'Jeopardy!' lines up special 'Power Players'

By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Updated

The answer is: Jeopardy!'s 15 celebrity contestants.

Who are they? Collectively, they have earned 21 Emmys, eight Peabodys, four Pulitzer Prizes and a Grammy Award; served under three White House administrations; and include the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

And what are they doing? Competing in a special Power Players Week edition of the show.

The winner of each game will earn a minimum of $50,000 for the charity of his or her choice, while each of the other contestants will receive a guaranteed $10,000 for their causes. Jeopardy! Power Players Week will tape in front of an audience at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on Saturday. The shows will air May 14 - 18.

Here's the list of competitors:

NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Comedian Lewis Black

CNN's Anderson Cooper

CNBC show host David Faber

New York Times' Thomas L. Friedman

Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

BBC World News America's Katty Kay

MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews

NBC News' Kelly O'Donnell

CNN's Lizzie O'Leary

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page

Fox News Channel's Dana Perino

NBC News' Chuck Todd

Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace

Fans of the show can vote for their favorite players at the Jeopardy! Facebook poll.

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About Ann Oldenburg

Ann has worn out many stilettos chasing celebs for USA TODAY. She's covered the Oscars, the Emmys, the Golden Globes, and has interviewed stars ranging from Tom Cruise to Rosie O'Donnell. Ann knows entertainment news is best served as a hot dish to friends and she's hoping you'll dig right in. More about Ann

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