Husband, wife take 1st, 2nd contest prizes

The popular notion is that Americans watch too much television.

Spokane Valley resident Jim Homer, 48, would probably disagree. His love of TV proved to be profitable as he placed first in The Spokesman-Review’s 2007 Oscar contest.

Homer picked the correct winners in 18 out of the 24 Academy Award categories. What’s more, his wife, Laura, took second place out of a group of eight entrants who had 16 correct answers (in the tie-breaker, she correctly guessed that “The Departed” would win four Oscars).

How did her husband beat her out?

“He watches more television than I do,” Laura Homer, 52, said with a laugh.

The Homers both topped their 27-year-old son, Doc, in the contest.

“What’s funny about that is that he works in a video store,” Laura Homer said.

Placing third was Sharon Bierlair of Spokane, who also had 16 correct answers and guessed that “The Departed” would win three Oscars.

For their efforts, the Homers will take home $150 in movie passes from Regal Cinemas ($100 for first place, $50 for second). Bierlair wins $25.