Info about the show is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Samurai
Joey Gutmann: http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=8131 played and did not make it through the 12 questions.
Sam Durbin (morbeedo would love him) made it through the 12 questions to win $10,000 and the right to face the Circle of Samurai. His remaining 13.31 seconds from the original 5-minute clock were added to the 1:30 (90 seconds) available to navigate the last four questions.
Sam got the first question right (Nile not Mississippi flows south to north) to add $15,000 to his $10K already won. Sam got the second question right in remembering a name to match a corresponding face from a shot of four gentlemen.
Sam's third question:
Spoiler
He missed with Jackson, Willis, Depp, Downey when the correct order was Willis, Depp, Downey (Marvel) and Jackson (Star Wars).
The game is way too fast and crazy for Joe & Jane America to follow. For J! people the play-along factor is easy and there are a few trivia nuggets hiding in the mix. It's worth watching to see if it is your thing and as always I like seeing J! & Millionaire people again.
Former MLB pitcher Donovan Hand was a contestant as well.