January 30, 2005

Trivial George Monkeys...if you've always thought you could pwn Alex Trabeck, now's your chance: Jeopardy! is taking names for contestant searches in Chicago, Houston, Madison, New York, Phoenix, Tampa, and Toronto. (Posted 'cos I always forget to see if I can sign up, so I would have appreciated a heads-up in years past...)
posted by jimbecile 19 years ago
  • Sweet! Thanks for the heads-up. Of course, if I were to get in I'd be going home with Rice-a-Roni and Turtle-Wax.
  • I was a contestant on the show in 1992. My lovely parting gifts included a generous supply of Little Debbie snack cakes, some shampoo, a case of Werther's butterscotch candies, a Nintendo system, and a pair of binoculars. I still have the binoculars. The tryout is a bitch.
  • I've tried 3 times here in LA and been turned down, but I did make it on Win Ben Stein's Money and a couple of others that didn't play nationally. I'd be a cool notch to put on my nerd belt, tho...
  • In Toronto again! And I'm not there : ( One of my students had been on teen Jeopardy. It's my dream to go on, but I doubt I would make it.
  • In Toronto again! And I'm not there : ( One of my students had been on teen Jeopardy. It's my dream to go on, but I doubt I would make it.
  • Oops - sorry (I was just really distraut).
  • What is the tryout like?
  • dirtdirt: A whole case of Turtle Wax?
  • Please ask your question in the form of an answer.
  • Tryouts in Madison? Not that I'm complaining, that's as convenient as it gets for me, but it seems like an odd choice given that Chicago's also on the list. I tried out for the college tournament in the Twin Cities almost ten years ago but didn't get through the first round (only four people out of probably 100 or so did).
  • The tryout is a test that lasts about a half an hour. They play a videotape of Alex reading off a bunch of questions and you have to write down your answers on a piece of paper. You get about 15 seconds to answer each one. I forget exactly what the cutoff number is, but as I recall, I only got about four wrong. Everyone who makes the cutoff stays and plays a couple of pretend games with the talent coordinators. Out of the 100 or so people at my audition, there were about 10-12 people who made the cutoff. Don't know if it has changed any since then.
  • "You are not eligible to play on JEOPARDY! if you are employed by, related to, or within the last five years known anyone who works for Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., The Griffin Group, King World Productions, Inc., American Airlines, Sullivan Compliance Company, television stations broadcasting Wheel of Fortune or JEOPARDY!, or game show prize suppliers." The restrictions are always the funniest part. Is it just me, or does that seem a little overboard?
  • I'm psyched. I haven't actually watched the show in ages, but to be a contestant would be all kinds of awesome. Now, to get my trivia-fu in shape. As luck would have it, I got two Trivial Pursuit games for Xmas. If any Madison-area monkeys are up for a game, I'd be happy to take you to school both figuratively and somewhat literally. (aaronetc, I'm looking in your direction.)
  • I'm saving my skillz for the do-something-with-information-game.
  • I tried out for the college tournament years ago and did get through the first round, but didn't make it past the next round where you had a mock game against other finalists. I wasn't exciting enough, I guess. I did get to meet Alex Trebek though - he autographed my invitation letter which I seemed to think was cool at the time. Yea, I was (and still am) a geek.
  • briank! i am in awe of your parting gifts.
  • "This person is owed a thanks by Capt. Renault." "Who is jimbecile?" "Correct!"