So...I'm auditioning for Jeopardy

[hollywood926]

Not now, but on March 31. Any suggestions for preparing for this? I could play Trivial Pursuit or something, but I'll have to do more than that if I'm going to be the champ!

[Phentex]

1. Learn your ballet and British Royalty

what are your strengths?

[hollywood926]

7. Strengths?

I have none. :-)

Well, I have a lot of bits of useless info bouncing around in my head. I suppose my strengths would be anything from 1975-1985-ish, when I was paying attention and soaking up the world.

I hope they only ask questions about events from those years!

:-)

[Kikosexy2]

2. Study...

Almanacs and encyclos--Good Luck!

[Beaverhausen]

3. I heard their test is nearly impossible to pass

Did you take it already?

[hollywood926]

8. Nope, I think I took a little test about two years ago...

and they are just now contacting me for what they are calling an "audition," but there is probably a test involved!

[SCDem]

4. Jennings said Jeopardy is not something you can cram for

He said it's just engaging in everything and always being inquisitive. Good luck on your audition!

[petronius]

5. Shouldn't this be an "ask me anything" thread?

[SW FL Dem]

14. Good Idea - DU is a great source of info an all sorts of subjects.

Anyone that can answer questions from a variety of DUers should be better prepared than someone who just reads the encyclopedia

[LiberalinNC]

6. Good luck.

I've heard reading the encyclopedia is helpful.

And let us know if you make it, so we can watch for you on TV.

[Lavender Brown]

9. Time to read up on the "potent potables"

:beer:

[Az]

10. Read these two websites and you should be ready for anything

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.m-w.com/

:D

[hollywood926]

12. Thanks. I'll read those today while at work...

:silly:

[SW FL Dem]

11. If I were going to try out, I would spend a lot of time playing trivia

games and taking every online quiz I could, get your hands on an SAT study guide for history (American and European). Brush up on English literature. A fun way to learn would be to watch old Jeopardy, Millionaire and other quiz shows on the game show network (Ben Stein's money is pretty good too). If you watch enough shows, you'll get an idea of the common subjects.

[MemphisTiger]

13. I think there are books of trivia out there

Ken Jennings did this, also don't forget potent potables

[lpbk2713]

15. From what I have seen there are some categories

that they draw material from frequently;

Shakespeare
British & Russian Monarchies
The Bible
The Popes
Astronomy
US Presidents

Study up on these and it might just help..... And good luck!

[Phentex]

16. Don't forget

the elements for $400

[hollywood926]

17. The Bible...UGH!

i know that bit about how i'm an abomination, but that's all i know.

[Bluebear]

18. I was on Jeopardy.....

The test is extremely broad as to subjects. I don't know of any 'studying' you can do for the test per se; at the time it was about 50 questions.

If you get on the show, you could certainly memorize the Presidents. etc but there is absolutely no telling what categories will come up. Lack of Civil War knowledge was my downfall. My knowledge was lacking and it was a specialty of the eventual winner. And no, there is no list of questions to study per rumors out there!

Good luck!

[hollywood926]

20. oh wow....

well, i have two months to learn everything there is to know. that should be enough time.

the civil war....ick. the north burned down atlanta and then scarlett o'hara said she'd never go hungry again. that's all i know.

[Bluebear]

21. Rely on your breadth of information

I pride myself on knowing a lot of stuff that will serve me absolutely no purpose in life :)

[Shakespeare]

24. So was I!

Mine taped in July 99, aired in September 99.

I agree--you can't study for the test. Here's some more advice I'll offer--if you do pass the initial test, you'll then be "tested" in a mock round where they put you in a situation similar to what you'd be in on the show (though NOTHING will prepare you for trying to coordinate your buzzer with the little blinking lights along each side of the board, something viewers at home don't see).

For the mock round, they're not only looking for you to answer questions correctly, but they're also looking to see how you'll perform under pressure, how articulate you are, etc. It's part quiz, part personality test. I tested on May 1 of that year, and was told I might get a call back sometime over the course of the following year. They called me FIVE WEEKS LATER, much to my shock and amazement, and I had just a few weeks to make arrangements to fly from DC to LA for the taping. So, if you make the cut, be prepared--you never know when that call will come!

[hollywood926]

25. Great advice....

did you win? If not, what did you get as a consolation prize? Turtle Wax?

[Bluebear]

28. I got a whole dining soom suite with china cabinet

and a $1000. gift certificate for crystal. NOt bad for 2nd place!

[KurtNYC]

19. They will ask for an embarrassing tidbit

that you can relate in 2 sentences or so. This is what Alex uses when he introduces you. You may want to have something in advance of the interview/audition since that kind of throws people (ie. something not TOO embarrassing).

My friend auditioned and basically lied on that part. Said he dressed as a girl to visit his sorority-living girlfriend after hours.

If you make it through, you might want to TIVO some shows and get used to Alex's cadence since you can't buzz in until he finishes the question. Get used to reading the whole answer quickly while Alex plods through it with his exacting diction. That can give you a leg up.

[driver8]

23. I do that when I watch the show.

I can usually read the whole answer way before Alex finishes. I also pride myself on knowing a lot of trivia that I will never need for anything. When I watch the show with my sisters, they are amazed at how much unnecessary knowlege I have. They always tell me that I should go on the show, but there are a lot of categories I am severely lacking in -- for example, the Bible, ballet, and American Presidents.

[bmovies]

22. A: Ed Norton

Q: Who was the composer of Swanee River.

I'm a cinch to win.

[City Lights]

29. ROFL!

:D

[SoCalDem]

26. The "Button" seems to be the biggest problem

Lost of really smart people have been done in by that little gizmo..:)

Good luck to you.. Jeopardy is the best of the game shows :)

Keep us posted :):)

[RedCloud]

27. Read bottom half , while Alex reads top

If you can think and also filter in what Alex says, press the button on time...

Also try to anticipate the categories as they do them.

Like starts and ends with "P":

$200 What is my typical day on the toilet?
$400 What is what I step in if I have an important prom date?
$600 What is a bra?
$800 What legume broth...?
$1,000 What a glamor queen becomes in a dorm room?

et cetera.

And remember Columbus's ships on the first voyage were La Santa María, La Santa Clara and La de Pinto. (Nina was a nickname). He also made four voyages. So it is correct to say that in 1493 Columbus sailed the deep blue sea.

Also be sure to correct Alex as much as possible.

example: It's the distance the Earth is from the sun.

your answer: What is zero since the Earth is in the outer most corona of the sun?

I hope this helps!

[Bertha Venation]

30. Here's a practical suggestion about "ringing in:"

Watch Jeopardy! every night while holding a large-button click pen.

Push the button after Alex is done reading the clue. If you click before, you're locked out.

DON'T push the button if you don't know the answer.

I may be telling you stuff you already know, but since you asked . . .

Oh, one more bit: unless it's Double or Final Jeopardy!, NEVER GUESS. If you think you have a good guess, don't guess because of the chance that you'll be wrong.