A: Recap of Alison's Jeopardy! Tryout ------------- Q: What is the longest blog post ever, Alex?

I didn't take this picture. But I like to think that Alex would have been this enthusiastic for me.

By popular demand, here is a report on my Jeopardy! audition this week. Plenty of people have blogged about their audition experiences (I know, because I read them all while trying to get an idea of what to expect), but here, respectfully submitted, is my attempt at the genre. I will try to keep Jeopardy!-related puns and references to a minimum.

This story begins about a year ago. I took the online contestant test for what I believe was my 3rd time. (I had passed the test in 2006 and scored an audition but wasn't able to make it due to bad timing with my wedding. I took it again in either 2007 and 2008 and didn't earn an audition spot.) We were living in Provo at the time, and when as part of the test registration I had to select from a list of cities my preferred audition location, I chose the closest, Los Angeles. I took the test and felt pretty good about it. Months passed, I got distracted with moving, and at some point, I figured I had missed the cut again. Imagine my surprise when, in early December, I got an email inviting me to try out...in LA.

Some of you may be aware of the depth of my obsession over the next couple of months. Almost immediately, I started watching the show every night. I played along with the TV (including using a clicky ballpoint pen as my signaling device) and kept score. I also spent a lot of my spare time studying and taking quizzes online.

A: In-N-Out Burger Q: What is the breakfast (OK, fourthmeal) of champions?

My audition was scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th. On Tuesday afternoon, I went straight from work to the airport. The Kansas City airport is small, cute, and very quick to get through. (I was the only person in the security line.) Then it was off to California for a whirlwind trip and my chance at nerd-stardom.

The Robergs picked me up at the Burbank airport (also small and cute) and we grabbed some In-N-Out as a late-night snack. Mmm, brain food!

Moments before this picture was taken, one of the contestant coordinators opened the door behind me and scared me to death.

On Wednesday, Carl and I left early (7 a.m.) for my 9 a.m. tryout--when LA traffic is involved, it's best to err on the side of caution. I made it to the Culver City Radisson in plenty of time. (They don't hold tryouts at the Jeopardy! studio anymore, although they used to, because it's too much of a hassle to get everyone in and out of security). I think I was the first to arrive, but by 9:00, there were about 25 nervous potential contestants milling around.

We filled out our applications forms and attached our list of 5 "interesting" facts about ourselves for Alex to use in the interview portion if/when we make it on the show. They took polaroids of us, and we also attached those to the application. (Fun fact #1: I had never actually held a polaroid in my hand before. I actually asked the contestant coordinator if I had to shake it... Fun fact #2: The picture was actually pretty good!)

At this point, and throughout the rest of the session, we heard some well-rehearsed and mildly humorous speeches from the coordinators (think Disneyland Jungle Cruise, or, if you prefer, Strong Badian Riverquest Safariventure, only with more genuine enthusiasm). Actually, the coordinators were great--very friendly, and they went out of their way to make everyone feel at ease. Way to go, Jeopardy staffers!

We started with the written test, a 50-question exam with the questions appearing on a screen. Each question was also read aloud on a recording (also not featuring Alex, unfortunately), and we had somewhere around 15 seconds to respond to each question before the test moved on. So it was pretty quick. I felt pretty good about my answers--I knew many of them as soon as I read the question. There were two moments of serendipity: one question came directly from the first list of information I studied after learning I would be auditioning. Another question concerned a fact that was specifically mentioned and discussed at length in Prisoner of Trebekistan, a book written by a former contestant which I had read ON THE PLANE THE DAY BEFORE. There is no way I would have known the answer otherwise. So that was fortunate and awesome. (Unfortunately, I can't reveal what those facts were--they swore us to secrecy.) After the test, we had a few minutes to chat with the other contestants, talk over the questions we weren't sure about, and freak out (or gloat, as the case may be).

Then they had us go up in groups of three to play a short practice game (they didn't keep score and they made sure everyone got a chance to answer a few). I think they were mostly trying to see our energy and TV-friendliness. I was in the first group, which was pretty nerve-wracking. The questions were actually fairly hard, but I was able to ring in on a few. After our "game," they did short interviews with each of us while we were still standing up at the front of the room. This was where I really wish I hadn't been in the first group, as I was caught off guard a bit by some of the questions. I would have liked to have seen some of the other interviews first. (As a result, I answered one question in a way that made it sound like I have no hobbies. Wish I had a do-over on that one...) There was really no way of judging how well I was doing, as the coordinators were endlessly enthusiastic and laughed at everyone's jokes. But at least they didn't ask me to "speak up" like they did with some of the others.

After everyone had their chance, it was over. They basically told us, "Don't call us, we'll call you" and sent us on our way. I might hear from them sometime within the next 18 months with a call to be on the show, or I might not. The odds aren't great--they told us that 4000 people audition in person each year, and only about 400 appear on the show. Demographics are at least a little in my favor, though: there were only 4 women there, and at least 20 men. So maybe they need me!

It was a really fun experience. I had a blast both preparing for it and at the tryout itself. Even if I don't make it on this time, I figure I can keep trying and they will have to let me on someday. And until then I can attempt to impress (annoy) friends, family members and colleagues with my recall of esoteric facts.

I came 2000 miles and all I got was this lousy water bottle and pen! (Actually, I was one of only two people to win water bottles. I got mine for knowing the name of the recent 6-day champion. Did I mention I watch the show every night?)

Fun facts:

There were some interesting people at the audition. One woman had tried out for the show 6 times before. Another woman was friends with Brett Michaels (during her interview, she said that she wanted to do something cool, and had narrowed it down to being on Rock of Love or trying out for Jeopardy. Apparently Jeopardy won). The guy I sat next to during the written test is the brother of the guy who beat Ken Jennings in the Tournament of Champions.

Jeopardy! doesn't pay for air fare, hotel, etc., even if you are a contestant on the show. (This fact is not actually fun, per se.)

You have to answer in the form of a question, but any question will do. Including "Where is potassium chloride?" and "Could the answer be...Abraham Lincoln?" But they prefer you stick with "what is" and "who is."

What is THE END?