, Srinivas has about 13,700. The category: World Authors.

UPDATE 9: Here's the answer:

In 1898 he wrote, "As for the person I have accused ... they are ... embodiments of social malfeasance."

SPOILER ALERT: Click the [+/-] to read on.

Babatope guesses Voltaire (wrong), but bets $0 and holds steady. Srinivas goes second, answering Emile Zola (right) and betting it all ($13700). A risky maneuver. Joanne also answers Zola, but strategically underbets—only $5000—leaving Srinivas the surprise comeback kid with over $27,000! Srinivas wins the pennant! He'll be back tomorrow!