Yuku free message boards

Took the Jeopardy audition last week - it was a cool experience. Here's the recap.

Arrived at the hotel in NYC at about 8:45am. (Westin, off of Times Square). Go up to 9th floor, to a room with about 40 or so folks sitting at 4-5 round tables. Most people are quiet, but there's one guy in particular who is loudly speaking about his nervousness that a "middle-eastern"-looking man go on the train with him...(recall that this is the day after the NYC-subway baby-stroller scare). Loud-guy is also about 350 pounds and sweating profusely...even though it is a cold morning and cool in the waiting room...silently pat my self on the back for not sitting at that table.

A few more folks wander in and sit down, so there's probably about 50 of us. I chat with the folks at my table, and for most this is the first time they are trying out. A woman sitting by me tried out ten years ago, but didn't make it.

There are three Jeopardy people here - two people, Tony and XXXX (can't recall her name), run the testing and a techie guy runs the computer.

We are herded into the "testing room", and take seats. Tony seems to be running this part of the process (don't know if he and XXXX take turns), and he is very funny and personable. He goes through the rules, what's going to happen, etc...and gives us some background on the questions. He goes over the unique Jeopardy categories, like "Rhyme-Time", Before & After", etc...and how to answer questions from those categories. We do some practice questions, 18 in all, about various topics, including NYC. Ah, so that is where the "Garment" District is. And of course, some people do not answer in the form of a question, so he calls them out for that.

Then, it's test time.

The test is simple - 50 questions, displayed on the screen by a projector hooked up to a computer. Each question is displayed for only eight seconds, then the next one is displayed, and so on. These questions are not "answers" and the answers do not have to be in the form of a question - it's just straight-forward question-and-answer. The Jeopardy folks won't come right out and say how many you need to answer correctly to "pass", but it's around 35 right answers (70%). Give or take. Probably.

As for me, I'm trying not to be too nervous, but failing. I'm wracking my brains to remember everything, which of course means I can't remember shit.

Also, the 18-year old hottie sitting in the row in front of me with the low-rider jeans and tatoo peeking out from under her sweater which is riding up on her back isn't helping my concentration one bit. Good god what an ass she has...oh shit the test is starting.

As questions are displayed, I feel I'm off to a good start....I know most of the first few, but get stuck on the name of a story by a certain American writer with the same name as a candy bar. That trips me up, and I nervously miss one or two others. I also can't seem to remember the name of the British General during the Revolution - and try to recite the "Schoolhouse Rock" song in my head, but that takes too long...oh well, I'll have to move on...

I think I probably missed about 10-12 of the first 25. Yes, I know, not a good showing, and I'm coming to the conclusion I'm not as well-read as I thought I was...A "Lebanese writer who wrote what?" No clue. First president of which former Soviet Republic? Damn, I should know that. I'm also woefully ignorant of that Jeopady staple - Shakespeare....will have to get better there.

The questions come fast...as I finish writing one the next one is being read...sometimes I can catch up and get the answer down in the first couple of seconds, and then try to go back to figure out a question I skipped...but I can't really take notes detailed enough to figure out old questions.

But, on the second 25 questions, I'm on a roll. I'm rattling off answer after answer, and I KNOW these are right. I'm feeling good as I get to the last two answers...and chuckle that I actually can put together "Everybody Love Ray-mond Chandler" for a "Before & After" category question.

Answer sheets are handed in to the center, and Tony and XXXX go outside the room to grade them. I think I'm close...a good showing on questions 26-50 may be enough to make up for my poor showing on questions 1-25. Computer Guy shows a DVD with the Clue Crew, mostly bloopers and such. It's funny. That must be a fun job (clue crew, but I bet Computer Guy has a good time as well). There are two new Clue Crew folks, and I've seen them introduced on the show, and they are on the DVD we are shown as well.

Loud-guy starts chatting up everyone around him. He is drenched. While most folks look like your average Jeopardy contestant, there is one person who looks like he's been shacked up in the mountains of Montana writing a manifesto. I consider telling him huge mutton-chop sideburns don't look so good on people who aren't guitarists for System Of A Down, but then Tony and XXXX come back from their grading session. I don't catch what they say at first, and when they toss two "Jeopardy" baseball caps to two folks ("Get a Clue" on the back), I incorrectly assume those two people passed the test. Then they start calling out the names of folks to which they want to speak. About five names in they call Loud-guy. Good for him! I hope he makes it on the show. He'll be easy to spot, fellow sucksters - his missing teeth (I kid you not) will be very noticeable.

About eight names are called, and my name is not one of them. Bummer. Mysteriously, three people all sitting next to each other are called. Cheaters? Hmmmm.

They tell us that many folks were only one right answer away from getting called, and to assume that you are one of those folks. So, for the record, I only missed getting called back by one question! wink wink.

It was a great experience, and I will continue watching Jeopardy, and when they are looking for contestents next year, you bet I'll be in line.