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This Issue 04/01/2004

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Jon Lubin, a College junior double majoring in Economics and Classical Studies, is surely not your typical student. This energetic, redheaded Red and Blue Crew president and Braveheart devotee was also nearly a millionaire.

Tell me about your experiences on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

I honestly don't know where to start. I'll tell you that it was the best day of my life. It was the most exciting, most nerve-wracking, most rewarding experience I've ever enjoyed. I thought I was going to be nervous, but once I got on screen, it was a catharsis of emotions.

What happened?

I pretty much lost it. I was spouting Braveheart quotes left and right. Everything I said when I was up there was a stream of consciousness.

How was Regis?

Regis was the coolest guy .... He thought I was crazy. He legitimately thought: "Where'd we get this guy from?"

Was Regis as sexy as he appears on tv?

Regis is dead sexy. He's actually, if it's possible, even a lot shorter than he appears on TV -- he's no more than 5'4''. What he lacks in height, he makes up for in character. He's so energized and wired, and I think that's why we gelled so well together during my 15 minutes in the hot seat.

So did you win a million dollars?

I won a quarter of a million dollars, and I was two questions away from the million.

What was the question that stumped you?

That's what everybody asks, and I'll never forget it either. I'll pose it to you. It was: which of the following opera composers -- and I'd used all my lifelines, so it was just me and the opera -- was related to Richard Wagner? And the four choices were: Chopin, Leicht, Berlioz and Schumann. Now I don't know anything about opera, mind you, so I ended it there. The big thing about Regis is that he always wants you to say who you would have guessed afterwards. I said I would have guessed Chopin, just a pure, completely random, out-of-nowhere guess, and the answer was Leicht, so it's a good thing I didn't go for it.

I'd say so, but $250,000 certainly is no pittance.

When he cut me that check for $250,000, I lost control. My arms went up in the air, and I swarmed him. I was yelling, "show me the money" into the camera, and I ran into the arms of this 20-something producer off on the side.

Is that a typical reaction?

Well, I thought I owed it to them to give them something. Usually when they have someone step out of the seat, it's a handshake and goodbye. I've seen them use that clip on the promos for their new syndicated program.

Is it strange to watch yourself on TV?

When I watched the episode on tape, it never really clicks that that was an experience that actually happened, because it seems so surreal in memory.

Have you ever been on TV other than Millionaire?