ANNOUNCER: Why did the reintroduction of fishers into Pennsylvania's wilderness capture the attention of humorist Dave Barry?

Ben Franklin invented what many regard as the first truly American instrument.

What is it?

You'll find out as we all play The Pennsylvania Game.

[music playing] The Pennsylvania Game is made possible in part by Uni-Marts Incorporated with stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

Serving you with courtesy and convenience every day of the year.

Uni-Marts-- more than a convenience store.

Now, let's get the game started.

Here's the really rad host of The Pennsylvania Game, Lynn Cullen.

[applause] All right.

Hello.

What does rad mean?

I'm the really what?

Rad host?

Was that a compliment?

Probably, huh?

The young ones say, yes.

I'm rad.

How are you?

I hope you're rad too and ready to play The Pennsylvania Game.

How's about we meet our panelists?

We call them that, but they're really the suckers of the day.

Ah, yes, we know this guy-- Chris Moore.

He's a producer and on-air talent with WQED Television in Pittsburgh called Host Black Horizons.

Yes, yes.

LYNN CULLEN: He also appears opposite me sometimes on talk radio.

Yes.

LYNN CULLEN: In fact, yes, we work at competing stations, which is why I'm not even going to mention the call letters from that station.

Please welcome two-time defending champ, three time now, I think, actually.

Three time.

LYNN CULLEN: Chris Moore.

That's right.

[applause] LYNN CULLEN: Oh, they're worked up.

Nona Gerard, our next panelist.

Associate professor of theater arts, theater arts at Penn State, Altoona Campus, and chair of the theater program there.

Primarily a stage actress, although she did deign to appear with Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo's Oil.

Whew, welcome, Nona Girard.

[applause] And I've seen this guy before too-- John Piccirillo, a 30-year radio vet and general manager of Wally 104 in Altoona, where he also appears as the midday air person.

Also, owner of ACI Cellular in Altoona and is known as the dog man of Altoona.

We'll find out why a little later.

I know you can't wait, but we'll just have to.

All right?

Woof.

JOHN PICCIRILLO: Woof.

Our first question, please.

ANNOUNCER: In December of 1994, the fisher, a small member of the weasel family, was reintroduced in Pennsylvania after a nearly 100 year absence.

The story gained national attention when humorist Dave Barry got wind of some, well, rather unusual circumstances surrounding the reintroduction project.

What was it?

A, the project was canceled because fishers attacked trout fishermen.

B, the Army National Guard airdropped roadkill to ensure the fishers survival.

C, fishers secrete an oil that's attracting ladybugs in staggering numbers.

Or D, the fishers have become obese from raiding park garbage cans.

LYNN CULLEN: Well, there it is.

I know that none of them seem possible, but one of them is.

Did those fishers attack, did the army have to be called out to drop roadkill, did they attract ladybugs, or did they get fat raiding garbage cans?

Unbelievable.

You all chosen your answer?

CHRIS MOORE: Yes.

Chris, which incorrect answer have you-- [laughter] Before we even start.

That's all right.

I incorrectly chose B because it's the most preposterous of them all.

LYNN CULLEN: I agree.

And, well, you're on to something there because that's usually the way we operate.

I definitely chose B because I wonder what Pennsylvania does with all their roadkill.

It just makes sense, you know?

It would be nice to know it was going to some useful purpose.

John?

I chose D because I can relate to fat.

LYNN CULLEN: Oh, you chose obese fishers.

Well, we've got two Bs, we got a D, and we've got, actually, a correct answer or answers.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is B, and I'm not making this up.

The Army National Guard airdropped roadkill to ensure the fishers survival.

Guardsmen dropped 17 frozen roadkill deer and 100 pounds of dead fish from a Chinook helicopter as it flew 50 to 100 feet above the ground in Sproul State forest, Clinton County.

An alert reader set the story, which first appeared in the Center Daily Times, to humorist Dave Barry, who had a field day retelling the events in his nationally syndicated column.

Unfortunately, the fishers, which are described as house-cat-sized members of the weasel family, didn't have much of an appetite for roadkill.

Nevertheless, the reintroduction project, headed by Penn State wildlife researcher Tom Surface, is going quite well.

Today, more than 25 fishers live in the wild, and others will soon be released.

Well, there, isn't that nice?

Fishers are fierce predators.

It says here, it's the only animal known to actually eat porcupine.

Yeah, you know, that would be the only meal that comes with its own toothpick.

Down, down.

Maybe let's quickly get to another question.

What do you think of that, huh?

Yeah.

ANNOUNCER: In 1870, Philadelphia neurologist, S. Weir Mitchell discovered an effective treatment for various psychiatric problems, including depression and nervous disorders that doctors still use today.

Did he discover, A, group therapy, B, the medicinal use of marijuana, C, the straight jacket, or D, the therapeutic use of lithium salt?

LYNN CULLEN: Well, bless him.

Whatever it is, I need it.

Was it group therapy, the medicinal use of marijuana, the straight jacket, or the therapeutic use of lithium salt?

Nona, we're coming to you first.

Well, I would imagine that it would be B?

LYNN CULLEN: You would?

I would imagine you just wouldn't care much if you were-- you know what I mean?

LYNN CULLEN: I thought I was depressed, but now I feel like a box of cookies, right.

OK, she went for marijuana.

How about you, John?

I went for D. LYNN CULLEN: You went for lithium?

Yeah, I like lithi.

LYNN CULLEN: See, we got-- I don't know what it is, but I like it very much.

Wouldn't know what to do without it.

Absolutely.

LYNN CULLEN: What drug are you on, Chris?

Well, Frasier Crane always says group therapy, so I chose group therapy.

LYNN CULLEN: All righty, he's going with just talk.

Yes, homeopathic.

All right, let's find out what in fact, S. Weir Mitchell discovered.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is D-- the therapeutic use of lithium salt.

Mitchell recognized the ion's ability to stabilize moods.

Lithium bromide has been used to treat such common symptoms as overstimulation, mood fluctuation, fatigue, reduced appetite, poor sleep, and anxiety.

However, Mitchell's landmark discovery was overlooked until 1949, when Australian doctor, John Katie, who is usually credited with the discovery, used lithium to treat manic patients.

That's weird.

He's credited with it, and it was hanging around for almost 100 years.

By the way, speaking of credit, we want to credit Alan Mallinger of Pittsburgh, who sent us that question.

And to thank Alan, we're going to send him a year's supply of lithium.

No, I'm kidding.

No, a year subscription to Pennsylvania Magazine.

Now, a little lithium on the side, perhaps.

Let's find out what the score is.

Oh, my, I just looked.

It is tied at one.

CHRIS MOORE: Correct.

Isn't this exciting?

Neck and neck.

Woo.

How's about-- [applause] I've just been told to talk to you.

Now, you, sir, are a talk radio host.

Yes.

I am a talk radio.

Yes.

It's depressing, isn't it?

Not to me.

I love it.

Turn the microphone on, and I'll talk about poo pets or anything.

No, I know.

I'll talk about anything too.

But everybody's so mad these days.

Yes, they are.

And they should be.

But it provides a living.

What can you say?

Gee whiz, I think you are on lithium, aren't you?

One?

Actually, I have been, on my radio show, suggesting that, they put fluoride in the water already, why can't we put Prozac in the water?

Great idea.

You don't?

I drink bottled water already because of all the stuff they put in it.

Nona, Nona, we were just talking, two actresses together here, and you say you like the stage better than film.

Me too.

Not that I ever did either.

But I mean, how can you do-- when you're doing films, they're stopping and starting all the time, aren't they?

Constantly retake, try it again, get up the emotion.

In the stage, you either get it up and ride it through or you don't get it up.

And if you don't get the good reviews, then you don't continue to do theater.

I guess it's just too technical for me, film, television.

Yeah.

And so is Susan Sarandon really a jerk like I heard?

She's-- yeah.

LYNN CULLEN: Yeah, I've heard.

She's a little touchy.

LYNN CULLEN: She's very tough.

I have a friend who spent a day with her, and she was like, she needed lithium when it was over.

Yeah.

All right.

Hey, John.

All right, we've waited a long time.

You're known as the dog man of Altoona.

Yes.

What?

Because you use your two little dachshunds as props?

Yes, yes.

LYNN CULLEN: You exploit these innocent animals.

Pet exploitation, absolutely.

LYNN CULLEN: What you do with them?

We do a lot of television commercials for our cellular company down there-- ACI Cellular.

And we use a Buddy and Beulah, my two little dachshunds as-- they'd much rather look at the dogs than me, so that's what we do.

That's true.

That's true.

No, I know.

It's true.

And Nona will tell you, you never want to share a stage with-- A dog or a kid.

LYNN CULLEN: Animal or little kids.

It's true.

JOHN PICCIRILLO: It's wonderful.

Which is why we got the three of you here.

All right.

CHRIS MOORE: I'm an animal.

Enough.

Let's move on.

Let's move on.

ANNOUNCER: In 1957, this physician performed the world's first successful operation to separate Siamese twins at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.

Again, in 1974, he made headlines when he successfully separated one-year-old Clara and Alta Rodriguez.

Was the surgeon, A, Dr. C. Everett Koop, B, Dr. William Starzl, C, Dr. Christian Barnard, or D, Dr. Theodore S. Geisel.

LYNN CULLEN: Ooh, now, that's weird.

I recognize all those names.

And yet, it didn't know any-- well, it seems strange.

Koop, Starzl, Barnard, Geisel.

Who separated those twins, John?

I think it was Dr. Geisel.

LYNN CULLEN: You think it was Dr. Geisel?

Yeah.

Was I wrong?

LYNN CULLEN: Well-- You know.

LYNN CULLEN: It was Dr. Geisel.

Let's just humor him.

Chris, what do you think?

Do you think it's Dr. Geisel too?

Yes, he separated John and I also at birth.

LYNN CULLEN: That was historic, I know.

That's true.

And Nona, you're going to make it unanimous here?

No, actually, I think that it's Koop.

I remember getting something in the mail from him that was health-oriented.

I figured maybe he was a doctor or something.

Oh, my gosh.

This is really depressing.

This is depressing.

Let's just go to the correct answer.

We'll get a new panel.

Don't worry about it.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is A.

In 1957, C. Everett Koop performed the world's first successful separation of Siamese twins.

Few people heard about the little girls, one of whom died several years later due to a congenital heart defect, because of the parent's request for privacy.

Koop, who did his surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania and spent his entire career at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, still carries a picture of those children in his wallet.

In 1974, Dr. Koop separated Clara and Alta Rodriguez in a 10 hour surgical procedure, which required a 23 person team.

The press erroneously touted the Rodriguez case as the world's first successful separation of Siamese twins, even though Dr. Koop had successfully performed the same operation 17 years earlier.

Tragically, Alta Rodriguez died two years after her operation.

She choked on a bee.

Her sister, Clara, is living a healthy life in the Dominican Republic.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation's first Children's Hospital, separates more twins than any other center in the world.

Now, just to explain why I was-- Koop was a surgeon general.

Starzl does liver transplants.

Christiaan Barnard was a heart transplant and steals a lot of women's hearts apparently.

And Theodore Geisel is Dr. Seuss.

CHRIS MOORE: We knew that.

JOHN PICCIRILLO: Didn't he do it?

No, Dr. Seuss is the-- How do you think he separated the two of us?

LYNN CULLEN: Would he?

Could he?

Oh my god.

Sam, I am, I am, I am.

Do you like green eggs and ham?

Let's go to the m-- m-- m-- m-- yes, thanks.

It is time for the Mystery Pennsylvanian, our first clue.

Get it right on the first one, you get three points.

Get it right on the second one, you get two, and get it right on the third one, you get one.

Something like that.

First clue-- Born Frederick Kittel in Pittsburgh in 1945, he eventually changed the horizon of Black Theater in America as well as his own name.

Born Frederick Kittel, which is not the name you will put down because we don't know him as that, in Pittsburgh in 1945, he eventually changed the horizon of Black theater in America as well as his own name.

Some looks of confusion there, so we'll just move right along to the next question.

ANNOUNCER: Born in Pittsburgh in 1876, Mary Roberts Reinhart is best known for her mystery novels.

However, writing was not her first career choice.

What career aspiration was Reinhart forced to abandon because of the era in which she lived?

A, becoming a doctor, B, working in law enforcement, C, working in the Ministry, or D, becoming an astronomer.

LYNN CULLEN: Well, all of those are certainly possible because the era in which she lived probably would have discouraged women from entering any of those fields.

We need you to choose.

What did Mary Roberts Reinhart not do?

And where am I going?

Who am I-- who did I last talk to?

Nona, I'm going to go to you.

NONA GERARD: You can call me Mona.

That's all right.

LYNN CULLEN: Mona, Nona.

Mona Lisa.

I would say D. LYNN CULLEN: You would?

Was her head in the stars?

I don't know.

LYNN CULLEN: I don't know.

She'd say D. John, what would you say?

JOHN PICCIRILLO: I'd say A because I have to say something.

LYNN CULLEN: OK, you're going with doctor.

She went with astronomer.

And what are you going with?

I'm so embarrassed.

I don't remember what I said.

What did I say?

That's what I said-- C. LYNN CULLEN: You said C, and he said it with great conviction.

Praise the Lord.

That's right.

That's right.

Things are going downhill quickly.

Let's find out what the answer is.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is A. Reinhart had wanted to become a doctor, something that was almost unheard of in her day.

Instead, she studied nursing at Pittsburgh's homeopathic hospital, later married the hospital's chief of staff.

In the late 1890s, she left nursing and became a novelist and playwright.

From 1910 to 1940, Reinhart was one of America's most successful popular writers.

11 of her books became bestsellers.

And in the 1930s, mass circulation magazines paid as much as $65,000 to serialize her novels.

Although her work ranged from comedic to serious to romantic, she is best remembered for her mysteries, especially her masterpiece, The Circular Staircase, which is considered a classic in that genre.

All righty.

Medicine's loss, mystery lovers gain.

And let's go directly to our next question.

ANNOUNCER: The Lancaster chapter of the Sertoma Club has always had a reputation for doing things on a grand scale.

And now, it has documentation to prove it.

In 1995, the Guinness Book of Records presented the club with a certificate for-- A, consuming the most meat at a barbecue, B, dancing the most hours in a marathon, C, supporting the most local charities, or D, having the largest membership of any survivors club.

LYNN CULLEN: Huh, now, what would that be?

Those guys didn't look like they ate a lot, but did they consume the most meat at a barbecue, dance the most hours, support the most charities, or have the largest membership of a survivor's club?

John, I'm coming at you.

I did.

D. LYNN CULLEN: They did D. They looked like they were in pretty good shape.

LYNN CULLEN: OK, OK. Chris, what do you think?

I said C because it seems like a worthy thing to do.

LYNN CULLEN: In fact, support local charities.

Who would say other?

Nona?

I would say B because dancing is always fun.

LYNN CULLEN: Dancing is always fun.

But then again, so is eating barbecue, huh?

I wonder what the answer might be.

Eating barbecue.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is A-- consume the most meat at a barbecue.

The Lancaster Sertoma Club, the second largest sertoma chapter in the nation, has always done things in a big way.

The Guinness Book of World Records presented the club with a certificate for the greatest meat consumption at a barbecue-- 44,010 pounds of chicken at its 1994 chicken barbecue.

The event raised more than $110,000, which went to local charities.

Ooh, charities!

Doesn't it count?

Oh, he says local charities.

No, no, no.

And actually, they beat their own record last year, upping the amount of money they made and the amount of chicken they consume.

This is not good news for the chickens of the world, I can assure you.

Hey, look at that score.

My, it's 1 to 2 to 2.

And Chris, you've got the one.

Great come from behind victory.

[applause] LYNN CULLEN: Ah, yes.

Time now for the second clue to the mystery Pennsylvanian, which remains a mystery to many of you, I'm sure.

Clue two-- racism couldn't fence him in.

He earned two Pulitzer prizes for his critically acclaimed work, a task accomplished by only seven other playwrights.

Two Pulitzers-- "Pewlitzers" or "Pullitzers?"

I never did figure that out-- for his critically acclaimed work.

Born in Pittsburgh, 1945, he changed his name from Frederick Kittel.

OK, I'm assuming some of you guys have that now, and those of you at home as well, so we'll just move on to the next question, please.

ANNOUNCER: On June 26th, 1994, the epic movie Gettysburg premiered on Turner Network Television.

This production made motion picture history for a number of reasons.

Which one of the following is not true of the filming of Gettysburg?

The motion picture, A, required the most costumes and props for a period motion picture since The Ten Commandments, B, marked the first time the Battle of Gettysburg had been committed to film, C, marked the first time a movie crew was permitted to film battle scenes on the Gettysburg National Military Park battlefield, or D, produced the largest scale period sequences filmed in North America since Birth of a Nation.

LYNN CULLEN: All right, now, just to clarify, three of those four are true of the filming of Gettysburg.

Three are true.

One is not.

We are asking you to figure out which one is not true.

Requiring the most costumes and props since Chuck Heston suited up in The Ten Commandments, first time the battle was committed to film, first time a crew was allowed to film at the National Military Park, or the largest scale period sequences filmed in North America since Birth of a Nation.

My Lord, is that a lot of talking.

CHRIS MOORE: C. LYNN CULLEN: After all that, you just say C?

I couldn't read it all.

You couldn't either.

All right, you're saying it was the first time they filmed battle scenes, actually, at the National Military Park battlefield.

Nona, you're shaking your head.

I'm going to go.

LYNN CULLEN: You're going to go with that?

Yeah, I'm wanting a poo pet.

[laughter] LYNN CULLEN: Will, we stop this poo pet stuff.

Honest to Pete.

JOHN PICCIRILLO: I have enough trouble with the what did they do, so what did they-- I think it's B. LYNN CULLEN: You think it's be?

Yeah.

LYNN CULLEN: OK, marked the first time the Battle of Gettysburg had been committed to film.

Well, you three-- All wrong.

LYNN CULLEN: Think again.

Yes.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is A.

An enormous amount of costuming was required, but most of the re-enactors provided their own clothing.

Gettysburg was a TNT epic premiere based on Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize Winning novel, The Killer Angels.

More than 5,000 Civil War re-enactors participated in the filming of the epic, marking the first time the battle had been committed to film.

It was also the first time a movie crew had been permitted to film battle scenes on the Gettysburg National Military Park battlefield.

The scenes re-enacting the legendary Pickett's charge are believed to be the largest scale period motion picture sequences filmed in North America since DW Griffith's Birth of a Nation.

On-set historical consultants and military choreographers assisted in what is probably the most accurate Civil War film ever made.

Amazing.

Amazing, indeed.

Listen, next question-- oh, it's about a guy I absolutely love, which is a little bit of a problem for me since he's been dead for hundreds of years.

But I love him anyway.

ANNOUNCER: In 1761, Benjamin Franklin invented what is generally regarded as the first truly American musical instrument.

Dr. Franz Mesmer, who formulated the concept of animal magnetism, was a virtuoso performer.

He used the instrument as an integral part of his hypnotic treatments.

Did Franklin invent the, A, harp, B, harmonica, C, pan pipe, or D, glass armonica?

LYNN CULLEN: What was this mesmerizing instrument that old Ben invented?

What a remarkable person he was.

The harp, the harmonica, the pan pipe, or the glass armonica?

Must have been a cockney who did that one.

Let's see, where are we?

Nona, I take that to you.

I would say, A, harp.

I heard something about animals.

I was thinking catgut strings.

LYNN CULLEN: All right, what the heck?

We don't want to talk about it.

The battlefield stuff.

She's into guts.

Go.

He just looks like a harmonica player to me.

B, I took B. LYNN CULLEN: You took B too?

We have a harp and a harmonica and?

A harp.

LYNN CULLEN: And a harp?

Yeah.

LYNN CULLEN: A harp, harp, and a harmonica.

Do we have a correct answer?

It's got to be a harmonica.

LYNN CULLEN: It doesn't necessarily.

ANNOUNCER: The answer is D. In 1761, Benjamin Franklin invented the glass armonica.

The unusual instrument is made of a horizontally nested series of glass bowls attached to a spinning rod and is played by rubbing moistened fingers against the exposed rims.

Franklin's niece, Mary Ann Davies, was a proficient performer of the musical glasses and is credited with making the glass armonica popular throughout Europe.

Mozart was later inspired to write for the delicate instrument-- what were to become his last chamber music compositions.

Nevertheless, by the mid-19th century, the glass armonica faded into virtual obscurity.

[music playing] LYNN CULLEN: Ooh.

That always tickles me that little [mimics music].. That might have been a glass armonica we heard just there.

It's our last chance to figure out the Mystery Pennsylvanian.

Here's your final clue.

While he has had two trains running in theaters nationwide, in 1988, he was one of the few playwrights ever to have two plays running on Broadway at the same time.

Clearly, a remarkable playwright, one of the few ever to have two plays running on Broadway at the same time.

He earned two Pulitzer prizes for his work.

That accomplished by only seven other playwrights.

Born in Pittsburgh, 1945.

OK I'm going to assume that we've got some answers here.

John?

You assumed wrong.

I will never-- LYNN CULLEN: You're even upside down.

I know.

I will never be asked back again.

LYNN CULLEN: No.

So you're just-- going to drop it.

JOHN PICCIRILLO: I got it right last time, but I can't get it right this time.

If you're the other two panel members don't get this, I'll be stunned.

I know.

Chris?

Never fear, my dear.

August Wilson.

August Wilson.

Not September, not July, but August Wilson.

Yes, indeed.

Nona, you concur?

Well, I first thought it might be Flip Wilson.

And then, head of lettuce-- I just-- but I remembered it was August Wilson.

LYNN CULLEN: It was August Wilson.

Yeah, but he gets three points for it, and you get a mere one.

I misunderstood.

And what's interesting is, you two were having a conversation about August Wilson before we started taping the show.

Are they right?

August Wilson?

ANNOUNCER: August Wilson bought his first typewriter in 1965 and began his writing career as a poet.

He turned to drama in the late 1960s, co-founding Black Horizons, the Pittsburgh-based theater company that featured activist drama.

Self-discovery and confrontation, sometimes erupting into violence, are common themes in Wilson's works.

His first play was Black Bart and the Sacred Hills, but it was his Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which premiered in 1982 that earned him acclaim.

Ma Rainey was the first in a series of 10 plays that represented each decade of the changing African-American experience in America during the 20th century.

Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, and Two Trains Running are more recent additions to the series.

Wilson has won numerous awards, including the Tony.

And he is one of only seven playwrights, including Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder, to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize more than once.

He is considered today's best known, most popular Afro-American playwright.

August Wilson, a famous Pennsylvanian.

Well, far be it for me to differ with the gentleman who's doing the voiceovers, but I think-- he just said he was one of the greatest Afro-American playwrights going.

He's one of the greatest playwrights going right now.

I don't think there's anyone that-- I mean, Nona, from your perspective as an actress and a stage actress, anybody putting out what he is right now?

No, not in contemporary theater in my opinion.

His characters, his language, he's able to embody poetry as well as realistic language.

He's a phenomenal playwright.

LYNN CULLEN: Chris, have you met him?

Because I know he returns to Pittsburgh quite often.

You have?

He seems sort of diffident and sort of shy.

You know, I think he expresses himself through his work, and he lets that speak for himself.

He doesn't even talk in complete sentences all the time.

He's terrible to have to edit, I tell you.

Not easy and not an easy edit, but quite an honor to get to meet the gentleman.

All righty, well, guess who won.

Came from behind at the last minute by getting it on the first clue-- Mr. Chris Moore wins again.

[applause] OK, now, we want to give you, from the just born company of Bethlehem, PA, the world's leading maker of marshmallow chicks, a gourmet jelly bean and marshmallow gift package just for you, Chris.

Thanks to this wonderful panel.

I Thank you to our audience.

You are fantastic.

And Thank you most of all.

I hope you join us again when we play The Pennsylvania Game.

[applause] [music playing] ANNOUNCER: The Pennsylvania Game is made possible in part by Uni-Marts Incorporated with stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

Serving you with courtesy and convenience every day of the year.

Uni-Marts-- more than a convenience store.

[music playing]