Jeopardy! Tryouts
Jun. 15th, 2004 11:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
corilannamJust got back from the Washington, D.C. Jeopardy tryouts. My boss is a little irritated with me because I didn't tell her I was going to be out, because I didn't want to jinx myself by telling her where I was going. But it was totally worth it.
The tryouts are being held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, a lovely place near the National Zoo. I have fond memories of the Shoreham -- it's where I stayed on my first trip to DC with Presidential Classroom in high school, and I saw Jim Byrnes play there a few years ago at a Highlander con. It's also only half a block from the Metro, which this morning, was a Very Good Thing.
My appointment time was 9:00 a.m., and the e-mail said specifically that no one would be admitted after that time. So I allowed a good hour and a half to get there, with what should have been an easy half-hour Metro ride. Of course, this would be the day when the Metro breaks down on the Red Line, causing my train to stop 3-4 times in between every station and causing me to Freak Out (deliberate dramatic capitalization).
I got off the train at 8:58, ran up all three escalators (and if you know me, you're probably laughing right now) and sprinted on rubbery legs across the street to the hotel. The doorman saw me coming, knew what I was there for (I look like a geek, what can I say?) and gave me specific directions to where the tryouts were. This was good, since there were no signs up for it anywhere. There was a guy right behind me, so I wasn't the last one to get there. We commiserated about the Metro as we speed-walked through the lobby with just barely enough decorum to not get kicked out by security.
Fortunately, they weren't really serious about the no admission after 9 sharp thing. We arrived, were told to grab the stuff we needed (a Jeopardy pen, the test answer form, the pink form where you put five interesting things about yourself that Alex can ask you about, and a flimsy piece of cardboard you're supposed to use as writing backing. I have tortillas in my fridge with more support than that), and went into the room where they had already started the presentation.
The tryouts start with a little informal game where one of the contestant coordinators explains the various types of questions you see on Jeopardy, explains what kind of presence they're looking for, and goes through a sample game board, giving people advice on their voices, etc. Since most of us there have watched the show before (often religiously), I would presume this is to relax everybody and allow time for latecomers like me to arrive. Fortunately, they were aware of the Metro breakdowns, so they allowed a little extra time. Then they showed a little film with Alex Trebek doing Frequently Asked Questions about the tryout process, and by 9:15 we were ready to start the test.
The test is 50 questions. I was hoping for multiple choice, but instead we got a sheet with 50 blank spaces and had to write the answer in. The questions were Jeopardy style, given to us both in voice and on the screen at the front of the room, but thankfully we didn't have to answer in the form of a question. We had 8 seconds to answer each question, and they did not repeat them. The categories ranged from pop culture to world history to Shakespeare to fashion to nature -- a pretty broad spectrum, including one on Bend It Like Beckham, which gave me a giggle. Most of the questions were pretty easy, though I guessed on two, and on a couple more I had no earthly clue.
We passed our tests up and then got a break while they went outside to grade them. I filled out the pink sheet as best I could (I'm so boring -- most of my interesting activities can't be talked about on national television), then sat and worked on the critical scene in my TPM story in my notebook, which I'd been too nervous to do on the Metro. Finally, they came back in, told us that win or lose, we could keep the pens (which I was way too happy about), gave hats away to a couple of randomly drawn people, and then read the names of the people that passed the written test.
To give you an idea of the numbers involved, there were about 50 people in the room. Out of those 50, 8 of us passed the test. They told us later that that was a pretty good percentage. They're doing 11 tryout sessions in DC this week, then 2 in Norfolk. Over the year, they put several hundred people into their active file to call for the show, and of those people, about 400 get to compete on TV every season.
So yes, I was one of the lucky few who passed the written test. My name was the second read (the guy stumbled over it, as everyone does), so I wasn't in suspense for too long. When they read everyone, the people who didn't pass got to leave -- including my tardiness buddy, who was sweet and congratulated me as he left.
Then it was the last 8 of us -- five women and three men. The CCs joked that they never managed to get groups divisible by three, which would make their lives easier, and which became significant to me in a few minutes. They gave us new yellow sheets to get all our personal contact and eligibility info, and while we were filling them out, they took Polaroid snapshots of us to put with our applications. Mine actually came out really well -- I wish I could have a copy of it!
We handed in all our papers and photos, then they explained a little more about how the selection process works. This was the audition portion of the process, the part I was dreading, to test for our camera presence, our personalities, our ability to answer in the form of a question and buzz in properly. Basically, will we be good TV? At this point, I was high enough on adrenaline that I didn't feel too shy, so I plastered on a big smile and did my best. The CCs were very jovial and did a good job of making us chill and have a good time.
In groups of three, we went up in front of the CCs and played a mock round of Jeopardy. We had real buzzers, which were attached to their computers so that they could see how and when we rang in. One of them was watching that, one was watching our images on the computer screen, and one was asking our questions and controlling the board. We played for a while, then had to introduce ourselves like we would on the show. That was the worst part for me, but I think I did okay.
I was in the second group of three, and the first one to answer a question -- correctly, thank God. I then answered several more incorrectly, but since they were looking for enthusiasm more than accuracy, that was okay. When my round was done, they told me to stay put so as to fill out the final group, which only had two people. So I played again, made a couple of stupid mistakes, but had a lot of fun. And didn't have to introduce myself again. Whew.
When we were all done, they told us we'd all done a good job, and explained about the rest of the process. Basically, we all go into the big file for a year. They call us a month in advance of the taping date, though getting called and going to LA isn't a guarantee you'll actually get on the show. They keep us in the file for exactly a year, after which they encouraged us to come try out again if we didn't get called. If you get called, you go out to LA on your own dime, though if you have to go home and come back because you're a repeat champion, they'll pay for the second flight. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. *g* They tape on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, long ahead of the airdates. They don't tape on holidays or during the summer. You have to bring two changes of clothes in case you win, because there's actually only a 10- or 15-minute break in between taping each day's show. But only two, because they figure that three days later, no one's going to remember what you were wearing the first day.
And then we left, around 10:45. I chatted with my fellow wannabes as we walked out -- one guy's been trying out for six years, but hasn't been called yet. He said he keeps trying to think of more and more interesting things to make his personality stand out more. We agreed that next time, the pink sheet is going to be just all outrageous lies.
So there it is, more than you ever wanted to know about Jeopardy tryouts. On Thursday, it's![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chelseafrew's turn, so send her good contestant vibes!
Now I'm off to finally eat something, and then look up the questions I wasn't sure about. *g*
The tryouts are being held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, a lovely place near the National Zoo. I have fond memories of the Shoreham -- it's where I stayed on my first trip to DC with Presidential Classroom in high school, and I saw Jim Byrnes play there a few years ago at a Highlander con. It's also only half a block from the Metro, which this morning, was a Very Good Thing.
My appointment time was 9:00 a.m., and the e-mail said specifically that no one would be admitted after that time. So I allowed a good hour and a half to get there, with what should have been an easy half-hour Metro ride. Of course, this would be the day when the Metro breaks down on the Red Line, causing my train to stop 3-4 times in between every station and causing me to Freak Out (deliberate dramatic capitalization).
I got off the train at 8:58, ran up all three escalators (and if you know me, you're probably laughing right now) and sprinted on rubbery legs across the street to the hotel. The doorman saw me coming, knew what I was there for (I look like a geek, what can I say?) and gave me specific directions to where the tryouts were. This was good, since there were no signs up for it anywhere. There was a guy right behind me, so I wasn't the last one to get there. We commiserated about the Metro as we speed-walked through the lobby with just barely enough decorum to not get kicked out by security.
Fortunately, they weren't really serious about the no admission after 9 sharp thing. We arrived, were told to grab the stuff we needed (a Jeopardy pen, the test answer form, the pink form where you put five interesting things about yourself that Alex can ask you about, and a flimsy piece of cardboard you're supposed to use as writing backing. I have tortillas in my fridge with more support than that), and went into the room where they had already started the presentation.
The tryouts start with a little informal game where one of the contestant coordinators explains the various types of questions you see on Jeopardy, explains what kind of presence they're looking for, and goes through a sample game board, giving people advice on their voices, etc. Since most of us there have watched the show before (often religiously), I would presume this is to relax everybody and allow time for latecomers like me to arrive. Fortunately, they were aware of the Metro breakdowns, so they allowed a little extra time. Then they showed a little film with Alex Trebek doing Frequently Asked Questions about the tryout process, and by 9:15 we were ready to start the test.
The test is 50 questions. I was hoping for multiple choice, but instead we got a sheet with 50 blank spaces and had to write the answer in. The questions were Jeopardy style, given to us both in voice and on the screen at the front of the room, but thankfully we didn't have to answer in the form of a question. We had 8 seconds to answer each question, and they did not repeat them. The categories ranged from pop culture to world history to Shakespeare to fashion to nature -- a pretty broad spectrum, including one on Bend It Like Beckham, which gave me a giggle. Most of the questions were pretty easy, though I guessed on two, and on a couple more I had no earthly clue.
We passed our tests up and then got a break while they went outside to grade them. I filled out the pink sheet as best I could (I'm so boring -- most of my interesting activities can't be talked about on national television), then sat and worked on the critical scene in my TPM story in my notebook, which I'd been too nervous to do on the Metro. Finally, they came back in, told us that win or lose, we could keep the pens (which I was way too happy about), gave hats away to a couple of randomly drawn people, and then read the names of the people that passed the written test.
To give you an idea of the numbers involved, there were about 50 people in the room. Out of those 50, 8 of us passed the test. They told us later that that was a pretty good percentage. They're doing 11 tryout sessions in DC this week, then 2 in Norfolk. Over the year, they put several hundred people into their active file to call for the show, and of those people, about 400 get to compete on TV every season.
So yes, I was one of the lucky few who passed the written test. My name was the second read (the guy stumbled over it, as everyone does), so I wasn't in suspense for too long. When they read everyone, the people who didn't pass got to leave -- including my tardiness buddy, who was sweet and congratulated me as he left.
Then it was the last 8 of us -- five women and three men. The CCs joked that they never managed to get groups divisible by three, which would make their lives easier, and which became significant to me in a few minutes. They gave us new yellow sheets to get all our personal contact and eligibility info, and while we were filling them out, they took Polaroid snapshots of us to put with our applications. Mine actually came out really well -- I wish I could have a copy of it!
We handed in all our papers and photos, then they explained a little more about how the selection process works. This was the audition portion of the process, the part I was dreading, to test for our camera presence, our personalities, our ability to answer in the form of a question and buzz in properly. Basically, will we be good TV? At this point, I was high enough on adrenaline that I didn't feel too shy, so I plastered on a big smile and did my best. The CCs were very jovial and did a good job of making us chill and have a good time.
In groups of three, we went up in front of the CCs and played a mock round of Jeopardy. We had real buzzers, which were attached to their computers so that they could see how and when we rang in. One of them was watching that, one was watching our images on the computer screen, and one was asking our questions and controlling the board. We played for a while, then had to introduce ourselves like we would on the show. That was the worst part for me, but I think I did okay.
I was in the second group of three, and the first one to answer a question -- correctly, thank God. I then answered several more incorrectly, but since they were looking for enthusiasm more than accuracy, that was okay. When my round was done, they told me to stay put so as to fill out the final group, which only had two people. So I played again, made a couple of stupid mistakes, but had a lot of fun. And didn't have to introduce myself again. Whew.
When we were all done, they told us we'd all done a good job, and explained about the rest of the process. Basically, we all go into the big file for a year. They call us a month in advance of the taping date, though getting called and going to LA isn't a guarantee you'll actually get on the show. They keep us in the file for exactly a year, after which they encouraged us to come try out again if we didn't get called. If you get called, you go out to LA on your own dime, though if you have to go home and come back because you're a repeat champion, they'll pay for the second flight. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. *g* They tape on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, long ahead of the airdates. They don't tape on holidays or during the summer. You have to bring two changes of clothes in case you win, because there's actually only a 10- or 15-minute break in between taping each day's show. But only two, because they figure that three days later, no one's going to remember what you were wearing the first day.
And then we left, around 10:45. I chatted with my fellow wannabes as we walked out -- one guy's been trying out for six years, but hasn't been called yet. He said he keeps trying to think of more and more interesting things to make his personality stand out more. We agreed that next time, the pink sheet is going to be just all outrageous lies.
So there it is, more than you ever wanted to know about Jeopardy tryouts. On Thursday, it's
chelseafrew's turn, so send her good contestant vibes!Now I'm off to finally eat something, and then look up the questions I wasn't sure about. *g*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 09:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 09:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 09:55 am (UTC)BILB is Jeopardy material? Heeeh. *is amused*
And go you! ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 10:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 10:27 am (UTC)You have! 8 out of 50 is quite a lot though - you must have tested with a particularly impressive group! I remember the gang I tested with only had 5 people passing, out of slightly over 50... and we were all girls. Or maybe Germans, especially male ones, are less clued-in when it comes to weird quizzy things? :)
That said, they did pay for my travel expenses. Well, a two-way train trip to Cologne. It's such a small country, I tell ya.
As for the change of clothes: do bring them! I remember another rather more obscure quiz show I went on once (yes, that's how I paid my way through university ;) where I ended up being champion something ridiculous like 11 times in a row and had to spend most of the recording day in increasingly ludicrous blouses supplied by the costume department!
Jeopardy was cool though (and pssst - the final answer is 'Angkor Wat' :), especially getting trounced in the second show by a gay movie scriptwriter from Frankfurt whom I'd met at a short film festival a year before.
It's a small world, even on TV... do tell us all about it, right? You will be on, I know it!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 10:39 am (UTC)So proud of/happy for you. *bouncebouncebounce*
-J
no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-15 03:49 pm (UTC)You know, I'd be hard pressed to come up with five interesting things about myself especially since I'd have to leave out that whole "writes graphic homoerotic stories about tv characters" thing.
Congratulations!
Date: 2004-06-15 04:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:03 am (UTC)Sounds like you had a great time! Almost makes me hope I get on myself. *G*
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:08 am (UTC)Re: Congratulations!
Date: 2004-06-18 08:09 am (UTC)