"The most nerve-wracking thing in show business, it was
a nail-biter all the way!" - Cheech Marin

    Culver City, CA -  Comedian and actor Cheech Marin prevailed in this week's quarterfinals of the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament. As a result of his win, his charity, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, will receive $50,000 and Marin will advance to the next round of the tournament.   Marin defeated CNN journalist Anderson Cooper who won $25,000 on behalf of Friend Indeed, Inc. and actress and comedian Aisha Tyler who earned $25,000 for The International Rescue Committee.   Excited to be a step closer toward the $1 million grand prize Marin commented, "One million dollars for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund would be whipped cream on top of whipped cream. That would just be the greatest because they could really use the money."   Marin claims his favorite part of his Jeopardy! experience is the respect he receives from people on the street. "Of all things I've ever done in my career, at least as many people come up to me and say ‘I saw you on Jeopardy! and that was great!'"   Marin joins previous winners Michael McKean, Jane Kaczmarek, Harry Shearer, Pat Sajak and Charles Shaughnessy in advancing to the May semifinals and a chance to play for the $1 million grand prize.    The Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational will play host to 27 popular TV stars, newsmakers and pop culture icons competing in a series of nine quarterfinal games. These special episodes will be broadcast on the third Thursday of every month through May 2010, with a guaranteed cash prize of $1 million going to the winning star's favorite charity. A total of over $2.5 million will be donated throughout the season.   Jeopardy!, the winner of 28 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp.