'Ben Stein' wins over fans

Ever watch "Jeopardy" and hate when Alex Trebek so smugly supplies the correct question to an answer? Anyone can seem smart when the answer is written right in front of them. But what if Alex put his money where his mouth was and became a common contestant? What if he put up, say, $5,000 of his own money that said he was smarter than the other contestants?

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	Win ben Stein's Money Comedy Central Weeknights at 7:30

Well, he'd be just like Ben Stein from the game show "Win Ben Stein's Money."

The Emmy-nominated hit series on Comedy Central series returns for its second season tonight with a special tax day episode. Also returning the Robin to Stein's Batman, co-host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

When asked in a phone interview whether the show will have any changes, Kimmel replied, "Yes, Ben will be (replaced by) a busty blonde. No, nothing that will really affect you viewers. We have video screens instead of the boards."

For people who have to know whether the light really goes on when you close the refrigerator door, Kimmel said that there really were guys behind the gameboard changing the cards when categories were chosen. "Yeah, those were the guys I used to hang out with and talk about Red Wings' games. Now, it's sad. I find myself talking about Red Wings' games with the video screens."

Courtesy of Comedy Central Contestants who need money can, anyone, anyone, take home Ben's pay check on "Win Ben Stein's Money."

Besides creating one-sided conversations, the video screens also allow for video questions to be asked. Other than the occupational relation between tonight's contestants, all of whom have "jobs related to taxes," the rest of the show will be the same.

At first, three contestants try to answer the questions posed by Stein. Then Kimmel takes over in the second round as Stein himself enters the competition.

Finally, the contestant who has taken the most of Stein's money (which the player gets to keep) gets a chance at all $5,000 by going "mano-a-mano" with Stein in the "best of 10 test of knowledge." The finalist and Stein are placed in sound-proof booths and are each given a minute to answer the same 10 questions. If Ben ties or answers fewer questions correctly, then he loses all $5,000 of his money.

Does Jimmy get any extra money if Ben wins? "No. I get paid the same no matter what," Kimmel said. "It's kind-of nice. It doesn't matter if I'm funny or not funny."

Actually, Kimmel's humorous quips and side comments made the show possible. He says the producers at first tried having only Stein host the show, without much success. "I was auditioning to cohost on another game show which didn't run ..." Kimmel said, "but (the producers) liked me a lot and thought I was funny. So they brought me over."

Anyone who has seen the show knows that Kimmel provides the spontaneity and energy that the more reserved but amiable Stein cannot. After all, Stein is best known for his hysterically unemotional role call in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Kimmel said that Stein hears the word "Bueller" mentioned to him "about 35 times a day," an exaggeration probably not far from the truth, since he added that around the set, "We're no longer allowed to say 'Bueller' around Ben anymore."

While Stein can portray languid apathy very well, this former Nixon speechwriter and law professor is too inhibited, modest and good-natured to be in-your-face arrogant and likable at the same time. This egocentric act goes as far as the show's scripted lines carry it. Another of the show's weaknesses is that the contestants often make feeble, nervous attempts at jokes.

But overall, the show is entertaining. Part of the its appeal is its fill-in-the-blank set-up and its humor. One wonders what famous line Stein will deliver in a completely monotone voice at the beginning of the show. Kimmel always some simile to encourage the third- round finalist when Ben is in his sound proof booth, such as "whack him like a gopher." Then there are the funny but slightly hokey puns such as "Don't put Decartes before the horse" or "Chewed in Italy but Liechtenstein."

The uncertainty of whether someone might win Ben Stein's money also draws viewers in, and it does happen. While not quite a hit, "Win Ben Stein's Money" is enjoying moderate success squaring off against "Jeopardy" in the 7:30 p.m. weekday time slot - Stein always acts upset when a contestant mistakenly gives an answer in the form of a question.

When Jimmy Kimmel was asked whether he and Ben would go on "Jeopardy," or if Alex Trebek might be invited onto their show, Kimmel replied, "Well, I wouldn't be going on 'Jeopardy,' but Ben would kick Alex Trebek's ass."

Until the day of that mental showdown, however, viewers will have to be content with flipping between the two.

04-15-98