Use the phrase “I want to use the proceeds from this laughable opiate of a show to finance a project that will finally bring this blood soaked land to justice, and pay off some credit cards” in your interview. That will get their attention.
I was going to wear a blue blazer, khakis, an oxford cloth shirt and a nice tie. But now I think I’ll pick up a dragon shirt at the Goodwill and wear that instead…
Auditions are at the Waldorf-Astoria. I’ve probably got the nice clothes, but I want to try to lose a little weight, too.
Hey, I did pass after all!! Interview in Philadelphia on May 23rd!! Rock on!
Any other Philly-folk get it?
I just received my e-mail invite to the next level, in San Francisco on June 15th at 12 noon! Any other Dopers going to be there?
[Apparently, my questionable method of taking the test on “Central / Mountain Time day”, even though I’m in California, was not held against me.]
I took the test in San Francisco a few years ago and passed through to the “seven people from whom we’ll invite three on the show” stage, but never got the call. I wasn’t prepared for the “five interesting anecdotes” part that time, but this time I have 7 weeks in which to invent an interesting life for myself…
W00t!
Tomorrow is the big day here in New York. I probably should have done this sooner, but is there some way we can meet, Dr. Fidelius?
Good luck at the NYC auditions, Marley23 and DrFidelius!
Thanks very much, Antoninus. I felt good going in today, and I think things went very well and that I showcased whatever personality I have. As it happened, I sat right next to DrFidelius the whole time, but we didn’t introduce ourselves until after I mentioned the Dope during the personal interview portion. One of the women who conducted the audition seemed aware of the column or the site, which I thought was interesting.
The audition went the way people described it elsewhere in this thread, but if any of the future auditioners have a question, ask away.
Actually, I’d be very interested to hear in more detail what this part of the audition was like. I’ve read about Jeopardy auditions on other threads on these boards, but I wasn’t sure if the process would be different for those of us who passed the online round. Did you find out right away if you’re in the contestant pool? What was the test like? The more detail the better, if you’re willing. 
*
*I’m hoping to ace this test, because SOMEHOW my innocent comment to a relative that I had passed the first round to get on the show has morphed into my extended family all believing that I WILL be on the show, so the pressure’s on. Lesson: never tell your family anything until you’re sure about it.
I’m also going to write a column about this, so I guess I can’t give away my best material. 
First thing: this whole audition is about your energy and personality, not so much your game skills. But here’s the rough order of events:
We were supposed to arrive by 9:30 and start filling out some forms. It was simple stuff - name, age, address, employer, dates you’d be unavailable for the show, home town. They also took Polaroids of everyone, and they were encouraging everyone to chat and be lively. They assume you more or less know how to play. It was too early for most of us, but we tried.
Then they herded everybody into a conference room with a and gave us some hints about playing the game - stuff I’m sure everybody knew. How “Before and After” categories work, what “this” might mean, ‘keep the category in mind’… simple stuff. Then came the test, which was the same thing as what you already took online (although the questions were read by a recording of Don Pardo, and the whole thing was quicker).
After the test and some decompression time, they called people up three at a time for the simulated games. The most helpful advice by far were there explanations of how to work the buzzers, so pay attention to that stuff. The game was set up like normal Jeopardy, although each category only had three questions. They didn’t keep track of the scores. They just want you to pick the categories quickly, and speak with enthusiasm. Then they do the little personal interview thing - say a little about yourself, they’ll ask something from the forms you’ve handed in, and just show some personality or make or absorb a joke or two. Be relaxed and be yourself. Or, if you’re not a particularly relaxed or interesting person, be someone who IS relaxing and interesting. It’s all good.
As far as the contestant pool goes… They said everyone at the audition was in. I don’t know if that will be true everywhere or what, and I was surprised, but it did take away some of the anxiety.
They took a Polaroid photo to attach to your “Five Interesting Things” sheet and your personal info. This way they remember what you look like; they want a variety of people for the show. I suppose if they need to appeal to the “people who look like a thumb with jowls” demographic, I’m in.
The fifty questions (read by Johnny Gilbert) are just like the on-line mix. I have to presume they still have that in the process to weed out ringers. You qualified to be in the pool by passing the on-line test, this dog-and-pony show was so the contestant coordinators could see how you might look and act during game play.
They seem to be looking for energy. Sometimes I felt we were auditioning for Wheel of Fortune.
(I had completely forgotten who it was I suppposd to be looking for, so sitting next to a guy named Marley didn’t register with me at first. Don’t take it personally, I am an aloof and unsociable cuss. There was another guy from my hometown, The Wife asked if I caught his name. She should have known better; the only name I remember from the audition is Ivan.)
Great, thanks for all the details guys. Vey helpful. Marley, let us know when you write that column about your experience.
I took nothing personally. I didn’t think to describe myself in this thread and I don’t think I introduced myself to you. I’m glad Maggie asked me about the message board comment, although I thought it was weird that she went for that instead of any of my Interesting Things. The spiel I gave about my name was on that list, though.
I’ll say this- I’m sure Doug’s going to be on the show. He played quite well, and being blind probably does more than enough to make him stand out from the pack.
This is exactly why I never told anyone I had taken the test until I heard that I was going to be on the show. (This was back in 1991.) It was tough to keep the secret, but I did it.
BTW, about the “passing” score: I don’t think there is one, at least not in the sense of a number above which you are guaranteed to get in. I suspect that they just take as many people as they need, starting with the top scorers and working down. So, yeah, if you get a perfect score, you’re probably in. But if they need, say, 50 people, and you’re with particularly smart batch of people, 49 of whom get perfect scores, your 40 probably isn’t going to be good enough. So there is undoubtedly a number above which most people get in, but short of perfect (or maybe one or two wrong), you probably don’t have a lock at any particular number. Just my WAG.
When I was in Atlantic City for my test, before they called out the names of the people who were going on to the next stage (my name was the last one called), they told everyone, “If your name isn’t called, you can tell everyone at home that you missed it by one.”
Congrats to Marley23 and DrFidelius, and good luck. Keep us informed. I need to keep my list up to date.
Oh, and Antonius, too!
I meant to comment on this - some of my friends and co-workers have also had some trouble understanding how the process works, so I feel your pain. Try to be firm. 
The column should be in print next Thursday. I’ll figure out a way to get it posted here or by a link, since I do try to keep my full name a secret here. Although I will happily chuck that rule if I appear on the actual show.
Just had my interview in Philly today – was anyone else there? My experience was very much like Marley’s, right down to the information in the spoiler box.
I think I did okay, though – this is embarrassing – the pants I wore were feeling waaaay too tight around the waist, to the point that I could barely think. Normally they’re a bit snug, but they’re nice pants and I thought it would be okay. But man – maybe that huge cheesesteak I had before going to the audition did something to my stomach, because I was anything but comfortable. Let that be a lesson to all you who still have your audition – make sure you were loose, comfortable clothes!!!
Every single person in my group was white, and the great majority were middle aged, professional men (lots of lawyers). If you don’t fit in that group it might be a leg-up. There were only four “young” people there, including myself.
Another tip – think of something interesting to say that you’d spend your money on…something BESIDES travel. I think every single person today said that they’d spend their money on travel. If you can think of something different (that isn’t something boring like college loans or mortgages), you’ll definitely stand out.
Yeah, same thing happened at our audition. I said college loans, taking time off to write a novel, AND travel - but I was one of only a few people who mentioned a specific place to travel to. I said I needed to go north and see Aurora Borealis.
To summarize some tips that can separate you from the rest of the herd of qualifying Jeopardy! test-takers:
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Work on polishing five interesting or funny stories about yourself (watch the contestant interviews on the show for examples).
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Crack jokes during the trial run with the buzzers. They love humor.
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When asked what you will do with your money if you win, say something specific and unusual, other than just pay bill/loans/mortgage or the vague “travel”.
Hey, Aurora Borealis sounds good – definitely not what most people said. I said I wanted to take a trip around Poland because I’d had some Polish roommates who’d gotten me interested in the country. That at least was a bit different because most people wanted to travel to warm places – the Carribbean, Italy, Greece – and lie on the beach.