One of my dreams came true.

This past February I was a contestant on Jeopardy. It aired this past Friday. I didn't talk about it here because I wasn't sure just what I could and couldn't say. Now that it's over with I think it is safe to talk about. I even kept the results from my own family for four months so they could be surprised. I won one game, then got absolutely shellacked on the second. Oh well. Despite the fact that I am unable still to watch the game I lost, I am still proud. It was also a lot of fun.

I found the shows on YouTube and downloaded them (I probably shouldn't admit this) so that I can save them for posterity.

I was also interviewed for the local news. I haven't seen that segment yet. I am sure it aired after the muggings and car chases and probably sports and weather! Still it was pretty cool.

I do regret not doing better.

And interesting to see how the show is made.

Congratulations...you are amazing...


Tikki

There's another DU'er who was also on Jeopardy...damned if I can remember his name. He posted when he was going to be on so whoever wanted to could watch. It was fun!

:)

I can't remember the name either. I just wasn't sure about the rules so I didn't mention it at all here or on Facebook. My family did that for me LOL. I was probably being overly cautious.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=153017

You should post the video!

http://www.youtube.com/user/rashad1428?blend=8&ob=5#p/u/21/P5XbxETfgiI


Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/user/rashad1428?blend=8&ob=5#p/u/20/jxF83Lgv5rI

I am in the middle.

Well done Amy!!

:applause:

I was not keen on watching myself at first but it turned out to be okay. The second game, not so much. But I didn't cry or drop the f-bomb it's all good

Good for you! Congrats! And be proud! :hi:

The real upside is that I can name my price for family trivia now. LOL. They will be fighting over who gets me on their team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUZijEuNDQ




Of course, you actually won! Which is awesome!!!!!!

I forgot about that song. I'll have to get it from Itunes. LOL

I take care of my 87-yo dad, and every night at 7:00 sharp, my Significant Other and I eat in my dad's room, and watch Jeopardy. We watched you win! You were cool as a cucumber (well, you looked cool!)

I couldn't believe no one knew the cartoon "Nancy" - you were all too young, I guess. My S.O., like any GUY, couldn't believe no one knew Moe. You out-guessed my actor-boy S.O. in the Oscar-Emmy category (he guessed Ann Bancroft for the $2000 question), which made my evening.

Ah - the joys of elder care -- my life is so exciting that I remember what people in my house got right and wrong on Jeopardy.

Question: How many shows do they shoot back-to-back? I probably read it in "Prisoner of Trebekistan" but I forgot, and we speculate on that all the time (again - facinating dinner conversation, huh?)

And tape two days a week. So I was scheduled to be there two days. The first show I did was the last one of the first day, so I had to go back the next day after I won. I was with a group of about 12 people. And usually everybody gets to play during their trip. I suppose it is conceivable that they don't get to everyone, like if there are ties or someone just keeps winning. It was interesting to see how it is done.

The green room really is green, by the way. And we were cautioned not to talk to anyone other than the producers. Not even our friends or family in the audience. Not even to eat lunch or anything like that. We were sequestered like jurors. Only it was more fun than jury duty by a long shot.

You did a great job!! Don't fret over your loss. No matter what, you're now a Jeopardy Champ!!!

I am not the only one to get crushed by that guy. He's won three times (at least, I haven't watched yesterdays or todays yet) and something like 80 grand. So he is one of the best. It was just bad luck for me to have both those guys as opponents.

that's great that you won one game. That is alot farther than most people get. Hope you won alot of money. Congratulations!

Definitely more than paid for my trip out there.

How nervous were you?
Ice in the veins or sweating bullets?

But I wasn't, at least not for the first game. I had some trouble with the clicker thing. You can't see them on TV but along the sides of the board are two rows of lights that light up when you can ring in. If you attempt to ring in before then, it locks you out for some period (a few seconds maybe), enough to give someone else a chance. I had some trouble with the timing so many times I knew the answers but couldn't ring in, either because I wasn't fast enough or because I locked myself out. That was especially bad the second game. I knew most of the answers but those guys were better at the clicker. I got frustrated too and forgot all the advice that was given to me, like simply switching the buzzer to my other hand. Sometimes that helps for some reason.

So the whole thing was definitely harder than it looks from the couch!

I've always wondered what the application and lead-up process was. Sample games? Checking to see if you're good on camera? Do tell!

Usually it takes place in January every year. If you pass that (and they never tell you your score) then you are invited to audition. I auditioned in New Orleans last June. There is another written test (again they don't tell you your score) and then there is a practice round of Jeopardy, with the clickers and everything. And that's it. You stay on the contestant list for 18 months and if they don't call you, you can try again. It only took me once. I got a phone call last January, just when I had about given up hearing from them.

I am not sure what they are looking for exactly. I am not the most outgoing person so I thought that I might not get picked for that reason but I don't think it matters all that much if you are not the bubbly, outgoing sort. They tape 5 shows a day and tape two days a week so I was at the studio most of a day before it was my turn and then I went back the next day because I won. Then I lost quickly. I could have stayed and watched some more but I figured as long as I was in LA, I'd do some sight-seeing with the extra time.

I had $7,000 otherwise!

Second place is $2000. And the winner keeps theirs. It would be nice if you could keep your winnings, whatever they may be but even third place would have at least paid for the trip. But I did better than that, so it's all good. Now I just need to figure out how to invest.