Dopers on Jeopardy! THE List

[commasense]

Spurred by another Jeopardy! thread, I thought I'd create a new one for the purpose on compiling the authoritative list of Dopers who have appeared on the show. Here's my latest version. Please advise of any additions or corrections.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Twickster 1994 3 $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Here's the chronological list:
1967 annieclaus
1974 Colibri
1984 Richardb
1988 jsc1953
1991 Commasense
1994 h. sapiens
1994 Mama Tiger
1994 Twickster
1996 ElvisL1ves
1997 Captain Lance Murdoch
1997 Voyager
1997 Walloon
2000 Mr. Moto
2001 5 time champ
2001 Blanx
2003 The Man Who
2004 AugestWest

We can also use this thread to recount our experiences on the show, answer questions from the teeming thousands, etc. (I had written several paragraphs about my experience, but the frigging hamsters ate them. What the %@&#'s matter with the SD servers in the afternoon? I'll re-write them later.)

[Loach]

Have we met? The names Jennings, Ken Jennings.

[ShibbOleth]

Ok, I'll toss out a couple of questions:

What did you spend the money on?
What did you do between tapings/while waiting to tape?

[commasense]

What did you spend the money on?
I bought a big-screen TV, and paid some bills, I think. (I only won $7,200, and taxes cut it down to about $5,000, IIRC.)
What did you do between tapings/while waiting to tape?Contestants are kept on a tight leash. You are instructed not to talk to anyone in the studio except the contestant coordinators, and they even have to accompany you to the restrooms. Before your show, you are kept with the other waiting contestants in a separate section of the studio audience, watching the folks ahead of you play. If you win, you are rushed off to a restroom to change your clothes. If you lose, you are escorted out of the studio.

[ElvisL1ves]

What did you spend the money on?Didn't get any; although leading after DJ, didn't get FJ question and defending champ did. My fabulous parting gift was big-screen TV, which is still too much a part of my life. BTW, California takes a tax (7%) then off the top of all cash prizes, and one has to pay tax on the value of a non-cash prize before getting it. New York doesn't tax winnings at all on non-residents, making my Millionaire experience much more profitable.

What did you do between tapings/while waiting to tape?Games are (or at least were) taped a week's worth at a time, back to back. A group of 10-12 contestants arrived in a controllable bunch (and you are indeed controlled when in the studio). We all watched tapings of games until called for our own debuts, and afterward were free to go.

[h.sapiens]

What did you spend the money on?


Bought a car (back when I was on, they didn't give you a car for winning 5 games). I also spent some on a few other miscellaneous things. The rest I saved.

[ShibbOleth]

Contestants are kept on a tight leash. You are instructed not to talk to anyone in the studio except the contestant coordinators, and they even have to accompany you to the restrooms. Before your show, you are kept with the other waiting contestants in a separate section of the studio audience, watching the folks ahead of you play. If you win, you are rushed off to a restroom to change your clothes. If you lose, you are escorted out of the studio.

Should I construe this to mean that Ken Jennings has been sequestered for quite some time now, or has the rule since changed?

[ShibbOleth]

Another question (this is a bit more difficult to express, so please bear with me):

How good at you at more difficult trivia? For example, I think most of the questions on Jeopardy are fairly easy. I'd say on a give night I can answer from 75-95% of all questions correctly. But I think some of the trivia tossed out here is quite difficult. Do you do well on SDMB trivia as well? Do you need to know 120% of trivia to get a decent score once you start in on the real thing, with all attendant stress and pressure? Or are the questions pretty much just as easy in real life but it's just tough to buzz in?

I hope that made some sense.

[h.sapiens]

Another question (this is a bit more difficult to express, so please bear with me):

How good at you at more difficult trivia? For example, I think most of the questions on Jeopardy are fairly easy. I'd say on a give night I can answer from 75-95% of all questions correctly. But I think some of the trivia tossed out here is quite difficult. Do you do well on SDMB trivia as well? Do you need to know 120% of trivia to get a decent score once you start in on the real thing, with all attendant stress and pressure? Or are the questions pretty much just as easy in real life but it's just tough to buzz in?

I hope that made some sense.

It's been a while, and as it was happening, everything seem to go so fast that I didn't have time to think about it until afterwards, but although I was nervous, my mind was oddly clear most of the time. Alot of the time it seemed as though I barely had to think, that the answer was right there, ready to come out. Of course there were some questions I just didn't know, as always, and a few I knew, but when I buzzed in my mind became a blank, but for the most part, the answers came as easily as when I play along at home. I think a big part of my success was my unexpected ability with the buzzer. I don't think of myself as a very physically coordinated person, but I had good timing. I'm sure my fellow contestants also knew most of the answers, I just got in ahead of them.

[shadowfax33]

How difficult is it to qualify to be a contestant?

Plus I just want to say: I bow to your superior trivial knowledge. I'm not worthy! :)

[Shoeless]

So, you can watch the games from the audience before your appearance, but if you lose you can't go back to the audience to watch the rest of the week's taping? Wow....

[commasense]

Should I construe this to mean that Ken Jennings has been sequestered for quite some time now, or has the rule since changed? No. You are only controlled while on the lot for the taping, so as to prevent any possibility of collusion with members of the show's staff who are in contact with the "material," the game answers and questions. This is to comply with the Federal laws enacted after the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. The contestant coordinators have no contact with the writers or other production crew members.

They tape five shows on each of two days per week. At the end of each taping day, you go home. Ken has commented on-air about flying between SLC and L.A. for the tapings. (He averages about $33,000 per show, so he's been making about $165,000 per tape day!)

I think most of the questions on Jeopardy are fairly easy. I'd say on a given night I can answer from 75-95% of all questions correctly. I think you'd do well on the show. That was about the average I calculated for myself before I tried out. So give it a shot.

Unfortunately, I think it's become significantly harder to get on, thanks to the increased popularity of this and all game shows. Back in late 1990, they announced during a show that they'd be holding a contestant search in Atlantic City, and if you wanted to try out, call this number. I called, got a busy signal for a while, but eventually got through (I don't think it took more than an hour or so) and was given an appointment time. I was among 100 people given a test, of whom 11 were selected to go to the next stage. (They gave the test to a couple thousand over two or three days in AC.) We played a little mock game, after which they knocked out five or six more. After the last phase (talk about yourself extemporaneously for a minute) they said "Don't call us, we'll call you." A month later they did.

Now it seems much harder. The local contestant searches involve mailing in a postcard, from which pool they select a small fraction (10% or less) just to audition. That number will be weeded down by another 90%. I think they also hold auditions in L.A. periodically, but I don't know how you sign up for them, or what method gives you the best chance to get on these days.

But your chances are still probably better than getting on Millionaire. I tried that damn phone test scores of times, and got past the first stage dozens of times, but never got a call back.
So, you can watch the games from the audience before your appearance, but if you lose you can't go back to the audience to watch the rest of the week's taping? Wow.... You may be allowed to watch the rest. I think I had to leave to catch my plane. Anyone else remember about this point?

[TeaElle]

Now it seems much harder. The local contestant searches involve mailing in a postcard, from which pool they select a small fraction (10% or less) just to audition. That number will be weeded down by another 90%. I think they also hold auditions in L.A. periodically, but I don't know how you sign up for them, or what method gives you the best chance to get on these days.
You can also sign up for local contestant searches on the website. (That's how I got to audition.) But the test does weed folks out in a big way.

The first time I auditioned (1998, I think it was) I was in a group of 150, and 15 of us passed. (In my group, 14 of the 15 were attorneys. The one who wasn't was a teacher at one of the best known prep schools in the U.S.) The second time I took it, earlier this year, was in a batch of 225. Of that group, 18 passed. (A much more diverse group this time around, thankfully.) The first time, we were told that we needed to answer 70% (35 out of 50) of the questions correctly in order to pass, and we reviewed the correct answers after the test. This year, there was much made about "we're not going to tell you how many correct answers are required, just do your best" and there was no review of the answers afterward.

Those who pass the written test are then put through a practice game (now complete with a travelling monitor bank, the infamous yellow lights and signaling buttons just like on the show) where they are vetted for poise, ability to not fidget, voice projection and other game-playing characteristics that would make them a good contestant.

[kelly5078]

So how are y'all at eating Madagascar hissing cockroaches? :D

[middleman]

I was once on COPS!




;)

[commasense]

Okay, here's the gist of the stuff that the hamsters ate.

The main impression I have from my experience on Jeopardy! was how enjoyable it was. My main goal was not to make a total ass of myself on national TV, and I was pleased that I accomplished that. I never expected to become a five-time champ, but winning one show was great. My winning total was almost precisely the average winning amount at the time, so nothing to be ashamed of. (A co-worker told me before I flew out, "James, no matter how you do, we're very proud of you." I was very touched by that comment.)

I was concerned that the other contestants might be unpleasant or try to play mind games with each other, but everyone was very nice, wishing each other well, and being very good sports.

And the contestant coordinators were great! They treated each of us as if we were the most important player they'd ever had, giving no sign that the process might have become routine (much less tedious) for them. The fellow who read the clues in the practice games was very funny, giving ridiculously wrong answers and lightening up what otherwise might have been a tense situation.

I was surprised to find that I wasn't nervous. I got up on the set in the practice game, took in the lights, the button, and everything, and just said to myself, "Okay, I can do this." Some of the other players were visibly nervous, including the returning champ on my first show. He mentioned that his palms were sweaty as we waited to go on.

Everyone wants to know what Alex is like, but the only time you spend with him is during the on-camera interview, and at the end of the show when you're all standing around while the credits roll. Not much time to get to know him. But during the show, he maintains an eye contact with the players that I found unexpectedly reassuring, You never see it from home, but on the set, he's really with you. (Did any other players notice that?)

My one little Alex story: at the time, I worked at the Smithsonian Institution, and at the end of my second (and last) show, as Alex was stepping off the set, I handed him a lapel pin with the SI logo on it. He asked, "Will this get me in for free?" I was a little taken aback, and when I said, "No," he walked off before I could add, "Everyone gets in for free."

[commasense]

So how are y'all at eating Madagascar hissing cockroaches? :D Oddly enough, they don't ask you to do that in the test.

My favorite stories from the test:

The test (at least back when I did it in 1990) is hard. Most regular Jeopardy! clues have two pinners, or keys to the right response. E.g. "The Naval Academy is in this Maryland capital." You might know where the Academy is, or you might know that Annapolis is the capital.

But the test clues aren't like that. "This is the capital of Nova Scotia." They played a tape with 50 clues on a big screen, and we had to write down the correct responses (not in the form of a question) on a piece of paper. I was panicking, because I wasn't sure of the right responses to any of the first ten clues! Finally they said, "This is the planet closest to the sun." Whew! One I knew.

After it was all done, and they were "grading" the tests, we were all standing around comparing note about the questions, trying to figure out which ones we had gotten right. Someone said, "If that's the Jeopardy! test, what do you suppose the Wheel of Fortune test is like?" To which some wag replied,

"It's the same test. But if you fail, you get to be on Wheel!"

When they announced the people who would stay for the next phase (mine was the last name they called), they told everyone else, "When you go home, you can tell all your friends that you missed it by one."

[Walloon]

So, you can watch the games from the audience before your appearance, but if you lose you can't go back to the audience to watch the rest of the week's taping?I think you can sit in the audience. But I'm not sure!

If you really want to get on Jeopardy!, don't rely on the contestant searches. Get yourself out to Los Angeles, and take the contestant test (http://www.jeopardy.com/contestant_faqs.pjw?cat=contestant) at Sony Pictures Studios. The tests are given throughout the year, and a schedule is posted one month in advance.

But even if you pass the written test, and do well on the mock game that immediately follows, there is no guarantee that you will be on the show. Your name goes into a contestant pool that has about four times as many names as there are contestant slots for that season. (They like to be able to get a balance of gender, geography, and occupation.)

[whiterabbit]

One small thing -- Mama Tiger may technically have come in third, but got the second-place prize because the other two tied for first; the champion retired, and the other guy went on to the next show. She may have actually come in second, but neither of us are sure. I was there, so I remember it all pretty well.

[Tracy Lord]

You may be allowed to watch the rest. I think I had to leave to catch my plane. Anyone else remember about this point?

When I was on (Teen Jeopardy, but still) they sequestered us in the green room before we were on. After we'd taped, we could go out into the audience and watch the rest of the games.

They gave us awful movies to watch, too -- Tomb Raider II and Three to Tango. Apparently the writers had pre-screened the films to make sure that there weren't any clues to the day's questions in the movies ("ANSWER: Known as a Royale with cheese in France").

[jackelope]

(To preface this story, I'll cut to the chase: I was NOT a contestant on Jeopardy!.)

They had tryouts here in Memphis about a year and a half ago. I and a few thousand other folks showed up downtown one morning to try out. You were given a sheet with 10 questions on it and a Jeopardy! pen. You sat down at a very crowded table and answered as best you could, and then just sort of made eye contact with someone working there, who would come over and grade your exam right there. Some people were given a signed sheet of paper and asked to come back the next day, and some were thanked, sent on their way, and told they could keep the pen.

Searching back through my e-mails from the time, here are the seven questions I was able to remember (answers at bottom in a spoiler box):

1. Of what country is Santiago the capital?
2. What writer created the detective Sam Spade?
3. On what peninsula are Romania and Bulgaria?
4. What salad is made with grapes, apples, walnuts, and mayonnaise?
5. What Francis Ford Coppola film was based in part on Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"?
6. What 19th-century president had the middle name "Birchard"?
7. The star Betelgeuse is the second-brightest in what "hunter" constellation?

I got nine right (missed #6 above because I didn't think of the middle initial "B") and was asked to come back the next day. Interestingly, a male friend of mine got eight questions right and was NOT asked back, while a female friend of mine also got eight right and WAS asked back. I suppose one must bear in mind that they're casting a TV show, not looking for the most perfect group of quizzers.

Anyhoo, when I came back the following day, there were maybe 120 people who had passed the first day. We were given answer sheets with 50 blanks, and a recording of Johnny Gilbert reading 50 fairly difficult questions in rapid succession was played for us; there was one question every eight seconds as I recall, and we wrote down the answers as best we could.

The answer sheets were taken out of the room, and while they were graded we all just sort of sat around for a while. They came back in fairly quickly and read the names of those of us who had gotten above some threshhold--for some reason I'm thinking it was 37 out of 50. I was in the group who got to stay.

Those of us who'd passed stuck around, and the others left. We did the mock-Jeopardy! thing with buzzers and so on, and our pictures were taken and we gave our names and contact info, etc. I bragged to my friends for a couple days, then forgot all about it.

About six months later, Jeopardy! called; it was October 10, 2003, and they wanted me to fly out and be on the show on November 10, one month later. Unfortunately, I had to be on a business trip that week and couldn't do it. The guy expressed his regret and said they'd probably call me back, but they never did.

Damn, I'm bitter about that stupid business trip.

Answers to the questions above:

1. Chile
2. Dashiell Hammett
3. The Crimean
4. Waldorf Salad
5. "Apocalypse Now"
6. Rutherford B. Hayes
7. Orion

[BraheSilver]

I tried out for Jeopardy! last week (didn't make it :( ) They only took four out of the almost seventy people who applied, and they said that was a high number.

The questions are more show-like than commasense's experience; for example: "The name for this star closet to the sun contains the first letter of the Greek alphabet."

And that joke about missing it by one is still around.

[commasense]

Tracy Lord: I need your details for the list. When did you play, and how did you do? Thanks.

[Tracy Lord]

I taped in December 2003, and the shows aired in February 2004.

I technically lost both the games I played, alas. Because it was a tournament set-up, I moved on to the next round as one of the "wild cards" (having been the 3rd highest scorer out of the 15 contestants). I lost rather more spectacularly in the second game. Total winnings were 14,999.

Does that help? :)

[commasense]

Thanks. By winnings you mean your final score, right? How much did they actually pay out? And what was your best finishing position? Second? Third? (Just trying to fill out the table.)

And congratulations!

[Tracy Lord]

Well, in the tournament set-up, they don't total all of the scores together. In my first game, I finished with 14,999, and in my second I finished with 0. The payout was $5,000, which was because I'd made it to the second round. Everyone who made it to the second round was paid the same amount, except for the finalists, who were paid more.

My best finishing position was 2nd place, in the first game; overall, I finished 5th out of 15.

*grin* And thank you!

[threeorange]

Searching back through my e-mails from the time, here are the seven questions I was able to remember (answers at bottom in a spoiler box):

1. Of what country is Santiago the capital?
2. What writer created the detective Sam Spade?
3. On what peninsula are Romania and Bulgaria?
4. What salad is made with grapes, apples, walnuts, and mayonnaise?
5. What Francis Ford Coppola film was based in part on Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"?
6. What 19th-century president had the middle name "Birchard"?
7. The star Betelgeuse is the second-brightest in what "hunter" constellation?


Answers to the questions above:

1. Chile
2. Dashiell Hammett
3. The Crimean
4. Waldorf Salad
5. "Apocalypse Now"
6. Rutherford B. Hayes
7. Orion

I apologize in advance for a nitpick that has nothing to do with the subject of this thread, but the answer in the spoiler box for question number 3 is incorrect.

[twickster]

The questions about mechanics have been pretty well answered. I spent my winning on taxes (sigh), paying bills, throwing some money in IRAs, and getting the roof recoated and the brick repointed on my house. The big splurge was $5K on landscaping my side yard, a long narrow space -- we put in a new fence and steps at the front, a long flagstone walkway, and new steps to the back, and planted a couple of smallish trees/biggish bushes (crape myrtle, witch hazel, oak-leaf hygrangea, hibiscus, buddleia). Most of the other planting I've done myself.

[ShibbOleth]

I apologize in advance for a nitpick that has nothing to do with the subject of this thread, but the answer in the spoiler box for question number 3 is incorrect.

Yes, if I understand correctly,

The answer should be the Balkan Peninsula. The Crimean Peninsula is part of Ukraine..

[Voyager]

I think you can sit in the audience. But I'm not sure!

If you really want to get on Jeopardy!, don't rely on the contestant searches. Get yourself out to Los Angeles, and take the contestant test (http://www.jeopardy.com/contestant_faqs.pjw?cat=contestant) at Sony Pictures Studios. The tests are given throughout the year, and a schedule is posted one month in advance.

But even if you pass the written test, and do well on the mock game that immediately follows, there is no guarantee that you will be on the show. Your name goes into a contestant pool that has about four times as many names as there are contestant slots for that season. (They like to be able to get a balance of gender, geography, and occupation.)

I agree that this is the way to do it. We switched homes with a friend of ours in LA, so it was low stress. They seem to have an assortment of close by people and far away people in each taping - the far people get on first, so that if they don't use anyone, the close people aren't out as much. (Bay Area counts as close.)

Contestants get to sit in the audience during tapings before we go on, in a special section (to the left), and then in the regular audience after. I split. The one time you mix with people is when you go to the Sony Commissary for lunch, but an AD is there to make sure you don't get hints from the cafeteria ladies. :)

I think they screen you for TV suitability after the quiz - one guy complained that he passed several times, but never got on. How long did it take people to get on. I aced the quiz (I doubt if I got more than three wrong) and I got on the second week of taping for the season. I wonder if there is a correlation.

Oh - and did your show get repeated? Mine did, but it turned out fairly dramatic.

[Mama Tiger]

What did you spend the money on?
What did you do between tapings/while waiting to tape?

I didn't win money; back when I was on, 2nd and 3rd place contestants won prizes. In my game, Amy Fine (still all-time third-highest female money winner, I believe -- she kicked ass) was slightly behind and it was her fifth day, but David, the guy who was actually leading, had the presence of mind to deliberately bet enough to only tie Amy for the win; therefore, she could retire as a five-day champion with the $$, he could return as champion with the $$, and I got the trip to Ireland instead of a silver service.

And I went to Ireland a few months later and had an absolutely wonderful time.

While waiting to tape, the contestants for that day sat in the audience as a group and tried really hard not to think about going up against Amy. I can only imagine what people going up against Ken now must be feeling like.

Between tapings, we'd go outside (this was on the old lot in Hollywood, before they moved to the Sony lot in Culver City) or back to the contestant room. In fact, at one point we were outside and Charles Barkley was filming a commercial not 50 feet from us, but nobody was allowed to even get his autograph -- unless we wanted to immediately not be contestants any more, of course.

My memories of the actual show? Unbelievably, incredibly fun. Very highly focused fun. About the fastest half-hour of my life. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I could!

[Maastricht]

Wow, all these stories make me look forward to my upcoming experience in the Dutch version of Jeopardy, sometime this year.
It's a show called Per Seconde Wijzer (every second wiser) and you have to answer trivia questions against the clock, not against other contestants.

I auditioned for it this year and got in. The test was to answer about 200 questions and I got about 120 right, which seemed good enough. Of the 60 people in the room, about 15 made it through. The second part of the audition was a talk with the talkshow host to see if you won't freeze up and go "uh" when he makes small talk with you. Apparently I passed that test, but it probably was a big help that I'm a woman, because so few women apply for these shows.

I haven't been up yet, (they told me I might be up sometime this year) but the experience so far was fun, already. Many of the contestants have these quiz-shows as a hobby, so they could tell me all these backstagestories. One particularly nice guy told these cool stories about how he had been on the Dutch version of "survivor" (two teams competing on a deserted island).

I don't expect to make much money out if it, though. If I'd win two rounds, I would have won maybe 1500 euro's (so about 1500 dollars). The chance I'll end up with a horrible statuette is much, much bigger. :D

I'll keep you guys updated when my Big Day comes.

[commasense]

Contestants get to sit in the audience during tapings before we go on, in a special section (to the left), and then in the regular audience after. I split. The one time you mix with people is when you go to the Sony Commissary for lunch, but an AD is there to make sure you don't get hints from the cafeteria ladies. Interesting. Back in 1991 at the old studio, a craft service area was set up for the contestants and crew in a garage adjacent to the set. IIRC, Alex did not eat there.

BTW, I'd like the following details to fill out the table:

annieclaus: How much did you win altogether?
Captain Lance: How much did you win and in what place did you end on your third show?
Colibri: All your details, please.
richardb: Same.
The Man: In what place did you end on your second show?
Twickster: In what place did you end on your fourth show?

(Anal retentive? Me? Why do you say that?)

[Mama Tiger]

Interesting. Back in 1991 at the old studio, a craft service area was set up for the contestants and crew in a garage adjacent to the set. IIRC, Alex did not eat there.

Wow. You know, I think this is literally the first time in the ten years since I was a contestant that I remembered the craft service area. And the food was pretty good, plentiful if uninspired. I had a chicken breast, as I recall.

But definitely no Alex. We were specifically told, as I recall, that he wasn't allowed to talk to contestants until after we were actually on stage for the official taping.

[twickster]

[QUOTE=commasense]Twickster: In what place did you end on your fourth show?
[QUOTE]

Second.

[Governor Quinn]

Colibri- By any chance, would you have video or audio tape of your apperance(s)?

[Burrido]

Are you given the subjects of the questions ahead of time so you can study up for them? For exampel, questions will be based on Cars, Laxatives, and Medieval Torture devices?

[twickster]

No, not at all -- thus the challenge of the game, there's no way in hell you can study for it in advance. The one thing I did both before the try-out and then (my short-term memory being what it is) again before competing, was memorize state capitals, which often seem to come up in one form or another. I don't recall them doing me any good on the show, but this is a long freakin' time ago.

Beyond that -- what on earth can you memorize with any kind of guarantee that the information will come up? Which list do you choose to learn: Best Picture Oscars, Popes, or English monarchs?

[Mama Tiger]

I reviewed US, Canadian, and Australian state and provincial capitals, world capitals, and at a very superficial level opera, mythology, the Oscars, and U.S. presidents.

For me, the best part about the cramming was that it kept me doing something instead of sitting around obsessing. Which was a far greater help than any facts I picked up. Although I ended up, as luck would have it, with a mythology category and was able to get two answers as a result of my cramming. So clearly, you never know!

[Walloon]

The closest Jeopardy! comes to category tipping is on the celebrity shows, when it is obvious that certain categories were inserted to cater to the celebrities' strengths. Doesn't always work, though! Reggie White of the Green Pay Backers is a lay minister, but he did terribly in a Bible category.

[Walloon]

Bay Packers, of course

[Chronos]

The closest Jeopardy! comes to category tipping is on the celebrity shows, when it is obvious that certain categories were inserted to cater to the celebrities' strengths. Doesn't always work, though! Reggie White of the Green Pay Backers is a lay minister, but he did terribly in a Bible category.I remember a show once which had Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf up against a Babewatch girl and some other fluff celebrity. He dominated the game, but one of the few he missed was "Who was Douglas MacArthur?" (I don't remember the answer leading to that).

[Voyager]

Wow. You know, I think this is literally the first time in the ten years since I was a contestant that I remembered the craft service area. And the food was pretty good, plentiful if uninspired. I had a chicken breast, as I recall.

But definitely no Alex. We were specifically told, as I recall, that he wasn't allowed to talk to contestants until after we were actually on stage for the official taping.

No craft services. Fine with me, since I've been to enough craft services when my daughter was acting. The cafeteria was more interesting.

[Voyager]

I reviewed US, Canadian, and Australian state and provincial capitals, world capitals, and at a very superficial level opera, mythology, the Oscars, and U.S. presidents.

For me, the best part about the cramming was that it kept me doing something instead of sitting around obsessing. Which was a far greater help than any facts I picked up. Although I ended up, as luck would have it, with a mythology category and was able to get two answers as a result of my cramming. So clearly, you never know!

I crammed, but it was useless, because I went on just when they switched to cute questions from fact questions. You never know what is going to help. My only Daily Double (and the only one anyone got) was in the category of Famous Fred, and consisted of them playing the "I' m Too Sexy" song. I got it (the singer is Right Said Fred) but only because it was the music to a dance in a play my daughter was in, and we went to five stores to find the single. I earned Jep cred from being an old geezer who knew that answer. :) It also helped that the returning champ was named Fred - and I creamed him in this category (if no other.)

[Mama Tiger]

I crammed, but it was useless, because I went on just when they switched to cute questions from fact questions.

The questions really have changed, haven't they? These days it seems like it's 90% pop culture, cutesy word play, etc. I had categories like Art, Mythology, Sewing. I wouldn't even pass the test today, I don't think.

[commasense]

You're given no hint to the clues, so all you can do, as others have suggested, is study a few obvious subjects. I tried to memorize the order of the presidents, state and national capitals, etc. Didn't really pay off for me.

While you watch the games ahead of you, as the new categories come up you're saying, "Oh, I wish I could have gotten that one!"

As it happened, there were 12 of us the first day I taped, and I wasn't selected for any of the shows taped that day. So I came back the second day, with a slight advantage of having been through the whole orientation process before. Although I hadn't played, I had a slight "been there, done that" attitude that may have given me a slight edge over the other players.

Another little thing I remember: just before we came back for Final Jeopardy, the contestant coordinator said, "If you don't know the answer, go for funny."

[h.sapiens]

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I practiced for the buzzer using a clicky ballpoint pen while watching at home before I went on the show (I'm pretty sure the contestant coordinators suggested this at the audition).

[twickster]

I don't think that's embarrassing at all, h.sapiens -- I was still a smoker at that point, so I used my lighter, upside-down. That is, in fact, the #1 piece of advice I've given to people I know who have made it on: Practice standing up in your living room with something in your hand to act like the buzzer.

[commasense]

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I practiced for the buzzer using a clicky ballpoint pen while watching at home before I went on the show.I did that too, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

What I do regret, though, is that I didn't adapt my "buzzing" style to the challenge of a new player on my second day. I had realized that holding the button with your forearm at a 90-degree-angle from your body could lead to larger arm movements (like banging a gavel) that that could actually lengthen your reaction time. So I held my hands crossed below the desk level. This worked well in the first show, but in the second the eventual winner was consistently getting in before me. I had fewer wrong answers on the second show than the first, and if I had tried a different style with the button, I might have done better.

[commasense]

The latest updated list:
Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Eighteen dopers, ranging over a period of 37 years! And I'm looking forward to adding more soon. (Go, TeaElle!)

I'm still looking for any additions or updates, including those I asked for in post #33. (Capt. Lance, Colibri, richardb?)

Thanks.

[commasense]

The latest updated list:
Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Eighteen dopers, ranging over a period of 37 years! And I'm looking forward to adding more soon. (Go TeaElle!)

I'm still looking for any additions or updates, including those I asked for in post #33. (Capt. Lance, Colibri, richardb?)

Thanks.

[Hooleehootoo]

I was on an episode that aired in July 1999. I got 3rd place.

[mouthbreather]

I got waxed in the tryouts in Atlanta in 1999. The group of 75 was cut down to 6 in about 30 minutes, and I did not make the cut. I used to curse at the TV at how stupid some of the people on Jeopardy are, I don't do that anymore because they all passed a test that I could not. :smack:

[jsc1953]

Not much to add, but I will anyway:

I tried out in person, combining it with a trip to Disneyland. I got the call to appear on the show about 9 months later, with 2 days notice... "can you be here on Monday?". Not much time to cram, and I didn't bother.

At the start of the show, Alex announced that they were featuring contestants who had scored particularly well on the test, so apparently they do some sort of matching of test scores. I was leading after the first round (Alex said I was "impressive"), but then inexplicably felt like I could coast to the finish line. Bet it all on FJ, and lost, to the defending champion, who went on to win (IIRC) 4 games.

My lovely parting gift was a stove. I lived in an apartment. :smack: so I donated it to charity.

And I sat in the audience and watched the next taping.

About 6 mos later my ex-girlfriend was on the show, and won.

[richardb]

I posted a much longer account of my experience on the " Ken Jennings and Jeopardy!" thread because I ran across it first (I am catching up after not visiting these boards for a few months now):

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=284794

It should be the last post on the second page. If you are really interested in Jeopardy trivia about the beginnings of the show (at least, the Alex Trebeck era show), then it might be interesting reading.

I think I came in third (it might have been second, I'm really not 100% sure after 20 years, and I'm not motivated enough to dig up the VCR tape to check), losing to the very first 5-time champion on this version of Jeopardy!. No one except the winner kept any money, and in those first weeks of the shows tapings, the second and third place prizes were kind of sucky. I think I won paint or carpeting or something, and never bothered claiming the prizes.

[Mr. Moto]

Nothing to add I haven't before, except to relate again that I won, as a consolation prize, a week's vacation at the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico.

Nearly a year after the air date, Mrs. Moto and I used the trip as our honeymoon. :D

[commasense]

TeaElle: Have you taped yet? Air date? Any news?

[Alessan]

Do foreign versions of Jeopardy count?

[Mr. Moto]

Yeah, let us know.

For that matter, I think we should compile a game show list. Has anyone here been on the Price is Right?

[Alessan]

Well, back in 1999 my wife and I were on a special, one-time Couples Tounament of the Israeli version of Jeopardy (identical format, much better host). We went up against two other pairs of newlyweds, answered everything correctly, and won 14,200 shekels.

My wife and I made a great team. Apart, neither of us would have won - the respective gaps in our knowlege were too large. Between the two of us, though, we knew everything. Have you heard of couples "completing" each other? Well, we found a way to make money off it. The only reason the other couples took any money at all was by having better buzzer reflexes.

[TeaElle]

TeaElle: Have you taped yet? Air date? Any news?
I didn't do the show. My daughter was hospitalized the week that I was supposed to tape, and they weren't particularly willing to be flexible about rescheduling me, so I decided that my family was more important.

It would've been fun, but real life is more important.

[Not A Tame Lion]

I'm glad I found this thread, because I was going to post one myself asking a lot of these questions. I'm scheduled to go down to LA next Thursday for my tryout, and I was hoping some folks who've been there before could enlighten me on what to expect. I think a lot of my questions have already been answered, but if there's more advice to give, I'll be happy to hear it. Of course, I'm just going for the preliminary tryout next week--I'm still a long way from being on the show.

Oddly, though, I find most of my questions centering on the actual playing of the game, not the tryout. I think richardb covered the experience quite thoroughly in his post in the other thread, but there are still some points I wonder about. It may be hubris even to ask about such stuff before I've even taken the test, but as I've been watching these last few weeks I've found myself wondering:

Can the contestants see the clues on a monitor, as they are shown to the television audience while Alex is reading them? (I ask because, in watching on TV, I find I usually know the answer from a glance at the text, long before Alex is finished reading it).

How do the contestants keep track of their scores? Are they posted on the opposite wall or someplace where they can look over and see how much they have? Are you looking at just the numbers, or do you see the video feed with yourself up there? (I would find it enormously distracting if I had to look at myself while playing.)

Does it help to click-click-click on the "buzzer" or is it just click it first and that's that. (What happens if you click and hold?)

Like I said, I haven't even tried out yet, so I don't really need to know this stuff (yet, hopefully), but my curiousity has the best of me, and if I find out this stuff before hand, I won't be thinking about it when I go for the test, and then I can concentrate on the matter at hand.

Thanks for encouraging my behavior.

[h.sapiens]

Not a Tame Lion, I'll try to answer some of your questions, although it has been years since I was on, and some things might have changed.

The contestants see the questions on the monitors that make up the big board, so yes, you can read ahead and be ready to buzz in as soon as Alex finishes reading. A little light comes on on the contestant's podium as soon as it is okay to hit the buzzer. Once you successfully buzz in, there is a bar of lights that gradually goes out, giving you an idea of how much time is left to answer (5 seconds? I forget exactly).

The trick is to watch the little indicator light in your peripheral vision, while listening to Alex, and reading the question.

Unless things have changed, most players "bounce" their thumbs on the buzzers a couple of times when buzzing in. The reason is, if you buzz in before Alex is finished reading and the little light comes on, you are locked out for a fraction of a second. Hitting the button a couple of times in rapid succesion gives you another chance if you are a little early, and the other contestants are a little slow. All this is explained by the contestant coordinators when you try out.

There is a display with the contestants totals above the camera that is directly across from the players, next to the board. If you know this, you can tell that when someone hits a daily double, they are consulting the display to figure out their wager. You don't have to look at yourself on a monitor (that would freak me out!).

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[Not A Tame Lion]

Thanks for the reply, h. sapiens. That's good knowledge there. And sound advice on working / juggling the button--indicator light--clue reading. If I ever get on the show, I'll definitely keep that in mind.

I just thought of something else that has tickled my curious bone. Someone said they tape a week's worth of shows in a day, and you change clothes between tapings. Do they make you bring a duffel bag full of your laundry with you for the taping day, so you have enough clothes to cover the whole five/six/whatever number of shows, just in case? They don't outfit you themselves, do they? How does that work?

[h.sapiens]

When I was on, they asked us to bring 3 outfits. If you made it past 3 shows, you repeated one or two outfits. Probably men only need to bring 3 shirts & ties or sweaters, unless they wear a suit.

[MinniePurl]

I'm a Jeopardy! also-ran. I got picked to audition for the College Tournament in 1991. I flew out to LA, and I passed the test, which I thought was fairly easy. (The gave us the same test as the High School Tournament. I remember one of the answers was "Who is Paula Abdul?") I did the mock game with the bells, but they never picked me to be on the show. The did say that I should try out for the regular show, but I never was time to go out to LA again. They don't seem to do many contestant searches in Denver. Sigh.

[commasense]

I didn't do the show. My daughter was hospitalized the week that I was supposed to tape, and they weren't particularly willing to be flexible about rescheduling me, so I decided that my family was more important.

It would've been fun, but real life is more important.Sorry to hear about your daughter. I hope she's okay.

Bummer about the show, though. Good luck next time you try out.

[Not A Tame Lion]

When I was on, they asked us to bring 3 outfits. If you made it past 3 shows, you repeated one or two outfits. Probably men only need to bring 3 shirts & ties or sweaters, unless they wear a suit.

Wearing the same clothes over again? I can do that. :D

[commasense]

Since there's another Jeopardy! thread going on over here, (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363901) I thought I'd update the list:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd

Are there any Dopers not on this list? This is your chance for an additional 15 seconds of fame.

I'm looking forward to adding Reloy3 soon.

[NicePete]

You could update my name. I'm no longer AugestWest, I'm NicePete now.

[commasense]

I think I'll fix the coding, too.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[Hippy Hollow]

commasense, didn't know that you bumped this thread, so disregard my message in the other thread. I was a one-day champ in February 2003, won $16,500 plus the Jeopardy! CD-ROM game (I'm a Mac user, thanks a lot Jeopardy! staff)...

Interesting game. The previous champ was a Harvard student (as am I) which was kind of funny. This came out as our cheering sections started talking smack to each other. (I'm embarassed for them all.) I swept the category "Divas" as well. I felt a little unwell at the end of the show and started to sweat a bit (had to get touched up during the commercial break). At the celebration dinner shortly after the show was finished, I broke out with (violent) food poisoning. The bug exited my body from all possible places for the next three days, one of which I spent on a plane ride from LA to Boston. I think I certainly earned my dosh that day. (Hint - don't eat at the In 'N Out in Inglewood at midnight.)

I also actually had the (dis)pleasure of being flown out the next week on Sony Pictures' dollar - I was the last winner of the day on a Thursday and they were filming the kid's tournament the Friday and Saturday. So I had to come back a week later (rusty on the buzzer). I also couldn't say why I was leaving town to anyone (contractual stuff). Still, given the food poisoning, I might have been completely incapacitated... so I guess it worked out okay. (I came in 2nd on that show, which netted me another $1000.)

[Monstera deliciosa]

I appeared on Jeopardy in 1993. It was the first show of the new season, airing in September. There was no returning champion, as they had retired a five-time champ on the last show of the previous season.

Alas, I came in 2nd. It was a great experience, though.

[Hostile Dialect]

Nothing useful to add except

(a) I would love to go on Jeopardy some day, although I'm sure I'd fail badly due to stage fright

and

(b) Back when I lived in Bowie I took a scenic train through Columbia once. It was gorgeous.

[commasense]

The latest:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd
Back when I lived in Bowie I took a scenic train through Columbia once. It was gorgeous.Huh? Columbia, Maryland? Don't get me wrong: Columbia's a nice place, I just don't think there are any scenic rail paths through Columbia, MD. (Or have I been whooshed?)

[Rodgers01]

I passed the online test a few weeks back, and will be interviewed in late May. This thread is both encouraging and intimidating!!

One thing I kind of wondered about: the e-mail I got made clear that I have to pay my own way to Philadelphia for the audition. Fair enough. But it also said that if I were to be selected for the show, I'd have to pay for my own transportation and accommodation to Los Angeles. Doesn't this mean that for many people, especially those of us on the East Coast, going on Jeopardy could actually cost you significant amounts of money? It would not be cheap for me to fly to LA and spring for a hotel -- not to mention the time I'd miss from work.

Of course, I'll still do it if I'm invited (Jeopardy's about more than money, after all), but I admit it dampened my enthusiasm a tad. Anyone else run into this problem?

[Walloon]

Yes, you will have to pay your own way to Los Angeles. No travel reimbursement, even if you are the champion. Hotel advice if you are pinching your pennies: Don't stay at Merv Griffin's Beverly Hilton.

[sciurophobic]

I was on the 1987 Teen Tournament. I lost in the 2nd round and won $5000.

[Hostile Dialect]

Huh? Columbia, Maryland? Don't get me wrong: Columbia's a nice place, I just don't think there are any scenic rail paths through Columbia, MD. (Or have I been whooshed?)

I..er...thought so.

No, wait, it was Cumberland. Whoops!

Carry on.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

The latest updated list:
Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Eighteen dopers, ranging over a period of 37 years! And I'm looking forward to adding more soon. (Go TeaElle!)

I'm still looking for any additions or updates, including those I asked for in post #33. (Capt. Lance, Colibri, richardb?)

Thanks.

FWIW, my first cousin was the first Tournament of Champions winner ever, in 1986.- Brush with greatness as it was!

[The Chao Goes Mu]

Because of all you Jeopardy! dopers I know look for clues every time I watch that one of the contestants could be a doper.

[want2know]

The latest:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd
Huh? Columbia, Maryland? Don't get me wrong: Columbia's a nice place, I just don't think there are any scenic rail paths through Columbia, MD. (Or have I been whooshed?)
Add me on to your list--Sept. 1989. 0 wins, 3rd place (first going into FJ, booted the question). Lost to Bob Brown (winner of 1991 Super Jeopardy tournament).

[Elza B]

I know spouses probably don't count in the official list, but ElzaHub was a Jeopardy contestant back in 1993 in the teen tournament. Took second place (and won a computer).

E.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

I finished third the last time I was on. Winning twice goes a long way toward taking the sting out of that, however.

[Antinor01]

Well, I live in LA not far from the studios. I have a couch that a jeopardy doper could crash on. :)

[Hippy Hollow]

Yes, you will have to pay your own way to Los Angeles. No travel reimbursement, even if you are the champion.
This is true EXCEPT if this happens: you are a champion on a Thursday before one of the special Jeopardy! tourneys (kids, teen, etc.). If so Sony will fly you out from wherever you are, their treat, for the next eligible date. They did this for me when I was the final champ on the Thursday before the kids' tourney. 'Course I had horrific food poisoning, so I certainly welcomed the time away, but I also lost a sec or so on my buzzer speed. I'm convinced if I had come back the next day I would have done quite well.

In actuality, I was my own worst enemy on day 2. I answered two questions wrong, pronunciation-wise: Senator Joe McCarty instead of McCarthy, and Bosnia-Herzegovinia instead of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Thought the last one was nit-picking, but that's how the cookie crumbles, I suppose...

Spend some time thinking through betting strategy. Day 1, I had done well enough to win without worrying a whole lot, but day 2 I was in second place, felt I would be pretty good on Final Jeopardy!, and bet everything. I should have bet nothing - the guy in first place was nervous and got it wrong, but bet quite a bit to distance himself from me... I would have won easily with no bet or a small one!

[commasense]

With the apppearance this week (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=379012) of our latest Doper, Labdad, I'm happy to update the list:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
Labdad 2006 0 2nd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd Welcome to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world!

[Rodgers01]

Would any of the members of the list possibly be willing to find the game they appeared on on j-archive.com and provide a link (if it's available)? That might be of interest.

[commasense]

I had never heard of j-archive.com until last night. My 1991 games are not listed. I have the shows on videotape and could easily add the details to the site, but after searching for quite some time I couldn't find any way to add a show to the archive. You can correct individual clues in an existing show, but I didn't see how to add a complete show.

Can anyone more familiar with the site help me with that?

[Mama Tiger]

The guy who runs the archives, Robert, is who you contact to send a tape of your show to. I used to know how to contact him but apparently deleted his email at some point in a fit of stupidity. I'll contact him the Jeopardy forum and come back later with an answer if someone else doesn't beat me to the punch. I need to send him my tape, too.

[commasense]

Would any of the members of the list possibly be willing to find the game they appeared on on j-archive.com and provide a link (if it's available)? That might be of interest.A few months ago, I finally got around to transcribing my two 1991 shows and sent the transcript and a DVD of the shows to the j-archive.com site. I just noticed earlier this week that they're up.

Here's my first game. (http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=1481) (There's no need to see my humiliation in game 2.)

Like Rodgers01, I'd be interested in seeing other Dopers' games.

BTW, I recently read Prisoner of Trebekistan (http://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Trebekistan-Jeopardy-Bob-Harris/dp/0307339564/sr=8-1/qid=1169697854/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3476369-3172001?ie=UTF8&s=books) by former champ Bob Harris, and can highly recommend it. It's a great resource for anyone thinking about going on the show (I really wish I'd had it before I went on), but it's so much more than that. It's actually an interesting work of philosophy as well as a rather touching biography. And it's very funny. I enjoyed it more, on many levels, than most other books I've recently.

I'm also reading Ken Jennings' Brainiac (http://www.amazon.com/Brainiac-Adventures-Curious-Competitive-Compulsive/dp/1400064457/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/002-3476369-3172001), which is fun, but a very different book. It's part history of trivia and part account of Ken's experiences on the show. Not bad at all, but not quite as good as Harris' book, IMHO.

[want2know]

I appeared on the show September of 1989. Led after DJ, but booted the FJ question and finished 3rd. Didn't feel too bad, though; lost to Bob Brown, one of the all-time great Jeopardy champions in the pre-Jennings era.

My 3rd place prize was a desk; didn't even bother claiming it because it wouldn't have fit in the tiny apartment I was living in.

I only wish they'd let you have another chance after, say, 10 or 15 years.

[commasense]

Thanks, want2know. Here's the updated list:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
Labdad 2006 0 2nd
Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
want2know 1989 0 3rd
Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[jsc1953]

My 3rd place prize was a desk; didn't even bother claiming it because it wouldn't have fit in the tiny apartment I was living in.

I only wish they'd let you have another chance after, say, 10 or 15 years.

I won a stove, which (since I rented an apartment) was completely impractical. I was able to donate it to charity, fortunately.

I was so bummed that we're not eligible for the online test. I don't remember anyone saying at the time that we could never come back...

[commasense]

In Ken Jennings' book he mentions recording "Hometown Howdies" for his local affiliate to run before his first appearance. Did anyone else do this?

They didn't do it for me in 1991. Is it something new, or does it depend on the affiliate asking for it? I heard nothing from my local stations (in Baltimore or Washington) when I was on the show, but there are lots of contestants from the DC area, so maybe they don't bother. Maybe it's only smaller towns that make a big deal about a Jeopardy! contestant.

I'm interested to hear how the Hometown Howdies thing works, if anyone knows about it.

[twickster]

In Ken Jennings' book he mentions recording "Hometown Howdies" for his local affiliate to run before his first appearance. Did anyone else do this?


I did it -- AFAIK, they never ran them. They just had us say "Hi, I'm [realname] from Philly, and I'm gonna be on Jeopardy! tonight!" -- a 10-second promo the local channel could run or not. They did one with everyone who competed during the tapings I saw (seven total, including my four games).

[commasense]

Here's the latest update, adding 5-4-fighting.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
5. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
6. Colibri 1974
7. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
8. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
9. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
10. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
11. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
12. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
13. KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
14. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
15. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
16. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
17. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
18. Richardb 1984
19. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
20. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
21. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
22. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
23. want2know 1989 0 3rd
24. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

If you've been on Jeopardy! and aren't on this list, please let me know.

[commasense]

Adding our latest contestant: BethCro.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
11. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
12. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
13. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
14. KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
15. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
16. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
17. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
18. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
19. Richardb 1984
20. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
21. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
22. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
23. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
24. want2know 1989 0 3rd
25. Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Is there anyone I've missed?

[panache45]

Have we met? The names Jennings, Ken Jennings.

The real Ken Jennings would know how to use apostrophes.

[TWDuke]

Two wins, 1995, $30K.

[tumbleddown]

I wasn't a Doper then, but I was on an episode that filmed in December of '04 and aired in the summer of '05 after the big tournament of everyone they could lure back to play against Jennings.

I came in 3rd, alas. All three of us got FJ wrong, but I was the sucker who bet everything but $1. It was such a close game that creative wagering meant that the second place finisher ended up taking home more money from the game than the champ, his final winnings were around $1,300 but second place is a guaranteed $2,000.

Looking at the dates on this therad I'm wondering (and this would be a huge coincidence) if I ended up taking TeaElle's place. I was scheduled then they called me and asked if I could come sooner because they had someone drop out due to a family emergency. It doesn't look like she posts here anymore, but I'd love to find out. It'd be weird if it were.

[commasense]

Two wins, 1995, $30K.
Noted. Thanks.
Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
11. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
12. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
13. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
14. KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
15. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
16. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
17. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
18. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
19. Richardb 1984
20. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
21. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
22. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
23. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
24. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
25. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
26. want2know 1989 0 3rd
27. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[commasense]

The latest list, adding KittenKat, who was on today. Congrats Kat, and welcome to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world: Dopers on Jeopardy!

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
11. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
12. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
13. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
14. KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
19. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
20. Richardb 1984
21. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
22. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
23. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
24. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
25. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
26. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
27. want2know 1989 0 3rd
28. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[pinkfreud]

I was a contestant on Jeopardy! in 2008. I came in second, but had the time of my life.

I don't know whether I count as a Doper, since I'm no longer a paying member.

[commasense]

I was a contestant on Jeopardy! in 2008. I came in second, but had the time of my life.

I don't know whether I count as a Doper, since I'm no longer a paying member.

Anyone who posts here is a Doper in my book, pinkfreud, and you bring our list to 29. Thanks, and belated congratulations.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
11. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
12. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
13. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
14. KayElCee 1993 0 2nd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
19. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
20. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
21. Richardb 1984
22. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
23. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
24. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
25. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
26. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
27. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
28. want2know 1989 0 3rd
29. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[Wesley Clark]

I didn't know Voyager was on jeopardy. Thats pretty cool.

[commasense]

Updating the list for a name change: KayElCee now goes by Monstera deliciosa. Also, I added in KittenKat's final score.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
11. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
12. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
13. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
14. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5998
15. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
16. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
17. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
18. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
19. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
20. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
21. Richardb 1984
22. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
23. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
24. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
25. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
26. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
27. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
28. want2know 1989 0 3rd
29. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[dhkendall]

Also, I added in KittenKat's final score.


Kind of misleading, as KittenKat doesn't get to take home $5,998, but rather only $2,000 (the second place prize), only the champ gets what's on their scoreboard.

[commasense]

Kind of misleading, as KittenKat doesn't get to take home $5,998, but rather only $2,000 (the second place prize), only the champ gets what's on their scoreboard.Doesn't matter. Whenever someone has told me their final score, I've included it.

It was even worse early on, when second and third place only got prizes, not cash. Although I think the value of my 2nd-palce prize, a Bahamas-Disneyworld cruise/vacation for two, was probably worth a lot more than $2,000 in 1991 dollars.

[notfrommensa]

Commonsense, your Jeopardy spreadsheet needs to be updated for GilaB and Seaborgium.

[JpnDude]

I tried out for the Teen Tournament back in 1989. It was a fun experience although I didn't make it past the first round. I got 40 out of 50 questions correct but the cut off was 45!! Anyway, my parents had gone with me to the Golden West Studios (I believe that was the name at the time...home of KTLA-TV) in Los Angeles. During the testing, all other visitors were kept in the studio set next door...where they filmed SOUL TRAIN. I recall my father saying that the iconic neon logo depicting the "soul train" looking a lot smaller than it did on TV. Hehehe.

[Elendil's Heir]

I qualified back in 1991-92 or so but they never called me to appear on the show. :: grumble ::

[GilaB]

The tryout (http://www.jeopardy.com/onlinetests/adult/) is this coming week if you'd like another shot at it.

[commasense]

Updated for GilaB and Seaborgium, although I don't have the latter's winning total. Anyone?

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
11. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
12. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
13. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
14. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
19. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
20. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
21. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
22. Richardb 1984
23. Seaborgium 2009 5 unk unk
24. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
25. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
26. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
27. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
28. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
29. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
30. want2know 1989 0 3rd
31. Voyager 1997 0 2nd Congrats to both of our new Jeopardopers.

[notfrommensa]

Seaborgium won the last 5 games of last season and came in 2nd in the first game of this season:

7/20/2009 16200 winner
7/21/2009 17017 winner
7/22/2009 28801 winner
7/23/2009 20000 winner
7/24/2009 16400 winner
9/14/2009 2000 2nd place
Total $100,418


GilaB won $3$,000 in her win, plus she got $2000 for her second place finish. A total of 5K

[commasense]

Thanks, notfrommensa.

Since second and third place contestants formerly received prizes instead of cash, I haven't been including the cash consolation prizes for those who actually won shows, just their winning game totals. For people who didn't win a game, I list their actual final score.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
11. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
12. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
13. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
14. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
19. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
20. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
21. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
22. Richardb 1984
23. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $98,418
24. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
25. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
26. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
27. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
28. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
29. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
30. want2know 1989 0 3rd
31. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[seaborgium]

The numbers are off for me.

1: $19,917
2: $17,017
3: $28,801
4: $2,735
5: $16,400
6: $13,199 ($2,000 for second place)

For a grand total of $84,870 from my victories. (notfrommensa, it looks like you mixed up some of my final scores with some of my Coryat scores.) I like to point out that if my fourth Final Jeopardy clue had been easier (or, assuming Emily wouldn't have gotten it, just swapped with the one from my fifth game, which I wagered $0 on but got right), my total would have been exactly $125,000.

[Elendil's Heir]

Any horror stories from our Doper winners as to how much Uncle Sam or their respective states took of their winnings in taxes?

[commasense]

Thanks for the correction, Seaborgium.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
11. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
12. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
13. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
14. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
19. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
20. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
21. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
22. Richardb 1984
23. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870
24. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
25. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
26. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
27. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
28. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
29. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
30. want2know 1989 0 3rd
31. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

Elendil's Heir: No horror stories. The worst thing for me was that I had to file and pay taxes to California, but I was able to deduct, or get a credit for (I forget which), that amount from my Maryland tax. And there was a minor hassle persuading Maryland about the value of my second-place prize for tax purposes. The nominal value included airfare to Florida from California, whereas I flew from Maryland, which was cheaper. A letter from the show straightened it out.

But I actually came out ahead, because I won one show and paid almost nothing for the trip: a friend let me use his frequent flier miles for my airplane ticket, and I stayed with friends in L.A., not in a hotel. But it seems to me that people who have to pay all their travel expenses and don't win could actually lose money by appearing on the show. Even more so in the days when you didn't get cash for second or third place, but received non-fungible gifts on which you had to pay taxes.

[5 time champ]

Any horror stories from our Doper winners as to how much Uncle Sam or their respective states took of their winnings in taxes?

California withholds- I think it was 6%- of the check. I got most of it refunded, however. My California cousin was whining about CA high taxes- I said" Yeah, tell me about it.

Paying Federal Income Tax on my winnings was pretty tough, I had more than three times the income but paid close to ten times the income tax. Was almost enough to make me want to become a Repubican :eek:

[5 time champ]

@ CommaSense while you are updating, you could add my Notes won 2002 Chevy Tahoe also. :)

[notfrommensa]

The numbers are off for me.

1: $19,917
2: $17,017
3: $28,801
4: $2,735
5: $16,400
6: $13,199 ($2,000 for second place)

For a grand total of $84,870 from my victories. (notfrommensa, it looks like you mixed up some of my final scores with some of my Coryat scores.) I like to point out that if my fourth Final Jeopardy clue had been easier (or, assuming Emily wouldn't have gotten it, just swapped with the one from my fifth game, which I wagered $0 on but got right), my total would have been exactly $125,000.


I apologize Seaborgium, I got your win totals from J!Archive. I either read it wrong, or they were wrong. Sorry for my mistake.

[Blut Aus Nord]

Are there any videos of any of these episodes?

[GilaB]

No official videos - Jeopardy doesn't post.

[seaborgium]

I apologize Seaborgium, I got your win totals from J!Archive. I either read it wrong, or they were wrong. Sorry for my mistake.

You read it wrong. :)

[Sigmagirl]

Stefan (seaborgium) is playing in the Tournament of Champions. His appearance (I hope the first of several) is Friday, May 14.

[GilaB]

Wow! I hope it went well.

[Wile E]

Go Stefan! He just talked about all the names he's been called on the Internet, but he didn't mention being called Spicoli.

[Wile E]

And he gets one of the Wild Card spots in the semi-finals!

[notfrommensa]

And he made it to the finals, alas coming in 3rd place. winning an additional $50K

And never answered a Final Question correctly.

[Serenata67]

Spurred by another Jeopardy! thread, I thought I'd create a new one for the purpose on compiling the authoritative list of Dopers who have appeared on the show. Here's my latest version. Please advise of any additions or corrections.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
AugestWest 2004 1 2nd $31,100
Blanx 2001 0 2nd
Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
Colibri 1974
Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
Mama Tiger 1994 3rd lost to a five-time champ
Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
Richardb 1984
The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
Twickster 1994 3 $46,000
Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
Voyager 1997 0 2nd


Here's the chronological list:
1967 annieclaus
1974 Colibri
1984 Richardb
1988 jsc1953
1991 Commasense
1994 h. sapiens
1994 Mama Tiger
1994 Twickster
1996 ElvisL1ves
1997 Captain Lance Murdoch
1997 Voyager
1997 Walloon
2000 Mr. Moto
2001 5 time champ
2001 Blanx
2003 The Man Who
2004 AugestWest

We can also use this thread to recount our experiences on the show, answer questions from the teeming thousands, etc. (I had written several paragraphs about my experience, but the frigging hamsters ate them. What the %@&#'s matter with the SD servers in the afternoon? I'll re-write them later.)

I was on the College Tournament, 2004. I was out after the first round (got FJ wrong), so I won $5000.00.

[Serenata67]

I was on the College Tournament, 2004. I was out after the first round (got FJ wrong), so I won $5000.00.

I was second place in my particular game.

[commasense]

Unfortunately, I only caught one of Seaborgium's games. Has he finished, or is he still going? If someone can tell me his final status, I'll update THE List (and add Serenata67 at the same time). Thanks.

[ministryman]

And he made it to the finals, alas coming in 3rd place. winning an additional $50K

And never answered a Final Question correctly.

Was he the guy who answered "Whiffenpoof Cheese" in FJ when the correct answer was Leidenkranz?

[Gray Ghost]

Congratuations to Seaborgium! 3rd place at the ToC is fantastic.

I was on the regular Jeopardy in 1994. Had a hard time figuring out the buzzer, doubled through on a daily double, and the final jeopardy answer, but still finished 2nd with $13,000. Taped the Wed the week before the Northridge earthquake. Had I won, I would've had to have come back the next week, just in time to experience the quake... Think the episode aired in June; my Mom made a tape of the episode, not sure where it went.

Crazy, the number of Dopers who've been on the show.

[notfrommensa]

Was he the guy who answered "Whiffenpoof Cheese" in FJ when the correct answer was Leidenkranz?

Yes, here is the summary (http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3109) of the show.

And to commasense, seaborgium came in third in the TOC. And won 50K.

[commasense]

The latest List:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
11. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
12. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
13. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
14. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
15. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
16. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
17. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
18. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
19. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
20. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
21. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
22. Richardb 1984
23. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870 plus 3rd place in TOC, $50,000
24. Serenata67 2004 0 2nd $5,000 College Tournament
25. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
26. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
27. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
28. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
29. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
30. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
31. want2know 1989 0 3rd
32. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[Fretful Porpentine]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

[Czarcasm]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)How's about a visual clue?

[Mahaloth]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

Which podium?

[MTCicero]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

No offense, truly, but please don't tell me you're taking away my eye candy from the past few nights! IOW, I'm in serious like with Alison Stone Roberg. Plus, she gets bonus points for ridding me of having to endure the grating facial expressions of John Krizel.

[Fretful Porpentine]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

Which podium?

Third podium. I'm the one who babbles rather incoherently about Shakespeare in my interview with Alex :)

[notfrommensa]

Third podium. I'm the one who babbles rather incoherently about Shakespeare in my interview with Alex :)

Watching it now, I didn't know there was 38 plays. Never heard of King John.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Plus, she gets bonus points for ridding me of having to endure the grating facial expressions of John Krizel.

Heh, yeah I'm not sure what was going on there, but he kept doing this weird smug smile/eye rolling thing that got on my nerves.

[Czarcasm]

It hasn't been shown in all areas yet, folks. I don't get to see it until 7pm pst.

[notfrommensa]

Czarcasm, I posted no spoilers about Jeopardy answers/questions, just her interview with Alex, which I do not think is a spoiler.

The show is over here.

Congratulations to Fretful Porpentine for her impressive win, $27,201. Seaborgium spanned two seasons of Jeopardy, I hope you do, too.

[Czarcasm]

Czarcasm, I posted no spoilers about Jeopardy answers/questions, just her interview with Alex, which I do not think is a spoiler.

The show is over here.

Congratulations to Fretful Porpentine for her impressive win, $27,201. Seaborgium spanned two seasons of Jeopardy, I hope you do, too. I know-I was just posting a reminder to others.

Edited to add: Crap!! Replying to you showed what was in the spoiler.

[Cabbage]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

I hadn't seen this thread, but was watching Jeopardy tonight and I thought I recognized you (I remember meeting you at least once at a Dope get together in Charlotte, maybe another time in Raleigh). Came on here to check that it actually was you.

Congratulations! :)

[Fretful Porpentine]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

I hadn't seen this thread, but was watching Jeopardy tonight and I thought I recognized you (I remember meeting you at least once at a Dope get together in Charlotte, maybe another time in Raleigh). Came on here to check that it actually was you.

Congratulations! :)

Thanks!

[Czarcasm]

You were great!

And not only because I had the same Final Jeopardy guess as you, either. :D

[jsc1953]

Hah! I guessed both countries.

Just curious, FF....what is it about King John that makes it so unlikely that a high school would produce it? (knowing nothing whatsoever about the play)

[Fretful Porpentine]

Hah! I guessed both countries.

Just curious, FF....what is it about King John that makes it so unlikely that a high school would produce it? (knowing nothing whatsoever about the play)

The only problem with King John is that you know nothing whatsoever about it and notfrommensa has never heard of it, and neither has most of the rest of the population. Hence, not much of a draw unless you like very obscure Shakespeare, and while college theater groups sometimes take a chance on that sort of thing, high schools generally don't.

(Well, that and it's pretty weird and episodic and makes no mention whatsoever of the Magna Carta, which is the only thing most modern-day audiences know about King John. Otherwise, it's actually got some very cool bits.)

[GilaB]

Congratulations! You are apparently not afflicted with my horrible reflexes :)

[evilbeth]

I'll be on tonight! Can't post spoilers yet, but y'all should watch :)

I hadn't seen this thread, but was watching Jeopardy tonight and I thought I recognized you (I remember meeting you at least once at a Dope get together in Charlotte, maybe another time in Raleigh). Came on here to check that it actually was you.

Congratulations! :)

Ha! I actually recognized you as well from that same Doper get-together. Way to go! (I actually called my mom to tell her I had met that woman currently on Jeopardy. Yes, most exciting thing that's happened to me this week.)

[MTCicero]

No offense, truly, but please don't tell me you're taking away my eye candy from the past few nights! IOW, I'm in serious like with Alison Stone Roberg.

I must say, with all sincerity, congratulations and good show! You truly played a fantastic game, and you seem like an extremely kind and gracious person.

Again: Well done, and I wish you much continued success.

[MTCicero]

Also: Has anyone ever told you that you remarkably favor a young Joni Mitchell (and that is definitely a compliment)?

Ah, but that makes me sad, as I look like Pruitt Taylor Vince (http://ca.c.yimg.jp/movies/1046185200/img.movies.yahoo.co.jp/pict/wiredimage/16/a3/w442402-view.jpg). Oh, sure, he's a tremendous actor, but, well, look at him.

[Robot Arm]

Hah! I guessed both countries.

Just curious, FF....what is it about King John that makes it so unlikely that a high school would produce it? (knowing nothing whatsoever about the play)

The only problem with King John is that you know nothing whatsoever about it and notfrommensa has never heard of it, and neither has most of the rest of the population. Hence, not much of a draw unless you like very obscure Shakespeare, and while college theater groups sometimes take a chance on that sort of thing, high schools generally don't.I've been to a performance of King John. There used to be a theater troupe in Seattle that did "recontextualizations" of classic plays. (In their Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets and Montagues were rival lesbian softball teams, for example.) Their performances were in the back room of a bar. For King John they divided the audience in half and gave us cocktail toothpicks with British or French flags on them, so we could cheer for our side.

[Zeldar]

Good job! We were pulling for you.

[bibliophage]

I taped it last night before I knew a doper was going to be on. I didn't watch it because through some unknown glitch only the audio got recorded. Now I have to watch it. Or listen to it, rather. I can pretend I'm Eddie Timanus.

[Fretful Porpentine]

Also: Has anyone ever told you that you remarkably favor a young Joni Mitchell (and that is definitely a compliment)?

Ah, but that makes me sad, as I look like Pruitt Taylor Vince (http://ca.c.yimg.jp/movies/1046185200/img.movies.yahoo.co.jp/pict/wiredimage/16/a3/w442402-view.jpg). Oh, sure, he's a tremendous actor, but, well, look at him.

No, I don't believe they have, but thanks!

And, Robot Arm, that sounds awesome :)

[notfrommensa]

I taped it last night before I knew a doper was going to be on. I didn't watch it because through some unknown glitch only the audio got recorded. Now I have to watch it. Or listen to it, rather. I can pretend I'm Eddie Timanus.

Jeopardy! comes on at 4 pm in my area, and the TV station is simulcast on a FM radio station. When I left work at 4 pm, the first 30 minutes of my 45 minute drive home went by very quickly.

[Justin_Bailey]

No offense, truly, but please don't tell me you're taking away my eye candy from the past few nights! IOW, I'm in serious like with Alison Stone Roberg.

I didn't get to watch it, and congratulations for winning, but this.

[commasense]

The latest List, updated for Fretful Porpentine:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Fretful Porpentine 2010 1 2nd 27,201
11. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
12. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
13. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
14. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
15. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
16. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
17. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
18. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
19. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
20. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
21. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
22. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
23. Richardb 1984
24. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870 plus 3rd place in TOC, $50,000
25. Serenata67 2004 0 2nd $5,000 College Tournament
26. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
27. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
28. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
29. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
30. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
31. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
32. want2know 1989 0 3rd
33. Voyager 1997 0 2nd
Well done, FP!

[Fretful Porpentine]

Thanks! I was a third-place finisher today, not a second-place one, though. (Damn that betting strategy! At least it worked once.)

[commasense]

Thanks for the correction, Fretful Porpentine:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Fretful Porpentine 2010 1 3rd 27,201
11. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
12. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
13. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
14. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
15. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
16. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
17. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
18. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
19. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
20. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
21. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
22. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
23. Richardb 1984
24. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870 plus 3rd place in TOC, $50,000
25. Serenata67 2004 0 2nd $5,000 College Tournament
26. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
27. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
28. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
29. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
30. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
31. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
32. want2know 1989 0 3rd
33. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

[MTCicero]

Nooooooo! I wanted you to win (or the woman on the other end)! I certainly did not want the one in the middle to win. Now I have another fairly grating Jeopardy! player to root against.

[Ms Boods]

Thanks! I was a third-place finisher today, not a second-place one, though. (Damn that betting strategy! At least it worked once.)

I haven't got a TV here, so it's rare for me to see any US television, but I spent yesterday evening with my brother -- he said, 'You've got to see the new girl on Jeopardy!'

He was hoping you'd win because he loved your voice -- he's a loud, shouty sort of person, and was really taken with your soft, friendly voice and accent. :) He also liked your betting strategy.

Pretty cool to wake up this morning and come online to see, wow! That's the person we just saw last night!

[Kingspades]

I'm thrilled to share that I was a recent contestant on "Jeopardy!" I played back at the beginning of November and will hit the airwaves the Thursday after Christmas, December 29. I'd be delighted to be added to the list

[MilTan]

I had forgotten about this thread. I was on the show back in February (2/10). I came in second (I maintain mostly because I wasn't able to buzz in fast enough), though I was in the lead relatively late in Double Jeopardy.

[fubbleskag]

I'm thrilled to share that I was a recent contestant on "Jeopardy!" I played back at the beginning of November and will hit the airwaves the Thursday after Christmas, December 29. I'd be delighted to be added to the list

which one are you so we know who to cheer for?

[Kingspades]

which one are you so we know who to cheer for?
My name's Dave, and I'll be standing at the podium on the end wearing a green shirt.

Me, not the podium.

[fubbleskag]

I'm gonna watch it with my inlaws and be all "OMG I KNOW THAT GUY!"

[notfrommensa]

My name's Dave, and I'll be standing at the podium on the end wearing a green shirt.

Me, not the podium.

It would have been totally cool if you were wearing a black shirt with a big "K" on it.

[commasense]

I'll update the list with MilTan and Kingspades' status after we all see on Thursday how Kingspades did. Congrats to you both for joining a very exclusive club.

I hope you enjoyed your experience being on the show.

[notfrommensa]

Bump, to remind everyone of Kingspades appearance today.

[Joey P]

My name's Dave, and I'll be standing at the podium on the end wearing a green shirt.

Me, not the podium.

Based on what's happened for the last 9 days, I guess it's safe to say you'll be on the right end (at least for tonight).

[N9IWP]

Guess I'll put this in a spoiler box:

Good job Kingspades - beating a 8? day day champ!

Brian

[AuntiePam]

Congratulations!

For those of you who watched, did it look like the woman in the center position spelled her answer correctly on Final Jeopardy? Alex said it was spelled incorrectly, but it looked to me like she had it right.

She was doing a lot of talking to Alex at the end. The music was playing so we couldn't hear what she said.

Anyone who knew the answer to that question would have known the correct spelling.

The correct answer was "Larry McMurtry". Alex read it as "Larry McMurty", but I'm sure I saw the second "r".

[sco3tt]

The correct answer was "Larry McMurtry". Alex read it as "Larry McMurty", but I'm sure I saw the second "r".
It was clearly "McMurty". The crossbar of the "t" had a bit of a downturn that could have made it look like an "r" though.

And congrats, Dave!

[Zeldar]

Good man, Dave!

Throughout the afternoon the local channel had promos from Trebek announcing that a "local person" (Paris is 120 miles west of Nashville but in the "viewing area" for TV in the region) was on tonight's show. So I had a hard time pulling for people!

It's good to have a Doper do the job!

[ataraxy22]

Nicely played Dave! The champ you were up against is someone I know from the competitive Scrabble scene.

[Zeldar]

Nicely played Dave! The champ you were up against is someone I know from the competitive Scrabble scene.

Cool! What's your take on the Gandolfini vibe I mentioned?

ETA: Now that I think about it, that may be in the other recent Jeopardy! thread.

[ataraxy22]

Cool! What's your take on the Gandolfini vibe I mentioned?

ETA: Now that I think about it, that may be in the other recent Jeopardy! thread.

I responded in the other thread.

[Invisible Chimp]

Based on how early he mentioned his upcoming appearance, I had a feeling Dave would win. Congratulations on beating a very good champion, Dave!

[Sudden Kestrel]

That was a great game! I was quite impressed with the winner's breadth of knowledge.

[Kingspades]

Thanks so much, everyone! It truly was an honor and a thrill to play, much less win. Jason and Jennifer were very tough competition, not to mention two of the nicest people you could hope to meet.

Jen, in particular, has been so gracious about the way the game ended. She actually has a friend with the last name McMurty (without the R), and under the lights couldn't remember who was the friend and who was the author. I'll be the first to say that I caught the luckiest of breaks; in every other universe that exists, she spells it right and I come home with two grand, some great new friends and some amazing memories.

AuntiePam, at the end of the show we were talking with Alex about Jen's bad luck. She didn't argue the point at all; she knew the R was missing. In fact I think that's when she was telling us about her similarly-named friend.

ataraxy22, as it happens Jason and I had met once before years and years ago. We both played quizbowl in college, and we're pretty sure we ran into one another at a tournament some seven years ago. I thought he looked vaguely familiar in the hotel lobby before we headed to the studio, and when I asked he thought the same of me.

Invisible Chimp, I feel pretty confident I'd have made as big a deal about being on the show no matter what the outcome. It really was a lifelong dream achieved. But it was awfully fun keeping the secret in the meantime :)

Sudden Kestrel, thank you for the kind words. I've often joked that my pool of knowledge is three miles wide and two inches deep. Fortunately Jeopardy! is one of the few places you can put that sort of mind to good use :D

[Invisible Chimp]

Invisible Chimp, I feel pretty confident I'd have made as big a deal about being on the show no matter what the outcome. It really was a lifelong dream achieved. But it was awfully fun keeping the secret in the meantime :)
I know how you feel. I feel honored just being in the contestant pool. I got called to audition in November '10. I would flip out if I got the call to actually be on the show.

[commasense]

Sorry I haven't had time to watch Kingspades' show(s), but if someone will tell me the number of shows he was in, and the total he won (by PM if necessary), I'll update the official list.

[Kingspades]

commasense, I'll be happy to PM you the details once my losing show airs. Thanks again for maintaining the list!

[AuntiePam]

Jen, in particular, has been so gracious about the way the game ended. She actually has a friend with the last name McMurty (without the R), and under the lights couldn't remember who was the friend and who was the author. I'll be the first to say that I caught the luckiest of breaks; in every other universe that exists, she spells it right and I come home with two grand, some great new friends and some amazing memories.


Thanks for the explanation. I hope you continue to do well. You sound like a really nice guy. :)

[Quasimodem]

Did any of you keep a video of your appearances and load them on YouTube?

Thanks and congratulations to all of you!

Quasi

[interface2x]

Kingspades is a man who knows his movie quotes!

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I caught this episode just by chance, and I got the feeling that all contestants were friendly folk. I groaned as soon as I saw McMurty (not knowing a Doper was in the mix). Alex seemed genuinely empathetic toward Jen.

So, way to go Dave! Congrats!

(on a 1-10 scale, how nervous were you?)


mmm

[eunoia]

The questions really have changed, haven't they? These days it seems like it's 90% pop culture, cutesy word play, etc.

Haven't really felt a connection to Straight Dope or Jeopardy! in a long time but tonight's show was still painful to watch, no correct DDs, no correct FJ, many triple-stumpers.

Glad a Doper is cashing in, though it looked more like that other show where happily-married people solve hangman puzzles.

[breezman]

My name's Dave, and I'll be standing at the podium on the end wearing a green shirt.

Did you by chance play college bowl for Oglethorpe University in the early to mid 90s?

[Hippy Hollow]

Damn! Missed it again. With all the holiday hubbub and visits I missed it! I've had the pleasure of hanging out with Kingspades IRL (dating a good friend of mine from college) and he is as good as advertised. :)

BTW, if you thought it would be impossible to lose a bar trivia game with two Jeopardy! Champs on your team, Kingspades and I could prove you wrong. :)

I hope you won again so I can watch tomorrow!

[Joey P]

Good job today Dave, you're kickin' ass.

I was really hoping you'd answer Rio to the Duran Duran question...not that I'd put my money on a inside joke that a small handful of people would get and the rest of the world would have said "WTF??".

ETA as of right now (just winning your 3rd game), you appear to be in 4th place amongst the Dopers.

[N9IWP]

I missed it because the local station that airs Jeopardy! had a hockey game instead.

Brian

[Invisible Chimp]

I just finished watching today's episode. Unfortunately, Joey P's post spoiled the results before I saw it. Remember folks, people live in different time zones and the show airs at different times in different markets. Please use spoiler tags when talking about episodes that have just recently aired.

[Joey P]

I just finished watching today's episode. Unfortunately, Joey P's post spoiled the results before I saw it. Remember folks, people live in different time zones and the show airs at different times in different markets. Please use spoiler tags when talking about episodes that have just recently aired.

Sorry 'bout that. I spoiled myself by accident earlier when I said "Huh, wonder what these spoiler boxes are?" and then proceeded to open them all up not even thinking that the game had already aired on the East coast.

[N9IWP]

Turns out that Kingspades is not only a SDMB member, but also is a gamer who is on boardgamegeek.

So a Jeopardy winner is on two of my most visited websites :cool:

Brian
(also N9IWP on BGG)

[eunoia]

O.K. tonight's tie was pretty awesome. Free money!

[Kingspades]

Sorry I've not popped by in a bit. Thank you all for watching and cheering me on! The number of people who have gotten in touch to let me know they're following has been wonderfully overwhelming. At any rate, I've not forgotten about my Doper family:
Did any of you keep a video of your appearances and load them on YouTube?
I have been recording my shows, and may load them up to YouTube. On the one hand I don't want to get on the wrong side of my new Sony overlords, but on the other hand I certainly enjoy sharing how I did.
Kingspades is a man who knows his movie quotes!
You know, the funny thing is that movies aren't my strong suit. The list of films I've never seen is long and sad.
(on a 1-10 scale, how nervous were you?)
Surprisingly, closer to one. I really expected to be more, but once I was on stage I think I shifted into game mode. When you're playing, all you see around you are the other players and Alex. The audience is somewhere off to your left in darkness, so it's easy to forget they're there. I think that helps when it comes to nervousness.
Did you by chance play college bowl for Oglethorpe University in the early to mid 90s?
Sure did, and poorly at that! PM me if you'd like to reveal the man or woman behind the screen name.
Kingspades IRL (dating a good friend of mine from college) and he is as good as advertised. :)

BTW, if you thought it would be impossible to lose a bar trivia game with two Jeopardy! Champs on your team, Kingspades and I could prove you wrong. :)
Hiya, Hippy! Thanks for the kind words. We'll get 'em next time I'm out your way

[Kingspades]

Turns out that Kingspades is not only a SDMB member, but also is a gamer who is on boardgamegeek.

So a Jeopardy winner is on two of my most visited websites :cool:
Yep! I didn't expect to have the Geek light up when I chatted about Eurogames with Alex - that was a nice surprise.

[Quasimodem]

Wow!

This place is just crawling with celebrities! The "real deal" being so many of you appearing and winning on Jeopardy! That's just totally awesome!

Now, how many of you who appeared on Jeopardy are also members of Mensa, and how many of you not appearing on Jeopardy are Mensa members? If I needed a "selling point" for Dope membership, that would be it right there, man!

Y'all are what I call "august company", ladies and dudes.


Quasi

[Joey P]

The tie had me worried. I was watching with my mom and she looked over and said "Is your guy about to lose" and I replied "assuming they both get the answer right they only way he can stay is if he bets everything and the other guy bets nothing (or however it worked out, I don't remember the details exactly)" I was really surprised to see that happen.

Anyways, good job. I've been having a ball rooting you on. Even if I/we didn't know who you were, you've certainly been one of the more fun contestants.

[gotpasswords]

So, what's so funny about leeches?

[notfrommensa]

One of the things I find distracting about Jeopardy! is the audience (and sometimes the other contestants) clap when the Daily Double is selected.

IMO, it is rather pointless to clap, it is practically inevitable that someone is going to select them.

Is there a big applause sign that signals the audience to clap when they are selected?

[Chanteuse]

So, what's so funny about leeches?

Kingspades' surname is Leach.

Oh, and congrats, Kingspades--I'm still rooting for you!

[Joey P]

Kingspades' surname is Leach.

Oh, and congrats, Kingspades--I'm still rooting for you!

So did Alex just have a brain fart when he asked him about that or was he just trying to get him to say that so all of us at home weren't wondering the same thing?

[Kingspades]

The tie had me worried. I was watching with my mom and she looked over and said "Is your guy about to lose" and I replied "assuming they both get the answer right they only way he can stay is if he bets everything and the other guy bets nothing (or however it worked out, I don't remember the details exactly)" I was really surprised to see that happen.
It's a little less surprising once you're in on it. In that situation, where Nicholas had exactly twice my score and Sally was further back than me, if Nicholas bets zero then he's guaranteed to win the game, pocket twelve grand, and come back to play again the next day. If he so much as bets one dollar he becomes vulnerable: should he miss and I double my score, he comes in second, wins just $2000, and that's his one and only show.

Assuming the leader realizes that they've got a sure thing, there's no way that person risks it. That's precisely why I made the Daily Double bet at the end of Double Jeopardy to set up the situation - it was my best shot at surviving the game and coming back to play again the next day, too.
Anyways, good job. I've been having a ball rooting you on. Even if I/we didn't know who you were, you've certainly been one of the more fun contestants.
Thank you so much! I really was having the time of my life on stage, and I'm delighted that it came through on camera.
One of the things I find distracting about Jeopardy! is the audience (and sometimes the other contestants) clap when the Daily Double is selected.... Is there a big applause sign that signals the audience to clap when they are selected?
Yes, the applause signs light up and someone in the production crew, perhaps the announcer Johnny Gilbert, leads the audience in clapping. I think the main reason they do it is as a production trick. If there has been any concerns about the accuracy of a player's answer, particularly a case where the contestant gave a correct response that was counted wrong, then they stop the tape when a Daily Double is found and finish up that research. That way when the player with the DD makes their wager, they're doing so with correct scores. The applause makes editing the pause out of the game easier, I imagine.
So did Alex just have a brain fart when he asked him about that or was he just trying to get him to say that so all of us at home weren't wondering the same thing?
I really think he did, yes. Alex only references us by last name a couple of times a game, so I think he really did forget that my last name is Leach.

[Sigmagirl]

Now, how many of you who appeared on Jeopardy are also members of Mensa, and how many of you not appearing on Jeopardy are Mensa members? If I needed a "selling point" for Dope membership, that would be it right there, man!
Mensa member here: Taken the test twice and gotten through to the audition once. I'll be taking the test again on the 18th.

[DeafAngelboy23]

I really think he did, yes. Alex only references us by last name a couple of times a game, so I think he really did forget that my last name is Leach.

I didn't realize you are Dave Leach and I watched Jeopardy! with my grandmother during this week. I am on the winter break from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. I got to watch some Jeopardy! at home and it was a nice break from school. I thought it was fun to watch you on Jeopardy!

[Joey P]

Thank you so much! I really was having the time of my life on stage, and I'm delighted that it came through on camera.

It certainly did. You're one of the only contestants I can remember hearing even when the camera was on Alex. Also, right now, as I type this, my TiVo is paused, The screen shows you with a giant smirk plastered on your face and
and Aleve banner plastered on your lectern. The girl in red doesn't look quite as happy. Of course, she's going home with considerable less.

[MoodIndigo1]

Kingspades, I watched you every day also, and it was a pleasure. Well done!

[Kingspades]

Mensa member here: Taken the test twice and gotten through to the audition once. I'll be taking the test again on the 18th.
FYI: I took the online test five or six times and auditioned in person twice before getting The Call. Persistence pays - best of luck to you! When you make it, feel free to get in touch with any questions you might have.
I am on the winter break from Gallaudet University... I thought it was fun to watch you on Jeopardy!
Awesome, glad to have you watching! As it happens we had a deaf friend join us at one of my viewing parties. It occurred to me that evening that Jeopardy! is likely one of the easier shows for hearing impaired people to watch without closed captioning: half the show is already written out on screen.
The girl in red doesn't look quite as happy.
Which really is a shame. I remember hanging out with Molly at the studio and she was one of the more fun people in that day's class of contestants. It's a shame that didn't come through during her game as well. I know she was really nervous, even during rehearsal. That may have had something to do with it.

[Invisible Chimp]

Kingspades, have you got your official invitation to the next ToC yet?

[Duke of Rat]

I DVR Jeopardy! for an entire week and watch them on Saturday morning.

I got messed up with the holidays and the queue was about full (10 episodes), so I blasted through a few episodes yesterday evening. I haven't made it to your exit episode, I'll try to get current this evening.

You're really doing well, you might go down in history.

A: He had the most wins with the fewest correct Final Jeopardy! responses.

Q: Who was Dave?

Just kidding, I'm really getting a kick out of watching you play.

[monster]

Kingspades! It is so exciting to be able to say hi to you!! My son (15 years old) and I watch our DVR'd episodes of Jeopardy together and we cheered for you BIG TIME!! We loved your enthusiam (and smarts)!! How exciting that you are here!! Way to go!!

[commasense]

The latest list, updated for MilTan and Kingspades:

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Fretful Porpentine 2010 1 3rd $27,201
11. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
12. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
13. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
14. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
15. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
16. KingSpades 2011 6 2nd $100,054
17. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
18. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
19. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
20. MilTan 2010 0 2nd
21. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
22. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
23. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
24. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
25. Richardb 1984
26. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870 plus 3rd place in TOC, $50,000
27. Serenata67 2004 0 2nd $5,000 College Tournament
28. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
29. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
30. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
31. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
32. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
33. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
34. want2know 1989 0 3rd
35. Voyager 1997 0 2nd

Congrats to Kingspades for leaping to the position of biggest winner on the list, both in terms of number of shows and cash won.

I haven't watched Jeopardy! regularly in years, and even though we've never met IRL, Kingspades, it was great fun to root for you while watching. You were a great player.

[Kingspades]

Kingspades, have you got your official invitation to the next ToC yet?
It's not a done deal yet. It's entirely possible that a weird string of seven-timers and not-low-scoring-six-timers comes along this season and bumps me out of contention. That said, no six-timer has ever missed out. I sure hope I don't end up making history that way.

A: He had the most wins with the fewest correct Final Jeopardy! responses.

Q: Who was Dave?
Hee! I really should go back and look at the stats from the other superchamps, just to see if anyone did worse than me. I don't think you're far off from the truth, Duke.

Just kidding, I'm really getting a kick out of watching you play.
My son (15 years old) and I watch our DVR'd episodes of Jeopardy together and we cheered for you BIG TIME!! We loved your enthusiam (and smarts)!! How exciting that you are here!! Way to go!!
I haven't watched Jeopardy! regularly in years, and even though we've never met IRL, Kingspades, it was great fun to root for you while watching. You were a great player.
Thank you all so much. It's been both amazing and humbling to find out how many people, from all over the world, cheered me on. I had no idea that one of the highlights of having played on Jeopardy! would be the people who have gotten in touch or back in touch with me.

[AppallingGael]

It's not a done deal yet. It's entirely possible that a weird string of seven-timers and not-low-scoring-six-timers comes along this season and bumps me out of contention. That said, no six-timer has ever missed out. I sure hope I don't end up making history that way.


I'm pretty sure no five-timer has ever missed out, either. In one case, somebody had to wait till the next year's tournament. In any case, they don't adhere to a strict calendar for the ToC, so they might wait less than a year in the event of a spate of five-timers or (more likely) wait a little longer if they are lacking in multi-day winners.

It is true that the show could be canceled or the universe otherwise come to an end, but outside those scenarios, I'd say your pretty safe.

Congrats on a great run!

[Zsofia]

Well, now I'm allowed to say (which has been driving me nuts for the last couple weeks!) that mine will broadcast May 28. It was a blast, an honor, and a pleasure.

[AuntiePam]

Congratulations! We'll need a reminder.

[Zsofia]

I'm still absolutely drowning in stage makeup!

[notfrommensa]

Well, now I'm allowed to say (which has been driving me nuts for the last couple weeks!) that mine will broadcast May 28. It was a blast, an honor, and a pleasure.

Dang, 4.5 Months of lag time! Guess they build in a lot contingency in case Alex gets into another kerfuffle

[Kingspades]

Dang, 4.5 Months of lag time!
That's how much I had expected before going out to play in November 2011. I was quite pleased to learn that we'd only have to wait two months to see our games; three to four is closer to the norm based on contestant experiences I've read online.

Congratulations, Zsofia, and retroactive good luck! You didn't, by chance, just play a couple of days ago did you? If so you'd have met a friend of mine who was there to be a contestant with you.

[Zsofia]

I played yesterday. The people in the contestant pool in the green room are, I swear, the nicest people on the planet. I should have gotten their info to Facebook friend them - now I've forgotten everybody's name, so I guess I'll have to wait and try when the shows air! I was the first of the morning, which was good and bad.

[Kingspades]

The people in the contestant pool in the green room are, I swear, the nicest people on the planet. I should have gotten their info to Facebook friend them
I couldn't agree more. I never went out to L.A. expecting to come back with new friendships; it was one of the best surprises I brought home. Fortunately, having read so many contestant experiences online and seeing over and over again people say they wish they'd kept in better touch with their classmates, I gave out my email address to all the other contestants and set up a private Google group for us to keep in touch until our games aired. The week we were on was just a delight, with most of us friending up on Facebook and cheering for each other on our walls. Doing so definitely made the experience more special.

Future contestants: give everybody your email address! You'll be glad that you did.

[Zsofia]

There's an incredible feeling of camaraderie - I mean, of course you want to win, but I really didn't get a sense even from the guys of real personal competitiveness. It's really more you against the board, in a way. Congratulations for the winners are really sincere.

[pinkfreud]

Wow!

This place is just crawling with celebrities! The "real deal" being so many of you appearing and winning on Jeopardy! That's just totally awesome!

Now, how many of you who appeared on Jeopardy are also members of Mensa, and how many of you not appearing on Jeopardy are Mensa members? If I needed a "selling point" for Dope membership, that would be it right there, man!

Y'all are what I call "august company", ladies and dudes.


Quasi
I've been a member of Mensa for 35 years. I was a contestant on Jeopardy in 2008 (came in second). I don't consider myself to be "august company." I am more like "february company."

[Hal Briston]

I'm always days to weeks behind on my DVR Jeopardy! watching, so I just finished up Kingspades' run last night. Awesome job

You actually had The Littlest Briston (who hates the show [whose kid is this, anyway??]) cheering along. "I really hope Dave keeps winning -- you know him, right? Tell him I said to keep winning, ok?" :)

[Kingspades]

I'm always days to weeks behind on my DVR Jeopardy! watching, so I just finished up Kingspades' run last night. Awesome job

You actually had The Littlest Briston (who hates the show [whose kid is this, anyway??]) cheering along. "I really hope Dave keeps winning -- you know him, right? Tell him I said to keep winning, ok?" :)
Aw, thank you both! You're not the first parent I've heard whose kids enjoyed watching me. Given Jeopardy!'s normal demographic (the Sea-Bond and Depends crowd), I seem to be most popular with those viewers who are closest in age to wearing diapers. :cool:

[Zeldar]

Well, now I'm allowed to say (which has been driving me nuts for the last couple weeks!) that mine will broadcast May 28. It was a blast, an honor, and a pleasure.

Congratulations! We'll need a reminder.

I'm still absolutely drowning in stage makeup!

Dang, 4.5 Months of lag time! Guess they build in a lot contingency in case Alex gets into another kerfuffle

Just wanted to get this info back in view. Everything still on for May 28, Zsofia ?

[Zsofia]

Damn it, did you have to do that? I'm planning to spend the evening cringing in the kitchen trying not to hear the sound of my voice on TV!

[Zeldar]

Damn it, did you have to do that? I'm planning to spend the evening cringing in the kitchen trying not to hear the sound of my voice on TV!

Please forgive me, Zsofia. I should have realized it was your place to refresh our memories about your appearance. I'll still be pulling for you.

[Zsofia]

Oh, no, not at all - just kidding. My workplace went and put it in the Calendar of Events. Frankly, I hardly remember what happened, so it will be new to me. :)

[Zeldar]

Oh, no, not at all - just kidding. My workplace went and put it in the Calendar of Events. Frankly, I hardly remember what happened, so it will be new to me. :)

Can you disclose if there's a pool (with money) of your co-workers? How are you favored by those you work with?

Have you been tempted to leak your results any time in the past 4+ months? Have you yielded to that temptation?

[Zsofia]

They told us we could tell close friends (and for that matter my family was there and they weren't given any guidelines on keeping it to themselves) but we can't tell the press or the internet. So the people I'll be watching it with already know what happened.

[Zsofia]

Don't forget to watch tonight!

[postcards]

Are you in the middle, or the far right?

[notfrommensa]

So how badly does gorilla poop smell?

[Duke of Rat]

You played very well and got on the Memorial Day edition :)

[Sternvogel]

I hadn't seen this thread for a while, but when Johnny introduced "a periodicals librarian from Columbia, South Carolina", I realized Zsofia was finally appearing!

So what other anecdotes besides the "zoo story" would we have heard during the interview portion had you won a game or two? Although I'm sorry you lost, I got a kick out of the FJ, as I had just played "Les Paul" in the Free Association thread a few days ago.

[Zsofia]

I completely choked when it came time for the Final Jeopardy bet - I'd practiced it a million times but I just lost my damned mind and needed three sheets of scratch paper and never got the same answer twice and they finally called time on me, so it's a good thing I didn't know the answer. I'd never have forgiven myself for losing because I couldn't do simple addition.

They cut a bit of my interview portion - he asked why I do it and we went on for a bit during the taping. Gorilla poop is pretty inoffensive, since they're herbivores, unless they take a stress poop. That can get nasty. I was ready to also talk about the week I spent on a schooner once, learning to sail, and I forget what the rest of mine were - in desperation to come up with five I did put down that I can touch my tongue to my nose, so I'm glad I didn't end up having to do that on national TV. My mother would have been very disappointed.

[commasense]

Congratulations, Zsofia! You're now on the updated list.

Doper Year wins place amount notes
1. 5-4-fighting 2000 0 3rd
2. 5 time champ 2001 5 $50,703
3. annieclaus 1967 0 2nd
4 BethCro 2009 0 3rd $100
5. Blanx 2001 0 2nd
6. Captain Lance Murdoch 1997 2
7. Colibri 1974
8. Commasense 1991 1 2nd $7,201
9. ElvisL1ves 1996 0 2nd
10. Fretful Porpentine 2010 1 3rd $27,201
11. GilaB 2010 1 2nd $3,000
12. Hippy Hollow 2003 1 2nd $16,500
13. h.sapiens 1994 5 $62,000 semi-finals of tournament
14. Hooleehootoo 1999 0 3rd
15. jsc1953 1988 0 3rd
16. KingSpades 2011 6 2nd $100,054
17. KittenKat 2010 0 2nd $5,998
18. Labdad 2006 0 2nd
19. Mama Tiger 1994 0 3rd lost to a five-time champ
20. MilTan 2010 0 2nd
21. Monstera deliciosa 1993 0 2nd
22. Mr. Moto 2000 0 2nd
23. Nice Pete 2004 1 2nd $31,100
24. pinkfreud 2008 0 2nd
25. Richardb 1984
26. Seaborgium 2009 5 2nd $84,870 plus 3rd place in TOC, $50,000
27. Serenata67 2004 0 2nd $5,000 College Tournament
28. The Man Who 2003 1 $50,000 Myron Myers, in one show
29. Tracy Lord 2004 0 2nd $5,000 2 Teen Jeopardy! shows
30. tumbleddown 2005 0 3rd
31. TWDuke 1995 2 $30,000
32. Twickster 1994 3 2nd $46,000
33. Walloon 1997 1 2nd $4,100
34. want2know 1989 0 3rd
35. Voyager 1997 0 2nd
36. Zsofia 2012 0 2nd $10,000

[notfrommensa]

.... in desperation to come up with five I did put down that I can touch my tongue to my nose, so I'm glad I didn't end up having to do that on national TV. My mother would have been very disappointed.

But us Dopers would have been SO PROUD!

[Robot Arm]

I watched last night, but I hadn't read this thread yet. I had no idea it was you.

I was ready to also talk about the week I spent on a schooner once, learning to sail, and I forget what the rest of mine were...You must have been happy to see the "Talk Like a Sailor" category.

[Joey P]

I completely choked when it came time for the Final Jeopardy bet - I'd practiced it a million times but I just lost my damned mind and needed three sheets of scratch paper and never got the same answer twice and they finally called time on me, so it's a good thing I didn't know the answer. I'd never have forgiven myself for losing because I couldn't do simple addition.

I racked my brain for a few seconds on that as well, then I remembered how big of a deal it was in Milwaukee when Les Paul died and I knew that was just a few years ago. If he wasn't from around here I never would have figured it out, I really don't know that much about him.

[Robot Arm]

I racked my brain for a few seconds on that as well, then I remembered how big of a deal it was in Milwaukee when Les Paul died and I knew that was just a few years ago. If he wasn't from around here I never would have figured it out, I really don't know that much about him.I was actually rather proud of myself for getting this one. There are some clues that you absolutely know, some that you really don't, and a few that are somewhere in the middle. (Those always feel like the hardest ones; maybe that's why it's so satisfying to get one right.) I don't know a lot about Les Paul. I know he played, and I think he was an early technical innovator, and I vaguely remembered about him dying in the last few years.