Booker57 has gotten an audition for the best game show. It is just that, a tryout, step one in the process. Has any doper done this before? I will take any help you are willing to give. Feb 6th is the day. Impromptu Boston Dopefest?
Congratulations! You’ve done the hardest part already. I had to drive from Boston to Atlantic City and back 6 times over 3 years before finally getting the call.
First, wear nice casual clothes - not a tux, not jeans and T-shirt. If they follow the usual procedures, it’ll go:
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50-question test in 20 (I think) minutes, typical of $800-1000 on-air questions, in normal syntax (so you don’t have to write “What is” all the time. Passing score is 35.
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If you pass and get your name called, a mock game with one of the contestant coordinators MC’ing, using flip cards for questions. IMPORTANT: Answer quickly and firmly, select new category quickly and firmly, DO NOT freeze up or in any way slow down the game. They want contestants who look like they’ll make a good show. This WILL be graded, but you won’t be told your score.
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Stand up and tell about yourself for a minute or so. Have a good anecdote or two, talk quickly and firmly (THAT again, yes), and try to look like someone the audience can root for. NOT a good idea to talk about being a lawyer/writer/teacher who’s in Mensa.
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Fill out some forms, go home, and don’t get your hopes up. They qualify many more people than get called. Your chances are not too bad if you don’t live in SoCal - they like some geographic diversity.
If you have any more specific questions, about either Jeopardy or Millionaire for that matter, go ahead and drop me an e. Good luck, and try to be both energetic and confident - yes, I know it’s hard.
Ditto to what ElvisL1ves said. Plus this: the questions come up on a TV screen, read by Alex, you can start to write as soon as you know the question; they use the typical categories, so expect Shakespeare, Business and Industry, and few history, composers, Potent Potables, art, etc. Try to find something besides “I’d pay off some bills or travel” if they ask (as part of the ‘pretend you’re talking to Alex’ segment) what you would do with your winnings. They want people who are interesting, but not too far out there–don’t want to scare the nursing home set, I suppose. Having a memorable life story–the time you parachuted into a wedding by mistake, tracking down lost relatives while you were stationed in Europe, getting fired from your job but ending up dating the person who had to fire you–really helps, think of one before you go, they have you fill out a little card and put down 3 interesting things about yourself, so be prepared. If you get past the written test, your name will go on the eligible list, what you need is to get them to write something on the card so that they will remember you enough to call you to appear. Oh, and they take a picture of you, so look alert and personable.
Good luck–I was on the list last year, but I didn’t get the call. I’ll try out again when the come back to the NW, I was born to be on Jeopardy!
Jeopardy in Boston? Isn’t that the definition of driving in Boston?
If I was trying out for Jeopardy, I’d probably grab an almanac and refresh myself on US Presidents and African and South American countries.
I know I’m up for a fest in boston. Anyone else?
How’d you get the audition? Are they still accepting contestants? I want to sign up!
I’ve taken the Jeopardy! test a couple times…ElvisL1ves is pretty much spot on with his summary and recommendations. The questions for the written test are on a video with Alex acting as an emcee. He’ll call out a category before each one (they’re 50 different categories, of course), and you have (IIRC) 7 seconds to scribble down an answer after Alex stops reading before the next q.
FWIW, to me it seemed both times like there was a disproportionate amount of fine arts/literature questions relative to everything else. And also a healthy dose of pop culture/tv/music/movies questions from the 40s-60s, which can be tricky to answer when time period in question predates you by about 20 years. 
Knowing some world geography and capitals wouldn’t hurt either, nor the history of the British crown (seems like that’s an old Jeopardy! standby). Good luck!
Congratulations Booker57
A former big winner on Jeopardy! - I think he was a Tournament of Champions winner, first name is Michael, I think - wrote a book called something like How to Get on Jeopardy! and Win Big. It’s very informative. I would definitely read it if I were you.
Good luck - I am so jealous. Let us know if you make it on the show.
Jeopardy test #1 - can the contestant successfully navigate the already confusing, yet ever-changing roads of Boston?
The Boston Dopefest, with a side of Film Club will go down the Sunday before your audition, Booker57. It’s an open invitation to any Dopers who can make it.
All of you fellow Dopers who have read and responded to this post. I am nervous about my trip all ready. I will not be able to attend the Boston dopefest/filmfest, this makes me sad. I do have “The JEOPARDY book” and am reading it. The help you dopers have given me is invaluble. Thank you for this and any other information you can give.MTS