Will Marge go large on ‘Jeopardy’?

Come on, admit it: You’ve always truly believed that you’re smarter than a White House Cabinet member, didn’t you?

Well, put your money where your mouth is tonight when Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings tries her hand at “Celebrity Jeopardy!”

The nation’s guardian of the No Child Left Behind Act will have to prove that her own childhood was intellectually fruitful when she competes against actors Michael McKean (”Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind”) and Hill Harper (“CSI:NY”) on America’s nerdiest game show.

Spellings is playing for ProLiteracy Worldwide, the oldest and largest nongovernmental literacy organization in the world. Washingtonians to appear on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” in recent years include Ari Fleischer, Tim Russert, Christine Todd Whitman, Bob Woodward and Tucker Carlson. Only Carlson, however, actually won a game.

Will Spellings join Tucker’s illustrious group of one? She tells Yeas & Nays that, “Knowing the answer — or the question, in this case — is only half the battle. The hardest part is getting the hang of the buzzer.”

No word on whether that inspirational slogan will make it onto school bulletin boards nationwide.

We can’t tell you who won, but Spelling’s spokesperson said that her boss, “held her own.”

Congressional spouses get the lowdown on D.C.

In a week notable for Democrats celebrating and Republicans recriminating, an honest-to-goodness bipartisan event slipped under the radar, as the Congressional Club, the 98-year-old organization of congressional spouses, held its orientation for new wives and husbands.

Karen Pence, wife of Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Esther Hall, wife of Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, chaired the daylong orientation at the club’s building on U Street. About 35 new spouses showed up.

Jean Hastert, wife of outgoing Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Paul Pelosi, husband of incoming speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., discussed challenges to family life. Other topics addressed were bringing children to D.C., real estate, spouse organizations, the bipartisan retreat and the freshman retreat and the club’s annual luncheon with the first lady. Sergeant at arms Bill Livingood even gave a crash course in getting around the Capitol.

“The theme of the day was that spouses serve, too, and while public life is often trying, public service is still a noble work,” said Vicki Tiahrt, wife of Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., and the outgoing club president.

She’ll be succeeded by Vivian Bishop, wife of Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.

Smiths gain one, but Davis still reigns

Davis, while the sixth most popular last name in the United States, will remain the most common surname among members of the next Congress.

Currently, seven House members — Tom and Jo Ann of Virginia, Arthur of Alabama, Danny of Illinois, Geoff of Kentucky, Lincoln of Tennessee and Susan of California — share the last name Davis.

They’ll be joined in January by the somewhat redundantly named David Davis, R-Tenn.

In second place remains Miller, with five members. The Smith camp gained one, Adrian Smith, R-Neb., to move into third place.

Johnson has lost one, Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., to drop into a tie for fourth with Bishop, Lewis, Rogers and Wilson.

Joining them also is Murphy, which gained two members — Chris, a Democrat from Connecticut who beat Nancy Johnson, and Patrick, a Democrat from Pennsylvania.

Bill and Hootie entertaining at Leukemia Ball

The National Capital Area Chapter of the Annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced Monday that Bill Cosby and Hootie & the Blowfish will be the entertainment for its annual ball at the convention center Feb. 24.

The $1,000-per-plate dinner, the year’s largest nonpolitical fundraiser, typically draws some 2,500 Washingtonians and top-flight entertainment.

For its 20th anniversary next year, the organization hopes to raise $3.5 million.

Blondes are so 109th Congress

Yeas & Nays’ super-duper secret mole penetrated the all-female Madison Club’s recruitment event Sunday, where Washington’s pretty (and, yes, philanthropic) young partyers tried to gain acceptance into this uber-exclusive club.

How did it go? “It was very much like sorority rush,” our source told us, but added: “It’s not so much trying out — the girls who are in know they’re in.” Well, well: apparently, nothing is more attractive than confidence.

As they scoped out the competition at the City Tavern Club, a few perfectly plucked eyebrows were raised at the fact that it was cookies and soft drinks only. Hmph!

“It was ridiculously loud, being packed into a room with 50 or so girls, talking over each other,” Yeas & Nays’ Madison-Maybe-Wannabe wrote to us in an e-mail.

It may have been so loud that perhaps the blondes in the room didn’t overhear this unfortunate news: Our source left with the impression that “this year’s rush goal was to bring in more brunettes.”

Press release of the day:

“Jones Soda launches green pea soda to benefit Toys for Tots”

Yes, kids just love green peas ...