Season 25 1-time champion: $16,401 + $2,000.
Becky Anderson - A Retired Software Analyst
Morgantown, North Carolina
April 13, 2009
Having come of age in the Sixties, I am definitely a Jeopardy! girl. I had begun reading at age two and a half, according to my parents, and graduated to encyclopedias by age 6. I was brought up in a family of Jeopardy! Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and a version of Twenty Questions we called “I’m Thinking.” I reached my prime in the Trivial Pursuit generation, and now also enjoy British cryptic crosswords, Sudoku, and every issue of Games Magazines. I was as heartbroken when the original Art Fleming version went off the air as I was overjoyed when the current Alex Trebek-hosted reincarnation appeared.
Solving puzzles and problems made me a natural for the fledgling computer software industry which I joined in Silicon Valley in the late 1960s. Opportunities abounded in that environment, and I wore many hats in my career – technical writer, documentation manager, applications consultant, systems analyst, programming manager, VP of administration of a startup, management consultant, and product manager.
Fast forward through retirement, a second marriage, and a move to Washington State. Life was full of home construction, traveling, volunteering, catching up on neglected reading, and exploring the new medium of the Internet. This new technology led to Jeopardy!’s on-line testing, a great way to try out in the comfort of one’s slippers and jeans, and I should think, a way for Jeopardy! to test more people in more locations, and have a larger pool of candidates from which to choose.
I took the online test at my first opportunity. What a fast-paced simulation of the pace of the actual game. With only seconds to read and answer 50 questions, there is no chance to return to an answer when it finally dawns on you. The good news is that I was called for an audition in Portland. The bad news is that I was going to be out of the country and there was no suitable alternative.
January 2008. I try the online test again. Same fast-paced test, with one-clue categories that ping pong from food to sports to rap and bounce through literature, history, crime, etc. – all the usual suspects on a Jeopardy! board, except that the actual game has five clues in each category.
What do you know? I get an e-mail inviting me to Portland again on March 31st. This time I can make it. My husband and I drove down on Sunday afternoon, and while I spent the morning at the audition at the Westin Hotel, he shopped at Cascade Station. Portland’s magnificent MAX Light Rail made getting around practically effortless.
Jeopardy! computer jockeys had wired the room to provide computerized games for our simulated games, as well as videos of welcome from Alex and other useful information. As we waited, Tony took Polaroid pictures of everyone. We wrote our names of the back of the pictures and submitted them at the end of the morning. What will happen to that well-oiled procedure now that Polaroid film is no longer available?
There were approximately 30 people in the room, most from the Pacific Northwest, but some of whom had flown in from much further away. Despite the early hour, the Jeopardy! Contestant coordinators Tony and Glenn were outrageously animated. The excitement level in the room was over the top. After introductions and orientation, we took yet another 50-question test. All the contestants were enthusiastic, sharp, and eager to go to Los Angeles. Everyone received a Jeopardy! pen as a memento, along with the advice, “Don’t call us. We’ll call you sometime in the next 12 months if we want you.” There are so very many qualified people with my same background in auditions all over the country, and I knew that my chances of being called were only slightly better than winning the Powerball Lottery.
December 12, 2008. The phone rings and the Caller ID reads Sony Pictures Ent. I didn’t immediately connect the ID to Jeopardy! but when Robert introduced himself and started asking questions like “How many felonies have you been convicted of?” and “Have you ever been on a televised game show?” I began to suspect that he was building to something bigger. Sure enough, after 15 minutes or so of interrogation and delightful conversation, he popped the question, “Would you like to come to L.A. on January 27 and 28 to appear on Jeopardy!?”
Yes. Yes. Absolutely!
He promised to send a packet of paperwork which I had to complete and return to Jeopardy! by Dec 18th, as the offices would be closed for two weeks at Christmas. The USPS came through and the packet arrived on Monday. I faxed the contract back on Tuesday and e-mailed the rest to Maggie on Thursday. I made hotel and flight arrangements, and then began to wonder what my study strategy should be. My right brain said, “You can’t really study for this; you got this far without it; you’ll have to get by on a lifetime of curiosity and reading.” The left logical brain says. “You’ve got 6 weeks. You’d be a fool not to use the time to some advantage.” The left brain won, so I concentrated on Shakespeare plays, Vice Presidents and First Ladies, British monarchs, and African and Asian geography. Those changing country names in Africa and the new “-stans” in the former Soviet Union were not part of my memory bank, so I caught up on them. A refresher of Puccini vs. Verdi operas and mental gymnastics of Trivial Pursuit cards and Ken Jennings’s Trivial Almanac provided the remainder of my getting in shape.
The winter weather in Puget Sound which had begun on the day of Robert’s call lasted more than a month, and ran the gamut from periodic snows, unusually cold temperatures and high winds to relentless rain and area-wide flooding. It was truly the winter of our discontent. Confined to the house, what else could one do but bone up for Jeopardy!? I did begin to wonder what weather disaster might prevent me from keeping my flight reservation for Monday, January 26.
It turned out not to be a weather disaster, but rather a last minute adjustment required by Jeopardy! that postponed my appearance from 27-28 January to 3-4 February. Tony called on January 14 to report that a scheduling conflict had moved me to the following week and could I accommodate the change. Being retired, I have remarkable schedule flexibility, especially when Tony indicates that Jeopardy would pick up any cost incurred in changing the airline ticket.
February 2. Groundhog Day and my sister’s birthday. The day arrived, and the weather was perfectly clear – chilly enough in Seattle that the thought did occur that I could fly to LA and not return until spring arrived in the Pacific Northwest. It was a shock to my system to stand in 80-plus degree sun outside the airport waiting for the Radisson hotel van. Jeopardy! has an arrangement with the Culver City Radisson for special rates and a morning shuttle to the Sony Pictures Studio for Jeopardy! contestants.
The combination of strange surroundings, urban light, and noise from the San Diego Freeway, to say nothing of nervous anticipation meant that I got much less than a full night’s sleep on Monday night. Afraid of missing the 7:30 shuttle, I set two alarm clocks, requested a hotel wake up call, and asked my husband to call me. I needn’t have worried. I awoke at 4:30 and never went back to sleep.
I’m not one of those people who can skip breakfast (more about that later), so I was at the hotel dining room when it opened at 6 AM. I stoked up on a high protein meal to fortify myself for the day. There were lots of things to worry about – bad hair day, spilling something on myself, missing the shuttle, and a thousand other things – but the consequences of missing breakfast wouldn’t be among them.
Jeopardy! instructions were to wear the outfit you wanted to appear in and bring two changes for the possibility of winning and playing more shows. I chose to wear slacks and a sweater set-- the same one I’d worn in Portland, so maybe it would bring me luck. I was bringing two additional sweaters, since they don’t wrinkle; I brought my carry-on bag to the studio instead of the usual garment bag many people mention.
There were already two women at the hotel entrance when I arrived. One was a contestant’s guest sister, so she wouldn’t be riding over with us. Four other women joined us quickly, and someone quipped, “Do you suppose this is an all-female taping?” It turned out that the men all waited until the last minute to arrive, at which time the odds changed to more nearly 50/50. Kelly, (a tour planner now living in Brunswick, Georgia) and I began talking, and it was like I’d met my twin, separated at birth. We’d both grown up in the south, on opposite sides of the Great Smoky Mountains, and I guess there really is something about being GRITS (Girls Raised in the South). By the time we arrived at the studio, we’d already exchanged e-mail addresses and couldn’t stop talking. It was the perfect antidote to any pre-taping nervousness I might have had.
Contestant Coordinator Glenn met us at the Sony Visitor Entrance, escorted us to the Jeopardy! Green Room, and introduced us to Robert, who knew each of us by name – a by-product, no doubt, of studying the Polaroids taken at our audition. Our places at a conference table were identified by finding the copies of the paperwork we’d already sent, together with more questionnaires and more forms requiring signatures, with the Jeopardy! pen provided. Corina inspected our Social Security cards for verification of the number we had submitted. They take no chances that Uncle Sam and the State of California will not get their cut of our winnings.
The Green Room is small, and there is no room for attitude. It seems more like the reunion of a fraternity or sorority, as everyone shares a similar obsession – appearing on Jeopardy! All are friendly and helpful in composing Hometown Howdies.
I’m 63 years old, more qualified for the Jeopardy! Seniors’ Tournaments which are no longer conducted, but still as determined to be on Jeopardy! as I was the first time I tried out in Chapel Hill in the mid 1980s. As I reviewed the “competition” face to face, it struck me that most of these people were not even born when I began watching Jeopardy in the 1960s. Most of them are half my age, grew up with thumbs specially evolved for Jeopardy! competition by a lifetime of video games, and had nanosecond recall. Most of them probably think a “Senior Moment” is high school graduation. One of the only contestants who probably was born within ten years of me is Priscilla, who won a game in November, but who was unable to defend her championship immediately for health reasons. That means that there are actually two returning champions in our group and it means that someone will play against two such contestants, much as if two players had tied in a game. I just hope I’m not the third player in such an arrangement. Priscilla’s name will be put in the random drawing for selection, just as the rest of us.
There was a bounteous fruit and pastry table, with lots of beverage choices. I’d already eaten, but the pineapple and raspberries looked and tasted freshly picked. I went light on the beverages, though, as one doesn’t want to have to ask to be excused in the middle of Double Jeopardy!
Administrative details took 45 minutes or so, then Robert introduced– no, unleashed -- Maggie on us. Maggie Speak is a legend in the game show world, having worked with Alex in the eighties BJ (Before Jeopardy!). Maggie drinks straight adrenaline for breakfast. Her personality, organization, and passion are contagious, and soon, everyone was even more hyped than when they arrived, if that is possible. Her part of the process was to go over the rules and dispense advice – speak clearly and loudly; keep the game moving; don’t talk to anyone but the contestant wranglers; don’t even think about looking at any guests you have in the audience; remember to phrase in the form of a question; and more, lots more.
During all of this lecture/comedy routine, we were quietly slipping into the adjoining nooks for our make-up. Barbie did my make-up; she’s also done Jack Nicholson’s. I don’t normally wear makeup, so when Barbie finished, I looked in the mirror, and had no idea who that person was. She was beautiful, but she wasn’t me! Barbie is a true magician.
To the studio for rehearsal. We each got two turns at the podium with a practice board, learning to use the buzzer. Taking the spring out of a ballpoint pen produced a good substitute buzzer for home practice. But my fears about the ability of the younger contestants to ring in at the exact proper time proved to be well grounded. If you want to ring in first, there is a tiny window of opportunity when the lights (unseen by the television viewer) are activated after Alex finishes reading the question.
Back to the Green Room. The representative from Sullivan Compliance came in to explain his role as an ombudsman for the contestants to keep everything honest and fair. From the criminal background disavowals and other affirmations on the contract, to the constraints on contestant movements on the day of taping, Jeopardy! is scrupulous about keeping the game free of controversy and illegalities.
Back to the studio for real. The first two contestant names are drawn to face Kevin, the returning champion. I’m glad I’m not one of them, but Kelly is. I was rooting for her, and were it not for a Daily Double in VWLSS VGTBLS (vowelless vegetables), she’d probably have won. The first game passed incredibly fast. Jeopardy! time must be different from regular time.
The next thing I know, I hear my name. I’m so not ready. Here comes my 15 minutes of fame! To the Green Room for makeup retouching, bathroom visit, microphone attachment by Mitch, and a pep talk from Robert, and then to the podium. We film our Hometown Howdies. Writing the Hometown Howdie was the hardest part of the preparation; the one I had brought with me was chronologically inappropriate, as my air date had been moved from March to April when my taping date was moved. Last minute rewriting only added to the pressure of delivering it without bobbling.
Eric, a high school history teacher, is the returning champion; Peter, from Seattle, stands to my left in Position 3. It feels like I am in a vacuum bubble. I’m aware of almost nothing but the glare of the lights and sound of blood pulsing in my ears. Alex is introduced and we are off. I don’t remember which categories were in Jeopardy! and which in Double Jeopardy! but I do recall that most were to my liking. No soccer, French monarchs, or rap musicians. One is totally unaware of the score. You have to keep your eye on the clues, the lights, and the video screen, so there is no chance to check your score. I was pleased that I was able to ring in some of the time, but if a clue was particularly easy and we all knew it, I had very little chance of beating the other two contestants to the buzzer.
Time for Meeting Alex. He chose the first item on my list to talk about, the fact that I fainted the first time I saw a computer. At Wake Forest, I routinely skipped breakfast to attend an 8:00 math class and ate immediately after the class was over. That worked fine, until the morning the class trooped down to get an introduction to the new computer. After standing for more than 30 minutes, probably with knees locked, down I went. Luckily, my best friend was standing behind me to break my fall. The irony was not lost on Alex that I went on to a career in computers.
When I did find a Daily Double at $1600 in the Literary Before and After Category (a real favorite of mine), I was astounded to see that I had $7200 or thereabouts. I risked $2800, and after puzzling out the clue and making sure that I wouldn’t stutter over the response, I answered, “The Art of War and Peace.” Alex went, “I’m sorry, you forgot to phrase it in the form of a question.” I got it right, and lost the money because of incorrect phrasing. How could I blow a gimme? I told myself to suck it up and get right back in the game. Sure enough, I chose the $2000 question in the same category and got it right – “The Name of the Rose Tattoo.” I felt much better after that.
You win some; you lose some. In the Presidential Potent Potables category, I answered WHAT IS BOURBON? for the potable made by George Washington. Alex seemed to hesitate, then ruled me incorrect. Turns out it was whiskey. (Now I ask you what self respecting southern gentleman like George doesn’t make bourbon?) I noticed during the next break that the judges were on the phone, and I believe they were checking to see if they could give me credit for my answer.
Double Jeopardy! is over and I look up to see that I am in the lead. Amazing. My mother’s wish for me was that I would have enough money to play Final Jeopardy! She feels so sorry for people who are in the red at that point and have to leave the stage. They don’t even come back for the “Talking with Alex” segment.
Final Jeopardy! Category – Sports Venues. I feel only about 50% confident here. If the question involves corporate names for stadiums, I’m sunk. I am flabbergasted that I actually have a chance of winning if I get the answer correct. Someone brings 5 x 8 paper for wagering calculations. I’m so nervous, that I check my calculations over and over. What an embarrassment if a math major misses a win of Jeopardy! because of an arithmetic or logic error!
The question appears. These two venues, both in Queens, are four letter anagrams of each other. You either know it or you don’t, and I know it. Stay calm, and write. What are ASHE and SHEA? Now I am nervous. Alex goes to the other contestants first and everyone is correct. When my answer is revealed and the wagering result calculated, I’m ahead of Peter by $1. That’s enough. With $16,401, I am a Jeopardy! Champion. Alex comes over, shakes my hand, and asks if I had just had my hair cut this morning, because he had, and mine looked as short as his. I reply that my haircut is a few days older, but that I do go to a barber shop for my cut. After the cameras are off, we step carefully down from our blocks and walk to the center of the stage for the “Talking with Alex” shot. I can’t even remember what we talked about then.
There’s no time to celebrate. Immediately, Robert is there to take me and the other players in my second game back to the Green Room. I change my sweater, get my make up retouched, mike checked, and try to stay calm. Maggie told us at every break in the first game, “Remember, breathe in AND out.” I did it onstage, but was forgetting to in the Green Room.
Being back onstage for the second game is like being at the starting line of a second marathon minutes after finishing your first one. No one told me that I needed a second Hometown Howdie. Maggie suggested one, and I went with it; I could probably have done better with a night to sleep on it, but what can you do. Melissa from Austin, TX, is in the third position and Jeff (I think) was in the second slot. All I can think of is that I’m actually standing in the same spot Ken Jennings once did.
I remember few details of this game. I liked the category “MEN” AT WORK and could have run the category if I had recognized or reasoned out Yehudi Menuhin as the violinist pictured in the last clue in the column. Presidential Potent Potables, Poet Monograms, “RU” There, GOD, It’s Me Margaret, Celebrities in Other Words – the categories came fast and furious. Some of these were in the first game; others in the second, but for me they all run together in memory.
I was far more nervous in the second game. My hands were sweating; during one of the breaks, when the makeup lady was checking us, I asked if I could borrow a tissue to dry my hands. There must be something about expectations. I had none in the first game, but I was a “returning champion,” for goodness sakes, in the second game.
I’m in third place at the end of Double Jeopardy! Jeff is in second, Melissa in first. The category is Film Quotes. I decided that my wagering strategy would be to bet just enough to outscore Melissa if she missed the question, since I didn’t have enough to beat either of them if they were correct. The question was “WHAT IS GIN?” referring to the potent potable mentioned in the second best quote in the AFI list of film quotes. I reasoned that it was gin, but waited till the last minute to write it down while second guessing myself. Sure enough, it was right, and for one brief moment, I was in the lead, with more money that I had won in the first game. Jeff got in right and bet everything, I think, to put him in the lead with $26,000 or so. Melissa missed it – amazingly – and I wound up in second place. I congratulate Jeff and think to myself that my loss means that one more person will have the opportunity to be a returning Jeopardy! Champion.
Out to the edge of the stage (hit your mark!) to kibitz with Alex. This time I stand next to him – Be still my beating heart! Yes, he is as nice as he appears at home. Even nicer, really, and so very intelligent. You can tell that he wants everyone to succeed.
As I leave the stage, Corina has the paperwork for me to sign, reflecting my winnings in each game. Maggie has a last bit of encouragement, and I’m off to the Green Room to grab my bag and return to the hotel. As my last game was the third game of the day, the remaining contestants were taken to the Sony Commissary for lunch. I would like to have joined them, but I was a “non-contestant” at that point and not allowed. I could have returned to watch the remaining two games, but I was exhausted. So by 3:30 I was back at the hotel. Kevin (returning champion from the previous week) and I shared a cab. We agreed to round up as many of our fellow contestants as possible and get together Tuesday night in the hotel bar for decompression.
Final Thoughts: After the experience, I now fall firmly in the far right brain camp – remain fresh and loose, the better to make new and unusual connections among the facts one does know. EVERYONE on the Jeopardy! staff is professional, enthusiastic, and supportive -- interested in the success of every contestant. From my makeup person Barbie, microphone man Mitch, stage manager John, office manager Luci, to every one of the contestant wranglers – Maggie, Glenn, Robert, Corinna, -- and the judges, Johnny Gilbert, and Alex, everyone was fantastic. Jeopardy! was the thrill of a lifetime, and I thank all of them for allowing me to have the experience. |
