Dr. Ogi Jonathan Ogas (born ca. 1971 in Annapolis, Maryland[1]) is a cognitive neuroscientist and game show contestant.
Life and works
Ogas was one of the first Homeland Security Fellows of the United States, involved in an educational program designed to prepare technologists for work in America's anti-terrorism effort. The Department of Homeland Security funded his doctoral program at Boston University in Cognitive & Neural Systems.[1][2]
Ogas won $500,000 on an episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? that aired on November 8, 2006 by using his cognitive science research to guide his game strategy.[1]
Ogi's Run to the Million (incomplete)
| $16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| This past spring, which country first published inflammatory cartoons of the prophet Mohammed? | |
| ⬥ A: ? | ⬥ B: ? |
| ⬥ C: ? | ⬥ D: ? |
| Correct answer: Denmark |
| $50,000 (11 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which of the following acronyms represents an organization that does not include the word 'Association'? | |
| ⬥ A: ASPCA | ⬥ B: ? |
| ⬥ C: ? | ⬥ D: ? |
| One of the other answers was NCAA. |
| $250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Retail giant Richard Sears began his career in 1886 when he started a company that sold what? | |
| ⬥ A: Watches | ⬥ B: Shoes |
| ⬥ C: Paint | ⬥ D: Farming tools |
| $500,000 (14 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Who is the only member of the Beatles to have never performed on a Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon? "Switch the Question" lifeline used. | |
| ⬥ A: Paul McCartney | ⬥ B: Ringo Starr |
| ⬥ C: George Harrison | ⬥ D: John Lennon |
| Ogi did not know the answer, so he decided to switch to a different question. The correct answer was C: George Harrison. His new question was: |
| $500,000 (14 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| In the 1890s, heroin was introduced commercially to the U.S. by Bayer as a remedy for what ailment? "50:50" lifeline used. | |
| ⬥ A: Stiff joints | ⬥ B: High fever |
| ⬥ C: Stuffy head | ⬥ D: Persistent cough |
| Ogi used his 50:50 lifeline, which left him with C: Stuffy head or D: Persistent cough. He did not think that heroin could be used to cure a stuffy head. He was not exactly sure, but he still went for D: Persistent cough and got it right. |
| $1,000,000 (15 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which of these ships was not one of the three taken over by colonists during the Boston Tea Party? | |
| ⬥ A: Eleanor | ⬥ B: Dartmouth |
| ⬥ C: Beaver | ⬥ D: William |
Ogi had a quite strong hunch on his $1,000,000 question, tentatively eliminating three of the choices, but ultimately decided to walk away because of the large amount of money at risk (Ogi would've lost $475,000 of his $500,000 if he was wrong). His hunch for the right answer was correct, prompting him to fall into a memorable and humorous tirade.[3][4] Since playing, he has appeared as the expert twenty-two times on the "Ask the Expert" lifeline on the syndicated show.
Ogas was also a contestant on Grand Slam, which aired in August and September 2007.[5] He stated that after feeling the intense emotional pressure on Millionaire, he developed a new suite of cognitive techniques for Grand Slam, including calming techniques as well as mathematical, verbal, and mnemonic heuristics derived from his brain research.[6] He defeated former Millionaire contestant Nancy Christy in his first-round game, and defeated then all-time game show winnings record holder and Jeopardy! champion Brad Rutter in his second round of play. Ogas then defeated David Legler in the semifinals.
In June 2009, Ogas along with fellow Boston University graduate Sai Gaddam (who was Ogi's Phone a Friend on Millionaire) obtained a six-figure book contract with Stephen Morrow at Dutton for a nonfiction book currently entitled Rule 34.[7] In August 2009, they attempted to conduct a survey of fanfiction readers and writers, but withdrew the survey amidst condemnation of its content and methodology by members of the fan fiction community.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ""Final Answer" Pays Off Big Time for Former DHS Fellow". Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. November 15, 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "Boston University Graduate Student Named One Of First 100 Homeland Security Fellows In Nation". Boston University. September 4, 2003. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "OK, Ogi! Waltham man wins $500K on game show". November 8, 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "Who Wants To Be A Cognitive Scientist Millionaire? A Researcher Uses His Understanding Of The Human Brain To Advance On A Popular Quiz Show". November 9, 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ Gonzalez, John. "The Gonz Show: Ogi Ogas". October 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "GrandSlamShow.com discussion boards". Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "". Gail Ross Literary Agency. Retrieved 19 April 2024
- ↑ "Sex, Lies and IRB Tape: Netporn to SurveyFail". neuroanthropology.net. 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2009-12-22
External links
- Ogi Ogas on LiveJournal
| Preceded by Unknown |
U.S. contestants Ogi Ogas |
Succeeded by Unknown |