# Jeopardy! On-Line Test -- Again **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672 "2009-01-16T23:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/21 "2009-01-18T19:59:02Z")
I’m still bitter about the last time I did this…I registered and was all set to go. The little java window was doing it’s countdown, and when it loaded the test…it just froze and I got a blank screen. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/22 "2009-01-18T23:25:34Z")
All of you stop registering! You’re hurting my chances! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/23 "2009-01-18T23:28:51Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > All of you stop registering! You’re hurting my chances! I’ve just had the greatest idea for a murder mystery… ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/24 "2009-01-19T14:27:15Z")
I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/25 "2009-01-19T19:57:40Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I’m in. For murdering **Smeghead?** Seems a little drastic. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/26 "2009-01-19T20:38:49Z")
You hold him down, and I’ll . . . never mind. I’m going to go study presidents, Apollo missions, and Shakespeare. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/27 "2009-01-19T21:11:19Z")
> [@lilflower](#): > > Any suggestions on how to practice for the test? Are there other good quiz sites out there that are a good representation of the online test? This time I’ll post something semi-serious (rather than my previous bit of squawking). Last year when the online tests were held, some clever person did some sort of screen capture mumbo-jumbo, and was able to post the questions–and eventually the answers–to each of the three time zone quizzes. These were on the message boards at [Jeopardy.com](http://Jeopardy.com). If you go there and search for those threads, you can look at what was asked last time and probably get a good sense of what the questions will be like this time. Not exact same questions, but similar I’m sure. Good enough for practice material. (I’m assuming those year-old threads are still accessible and not weeded off the site.) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/28 "2009-01-19T21:22:28Z")
If last year’s test is any indication, we need to bone up on pop culture now. At least to get past the test. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/29 "2009-01-19T22:22:23Z")
> [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](#): > > This time I’ll post something semi-serious (rather than my previous bit of squawking). > > Last year when the online tests were held, some clever person did some sort of screen capture mumbo-jumbo, and was able to post the questions–and eventually the answers–to each of the three time zone quizzes. These were on the message boards at [Jeopardy.com](http://Jeopardy.com). If you go there and search for those threads, you can look at what was asked last time and probably get a good sense of what the questions will be like this time. Not exact same questions, but similar I’m sure. Good enough for practice material. > > (I’m assuming those year-old threads are still accessible and not weeded off the site.) Surely they haven’t left last year’s questions up on Sony’s board? They are usually pretty secretive about the tests. I signed up, even though I passed the written test a couple years ago and they never called. I chalked it up to some people being just too ugly for television (especially since my wife got called). However, I’ve seen some scary people during the last year, so I guess that’s not it. I was very awkward during the interview, though, and I’m sure that didn’t help. If I get to take the written test again, I’ll bring some alcohol to loosen up before the interview portion. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/30 "2009-01-19T22:46:55Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Surely they haven’t left last year’s questions up on Sony’s board? They are usually pretty secretive about the tests. > > I signed up, even though I passed the written test a couple years ago and they never called. I chalked it up to some people being just too ugly for television (especially since my wife got called). However, I’ve seen some scary people during the last year, so I guess that’s not it. I was very awkward during the interview, though, and I’m sure that didn’t help. If I get to take the written test again, I’ll bring some alcohol to loosen up before the interview portion. Negative. Those threads are still there on the message boards. Search for ‘transcript’ dated 1 year ago and less, and you’ll find the test transcript threads (questions, with answers further down the thread). I guess they don’t care so much once the test is taken, because they change questions every time. As for looks, I’ve wondered too if I’ve been rejected twice for being too ugly (and fat, for that matter), but a lineup of Jeopardy contestants over the years doesn’t exactly look like the folks on the floats at the Rose Bowl Parade, if you know what I mean. I’m not sure what their criteria are. I was stiff and not very interesting in my first interview, but I was more prepared last year, and much more at ease and glib and funny (I was getting laughs in the room, with the audience of other potentials, so I know I was “on”). I thought it went great. Still no call though. Shrug. What can you do? You’re at their mercy, and there’s not much you can do but take the test, show up, and do the best you can. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/31 "2009-01-19T23:29:17Z")
Thanks for the tip, **Not a Tame Lion**. You are correct that the transcripts are still up there. I read all three. I didn’t see too much pop culture on there, **DrFidelius** , aside from one or two pop songs. Not something you can really study for. I thought that last year’s Tuesday test was the hardest. It’s good practice, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/32 "2009-01-19T23:52:50Z")
The first question I failed at was about Tyra Banks and a television program she has. Or some other model, I really can’t remember, but Reality Shows are part of pop culture. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/33 "2009-01-20T05:31:46Z")
Having just reviewed the tests, the question was which reality show is hosted by Heidi Klum. I noticed on the other days’ tests that there was a question about Dancing With the Stars and one about the Real World. It seems safe to assume that will be one question each day about a reality show, and probably one about pop music. Two out of fifty isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/34 "2009-01-20T06:16:31Z")
I’m generally good with trivia stuff and good at Jeopardy, but I tried out on the online thing and got 50%. I was most unhappy. And never called of course. I think I’ll have a better idea this year about what to expect and I’ll do better. I watch it with my SO who is immensely smarter than I, and I’ll get these odd questions that makes him go “How do you know that?” Me: "Thirty years of reading and being a dork, sweety. " ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/35 "2009-01-28T14:35:46Z")
My sweet baboo and I have vast stores of arcane knowledge in common, but the “two clues in one” kind where they want “What is Alan Shepherd’s Pie?” elude him. The categories I do the worst in when I play along at home relate to geography so I studied that a little before this test. And there weren’t really that many. I still don’t think I’ll be visiting the Brain Bus or whatever the venue for local auditions is. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/36 "2009-01-28T15:36:15Z")
Our computer at home decided to melt itself on Monday, so I’ll be staying at work until 8:00pm to take the test. Last year, I think I got 34 of the 50 questions correct, and noone called. Hopefully, I’ll get a test full of geography questions this year. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/37 "2009-01-28T15:42:34Z")
I’ve given up trying. I’ve done a live audition 3 times and never gotten called. Sucks to live in SoCal, because they really try for geographic diversity. Also, what the OP said about boring, middle-aged white guys. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/38 "2009-01-28T16:01:02Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > If you can get hold of a copy of “Prisoner of Trebekistan” by Bob Harris, he has a lot of details about how he trained. It really reached the level of obsession. > > Something to think about (although it doesn’t apply to the online test, if you do get picked to audition it’s a good idea) is to rig up some sort of dummy of the buzzer…a clickable pen built up with tape or something…and practice with it while watching the show on TV. I made one after reading Harris’s book, based on his description (don’t know how close it is to a real signalling device, but it feels right.) Seemed like a good idea. I’ve found that while the thumb is stronger, the forefinger is quicker. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672/39 "2009-01-28T16:36:04Z")
> [@Sean\_Factotum](#): > > I made one after reading Harris’s book, based on his description (don’t know how close it is to a real signalling device, but it feels right.) Seemed like a good idea. I’ve found that while the thumb is stronger, the forefinger is quicker. Yep. When I ran track in high school, we’d have to work stop watches at the meets. They instructed us to use our forefinger because it’s ever slightly more responsive than the thumb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-on-line-test-again/481672.md?page=1)