The Game Show I Played On
Jeopardy! Back to School Week (air 9/26/03)
The Price is Right (air 1/20/10)
How I Applied
For J!, I was watching the show when I heard that auditions were coming to my hometown of New Orleans. I applied online, got invited to an audition two months later, passed the 30-question test, and did well enough in the mock game. For TPIR, I told Stan my dream job was a game show host. Hmm...
How I Fared in the Game
I was leading after Double Jeopardy, only to meet my end by not knowing Mr. Potato Head. Came in 2nd there for $2,000. On TPIR, I lost my pricing game, but won the Showcase to the tune of $34,021 in prizes.
How I Prepared for the Game
For Jeopardy!, I just played the game. A lot. I have the N64 version of the game at home, and I played that for a long time leading up to my tape day. It really helped with the buzzer strategy, though playing the game live was a whole different story.
As for TPIR, I didn't prepare at all. I didn't know I was going to get called that day...
The Highlight of the Experience Was...
Meeting Alex and Drew, no doubt -- Alex is a consummate professional who also has a wicked sense of humor, and Drew really makes you feel at ease when you're shaking in your shoes up on stage. But Jeopardy! and Price are two shows that I've been watching since I was 2, and to be on those shows means that I've fulfilled two of my childhood dreams. I didn't even have to win anything on both shows; I was just there just so I could say I've been on Jeopardy! and Price. The fact that I've won over $36,000 in cash and prizes between the two is even more awesome.
Advice
- For both shows, just be yourself, and play the game as if you were playing it at home.
- For Jeopardy!, be aware of the category you're playing in, especially if it's a quotation mark category. One of my opponents lost quite a bit of money because he didn't remember the quotation marks. And be aggressive on Daily Doubles--they're your biggest opportunities to close gaps or to pull ahead. In hindsight, I squandered both of the ones I hit.
- For Price, if you get to spin the Wheel, the power lies in the hips. Just give it the biggest spin you can, because you may only spin it once.
