Iowa City native Paul Nelson. (image from Web site for Jeopardy! TV show)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Iowa City native Paul Nelson’s quest for the right questions came to an end in today’s (2/22/13) semifinal round of the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions.

Nelson, 24, a former U.S. Senate aide now in the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., finished in third place after missing the Final Jeopardy category on Italy, where the correct answer was Umbria. He wagered half of his $4,000 earnings.

He and second-place winner Jason Keller didn’t stand a chance against Keith Whitener, who ran away with the Double Jeopardy round, racking up $32,400 in today’s play. He had the right answer, but bet nothing, so takes the full amount into the Tournament Finals, which begin Monday.

Keller, a tutor from Highland Park, N.J., earned his Tournament of Champions spot with $213,900 in previous winnings, while Whitener, a research chemist from Charlotte, N.C., qualified with $147,597 in prior earnings.

Back in November, Nelson won $54,900 in first-place finishes, plus another $2,000 for finishing second in his final fall appearance.

Tournament of Champions semifinalists win $10,000.

At one point in today’s play, Nelson apologized to his “granny” in Canada for missing the answer Georgia Strait in previous play — since he’s crossed the strait at least four times when going to visit his grandmother. He is the son of Scott and Tracy Nelson of Iowa City.

“Jeopardy!” airs at 11:30 a.m. on KWWL Channel 7 in the Corridor.

Alisabeth Von Presley, "American Idol" contestant from Cedar Rapids. (americanidol.com photo)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Cedar Rapids singer Alisabeth Von Presley, a powerhouse on the local theater and music scene, has come to the end of her “American Idol” Season 12 journey.

She made it to Hollywood Week, but was cut by producers, so she was not among the singers who performed in the a cappella and group rounds that aired last night (2/13/13) on the Fox channel.

This morning on her Facebook page, she said: “I got to perform for the judges twice! ) just cut in the end by the producer.”

During the show, while lots of her hometown friends were scanning the faces to find hers, she posted: “Hey y’all – I had a crazy Hollywood Week experience on American Idol!! BUT you probably won’t see me on TV because I wasn’t cut by the judges I was cut by the producer. Bummer! But other great opportunities have come from this!!!!!”

Marion contestant Gabe Brown saw his journey end in Hollywood, as well.

Both attracted the talent scouts’ eyes and ears during 2012 auditions in Iowa City and Chicago.

This won’t be the last time we see these two singers in the spotlight. Nobody loses on “American Idol,” right Jennifer Hudson?

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek (left) is shown here with Iowa City native Paul Nelson, who won $54,900 playing "Jeopardy!" in November 2012. Nelson is competing in the game show's Tournament of Champions, which begins airing Feb. 13, 2013. (Jeopardy Productions photo)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Iowa City native Paul Nelson came from behind to stage a triumphant, yet conservative, win in today’s “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions quarterfinal round. He advances to the semi finals with $15,800 in his victory till.

Nelson, 24, who is now in Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., began his “Jeopardy!” odyssey with six episodes that aired in November. His $54,900 earnings qualified him for the tournament, which was taped in mid-January and began airing today (2/13/13). He actually won another $2,000 in November when he placed second to end his winning streak.

Today’s opponents included Stephanie Jass, a history professor from Michigan, who is the show’s all-time highest winning female, at $147,570; and Jason Shore, a medical student from Plano, Texas, $85,200.

Nelson was trailing at the start of today’s Double Jeopardy round, but rebounded at the end with a Daily Double correct question that pushed him ahead with $15,800. His opponents were tied at $13,000.

They all played it safe with their Final Jeopary wagers, hoping to stay in the running for a wild card position if they didn’t win the match. For the first time, Nelson nailed the final answer, but bet $0. Actually, they all nailed the right question (Who is Ramses, in a Rosetta Stone answer), but Jass bet nothing and Shore bet just $1,000, which wasn’t enough to overtake Nelson.

Nelson, former Senate staff aide for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), is the son of Scott and Tracy Nelson of Iowa City.

“Jeopardy!” airs at 11:30 a.m. weekdays on KWWL (Channel 7) in the Corridor. Quarterfinal action continues tomorrow (2/14/13).

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek (left) is shown here with Iowa City native Paul Nelson, who won $54,900 playing "Jeopardy!" in November 2012. Nelson will compete in the game show's Tournament of Champions, which begins airing Feb. 13, 2013. (Jeopardy Productions photo)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Iowa City native Paul Nelson will be back at the button, hoping to come up with the right questions in the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. Taping started in mid-January and the episodes begin airing Feb. 13, 2013.

Nelson, now 24, had a successful six-episode run on the venerable game show back in November, winning $54,900. (He won another $2,000 for finishing second in his final appearance.) He was a legislative correspondent in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Washington. D.C., office at the time. He is now in the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and is in a communications blackout, according to his father, Scott Nelson of Iowa City.

Among Nelson’s opponents is Stephanie Jass, a history professor from Michigan, who is the show’s all-time highest winning female, at $147,570. They will be vying for these prizes:

Champion: $250,000

1st runner-up: $100,000 (or the player’s two-day finals total, whichever is larger)

2nd runner-up: $50,000 (or the player’s two-day finals total, whichever is larger)

Semifinalist: $10,000.

“Jeopardy!” airs at 11:30 a.m. weekdays on KWWL (Channel 7) in the Corridor.

Tournament of Champion contestants are:

Colby Burnett, a high school World History teacher from Chicago, $100,000

David Gard, a retail horticulturist from Jamaica Plain, Mass., $84,700

Stephanie Jass, a history professor from Milan, Mich., $147,570

Jason Keller, a tutor from Highland Park, N.J., $213,900

Dave Leach, a game merchant from Atlanta, Ga., $98,054

Dan McShane, a bartender from West Islip, N.Y., $62,001

David Menchaca, a law student from Long Beach, Calif., $115,503

Kristin Morgan, a NASA strategic analyst from Huntsville, Ala., $69,098

Paul Nelson, former senate staff aide for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) from Iowa City, $54,900

Joel Pool, a real estate developer from Oakland, Calif., $116,800

Patrick Quinn, a high school German teacher from Chesterfield, Mo., $100,000

Jason Shore, a medical student from Plano, Texas, $85,200

Monica Thieu (college champion), a psychology student from Dallas, Texas, $100,000

Keith Whitener, a research chemist from Charlotte, N.C., $147,597

Gabe Brown of Marion (American Idol photo)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

I love the way Eastern Iowans keep capturing national and world stages. Move over Ashton and Sole Survivor Denise Stapley. Gabe Brown is singing his way through “American Idol.”

We saw him make it to Hollywood Week a couple of weeks ago, after nailing his Chicago audition. Last night, the popular talent show and star launcher showcased the top 100 guys, winnowing the field to the top 40 guys.

Brown, 22, of Marion, made the cut. He survived the first round, a sudden-death lineup where the qualifiers were brought in 10 at a time to sing a little something, then found out right away whether or not they would advance to the group round.

Producers then divided the guys into groups of three, four or five and gave them 24 hours to come up with a group name, choose a song from a list of 20, learn it, devise choreography and perform pretty much dog-tired after staying up all or most of the night to complete the assignment.

As judge Randy Jackson said, “This will separate the men from the boys.”

Some crumbled under the fatigue and pressure, others rose to the occasion, and others proved their mettle by vamping right through the lyrics they were flubbing or forgetting.

Brown was in a foursome called the Math Heads, belting out Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” All four — Brown, Mathenee Treco, Nick Boddington and Matheus Fernandes — wowed the judges and advanced to tonight’s solo round.

So tune in to your local Fox channel tonight (2/7/13) at 7 to see if Brown’s odyssey continues or ends.

Next week, the ladies take the stage, with Alisabeth Von Presley, 25, of Cedar Rapids, ready to rock the socks off of judges Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey.

"American Idol" contest Alisabeth Von Presley stars as Maureen in the Theatre Cedar Rapids 2010 production of "Rent." (Rob Merritt photo)

Two Eastern Iowans have won a golden ticket to the Hollywood rounds of “American Idol” season 12.

Gabe Brown of Marion and Alisabeth Von Presley of Cedar Rapids wowed the celebrity judges in Chicago, after catching producers’ eyes and ears last August during “Idol’s” Small Town Bus Tour stop in Iowa City.

Both were invited to the Adler Planetarium to join hundreds of other hopefuls auditioning for celebrity judges Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.

The hit Fox television talent show has launched superstar careers for past winners and finalists Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. Competition is open to singers ages 15 to 28.

Brown and Von Presley are among 46 Windy City auditioners who advanced to the Hollywood rounds, which will air later this winter.

Viewers got to see Brown’s wild Chicago audition Thursday night, but not Von Presley’s. Both are well-known in local circles. Brown is lead singer for the power rock band, Helforsout, which has been making the scene since August 2011. Von Presley is a regular on the Theatre Cedar Rapids stage, belting out an unforgettable star turn as Maureen in “Rent” in 2010, among other leading roles.

Brown’s band covers everything from AC/DC and Led Zeppelin to Foo Fighters and Soundgarden, so it’s no wonder he blew the judges away with a full-out a cappella rock blast of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Urban shouted out, “I love it. You’re deafening at that volume.”

Carey wanted to hear something “a little more mellow,” so Brown then launched into “We All Die Young,” but couldn’t resist cranking up the rock power with that one, too. Minaj declared, “I like you Curly,” referring to Brown’s untamed hair. Jackson said he liked it, too, especially since they hadn’t heard a real rocker up to that point.

“When you’re doing your rock thing, I believe you,” Minaj added.

“Guys who have big, massive belting voices have big hearts, too,” Urban said, right before the panel gave Brown a resounding round of yes votes.

Brown then ran screaming through the Planetarium auditorium, waving his golden ticket.

True to her theatrical roots, Von Presley sang “I See a River” from the musical “Urinetown,” along with Otis Redding’s R&B classic, “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.” Let’s hope America gets to hear her sing in the Hollywood rounds.

“American Idol” airs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays on the Fox channel.

Here are Brown’s and Von Presley’s “going to Hollywood” tapes:

Mike McGowan

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Drake University alum Mike McGowan can’t wait to bring “The Book of Mormon” to Des Moines later this month.

“This show is so frigging brilliant. I’m so proud to be part of this show,” he told me this afternoon (1/10/13). McGowan, 42, was speaking by phone from Seattle, where the musical is playing before bringing the word to Iowa from Jan. 24 through Feb. 3, 2013.

The musical dominated the 2011 Tony Awards, sweeping up nine awards, including Best Musical.

But McGowan is playing it rather coy in interviews, declining to give away too much about his multiple characters, his songs and the show in general.

“One of the things that’s exciting about this show is to come without too much foreknowledge,” he says.

Apparently, too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Or at least can put a damper on your first viewing.

It’s more fun to just let the music and the story flow over you — to discover all the fun that has made believers out of audiences and critics that have gone before you.

“You’ve never seen a musical like this,” he says. “There are things you’ve never heard in a musical.”

The language is exactly what you’d expect from the creators of television’s “South Park” and Broadway’s “Avenue Q,” which I like to call “Dirty Muppets.”

You won’t believe the African warlord’s stage name — which I definitely cannot put in print and can barely put in my mouth.

But profanity and blasphemy aside, McGowan says we’re gonna love it.

“The show has such a positive outlook. It perfectly balances whatever might shock you.”

I can’t wait to find out. I have my ticket for Jan. 25. You should get one, too.

Read more of my chat with McGowan on Jan. 17 in Hoopla and HooplaNow.com

"Survivor: Philippines" winner Denise Stapley of Cedar Rapids (Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS© 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc.)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia

Denise Stapley of Cedar Rapids is still trying to wrap her head around her million-dollar win on last night’s “Survivor: Philippines” 25th season finale.

We chatted by phone this afternoon (12/17/12) from Los Angeles, where she’s faced a whirlwind of red carpets, interviews and photos since her win was announced lived on CBS television. Her husband, Brad, and daughter, Sydney, 9, were in the second row to share in the anticipation and joy.

Entertainment Weekly caught up with Malcolm Freberg, the 25-year-old bartender who struck up an alliance on Day 1 of the 39-day odyssey. He was pretty hard on Denise at the final Tribal Council back in April, which aired on last night’s finale.

EW: “Why lay into Denise like that at the final Tribal about the head nodding and appeasing?”

MALCOLM: “I didn’t go into that ever not voting for Denise. I was pissed off, but I didn’t hold it against her. I understand that it’s the right move to get rid of me at that point and I was turning on her first so there’s no way I could be mad at her. But it was very clear to all of us that Denise was going to win. But I wasn’t going to let her off the hook. She was brilliant at deflecting hard questions with very politically correct answers so I was trying to get her to say something nasty at that point and just get under her skin a little bit. And it came off a lot meaner than I wanted it to. But there was absolutely no way I was never not voting for Denise and I think she absolutely played brilliantly and absolutely earned it.”

Denise told me she was surprised when Jonathan Penner called her a bitch on national television during that Tribal Council, adding that neither he nor Malcolm apologized for their harsh words.

“That was a little rough — I was not expecting it — but at the same time, that final Tribal is where they’re really pushing buttons. I think that was stemming off of a lot of interactions with Abi. The jury’s trying to light a fire, and he did. He and Malcolm did a good job of lighting that fire under me.”

We’re thrilled her torch wasn’t extinguished.

I’ll reveal much more of our conversation Thursday in Hoopla and on HooplaNow.com