The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: DoorNumberFour on May 29, 2011, 02:15:02 AM
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I'm going to NY on June 29th for my follow-up interview/written test after passing the online Jeopardy test a few months back. I went into the online test rather unprepared, and I really want to prepare for this second test (my current strategy is to watch the back episodes and write down the questions I don't know).
Have any recommendations for study materials, either in print or online?
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I wrote a blog on the online (http://"http://gameshows.about.com/b/2010/01/18/jeopardy-registration-new-contestants.htm") and in-person audition experience (http://"http://gameshows.about.com/b/2010/01/25/be-a-contestant-on-jeopardy-after-the-online-test.htm") about a year ago. This is what I had to say about that:
Before the test, you might find it to be a good idea to study. My personal philosophy is that studying everything you can is useless, as Jeopardy! could ask on the tests or on the show about anything that has ever existed in the world. I feel it's hard to prepare for that, but it is indisputable that they often go back to certain categories. Current events are something you should always touch on... They also love their pop culture: Know the Oscar and Emmy winners of the past year and what shows and actors they're associated with. And, of course, there's the brilliant William Shakespeare. Familiarize yourself with the main characters and plots of his most noted works. Sure, a question on seventeenth century Russian monks could sneak in there, but at least you'll have your common bases covered.
That's just my personal philosophy; hopefully some of that helps a bit. I honestly don't find it that helpful to cram for a trivia test, but I always advise studying in areas you know you're weak in. For me, that's world bodies of water. It wouldn't be too hard to look at a list of the 25 or 50 biggest lakes but trying to spot every lake in each country wouldn't be very helpful in my opinion.
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From my experience two years ago, I would add to what Chad suggested the following:
- try at least spending a little time on current authors and their works
- to expand on pop culture, try to bone up a little on current songs- there's usually one or two questions they ask about them
- Bible, Bible, Bible! Can't stress that enough
But don't overdo it with the studying. I agree that cramming probably won't help you as much as it may seem.
Other than that, there's really nothing more that I can tell you that Chad's blog post won't- I'd just be repeating what he said (well done, Chad). Just don't be nervous, have fun with it, and if they're holding the auditions in the same place they did last time, two things- 1) bananas are expensive, and 2) take the elevator, otherwise you might get lost.
(don't ask)
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If you can't pass the test with the knowledge you already have, you won't do well on the show. Better to focus on having an attractive personality. Take the test and let the chips fall where they may.
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One other big thing: Presidents, Vice Presidents, and who the Presidents defeated to become President. This last one doesn't come up as often, but I can't tell you how many times questions about our nation's leaders have come up!
IIRC, Ken Jennings thought the two most important topics to know were Shakespeare and Presidents/Vice Presidents.
Anthony
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I'd agree with Presidents; one of the things I've complained about a number of times is the number of clues in the bottom row that boil down to asking who was President in year XXXX.
The other thing that I think shows up a lot is state capitals.
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My personal philosophy is that studying everything you can is useless, as Jeopardy! could ask on the tests or on the show about anything that has ever existed in the world.
They could, but they don't. They have a sphere of knowledge that they work with, and if something isn't in that canon, you don't need to worry about it. Knowing what you need to know and what you don't is as big a skill as knowing the stuff you need to know. If you're studying things that they won't ask, you're wasting your time. On the other hand, if you're brushing up your Shakespeare but stare uncomprehendingly when you see the clue "He was The Merchant of Venice," then you did it wrong also.
To that end, if you've read the same books as I have, I don't need to spend a lot of time on the tried-and-true categories or knowing your one-to-ones "this Grand duchy" or "this Swedish playwright," but in reading about the IBM challenge, I found something interesting that Roger Craig used to prepare: a computer flash card program called Anki. You figure out a subject that you don't know well, make up a set of flash cards (or if you're lucky, someone will have made it for you already) and you run review sessions. The ones you got correct go to the bottom of the stack, and the ones you got wrong float at the top, waiting to be drilled again until you have the right answers branded onto your cerebellum.
If you took the online test then you know what clues stumped you, and that's the stuff to bone up on.
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I always say study what you don't know. Someone like me studying television trivia is a waste of time, but I do need to study on art & literature.
Of all the Jeopardy tests I've taken, when trying to place all the questions into the classic 6 Trivial Pursuit categories, I find the tests are top heavy on A&L. If that's your strong point, you've got a good start.
Things to memorize:
Presidents, elements, world capitals.
All three are manageable lists and come up often.
Shakespeare also tends to come up, so if you're lacking in that category, it's good to get a small list of the popular shows with characters and a brief synopsis of each.
this is about all i can suggest on the short-term you have a month to go study strategy, but if you pass this test, I would suggest doing what I've done and read the World Almanac cover-to-cover.
On a side note, I thought Jeopardy had already been to NYC in April, does anyone here know if that's true (I just find it interesting if they came twice, and heartbreaking if they came twice and I still didn't get randomly pulled to go test there this year).
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I would suggest doing what I've done and read the World Almanac cover-to-cover.
Really? That sounds remarkably labor intensive for a minimal payoff.
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Thank me later. (http://"http://www.naqt.com/YouGottaKnow/")
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This article http://www.pisspoor.com/jep.html mentions "On the Tip of Your Tongue" by Irene M. Franck.
If you don't mind a similar volume with a British flavour, you could do a lot worse than "Pears Ultimate Quiz Companion" by Jim Hensman, which contains thousands of pertinent questions listed in precis form. Highly recommended.
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I would suggest doing what I've done and read the World Almanac cover-to-cover.
Really? That sounds remarkably labor intensive for a minimal payoff.
Wasn't hard at all. I love trivia, I love reading, I pack my lunch every day and it only takes me about ten minutes to eat. That leaves 50 minutes a day, 5 days a week to read, plus two 15 minute breaks as well.
I didn't say I read the book quickly, it took about 14 months.
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I would suggest doing what I've done and read the World Almanac cover-to-cover.
Really? That sounds remarkably labor intensive for a minimal payoff.
Wasn't hard at all.
"Remarkably labor intensive" does not equal "difficult". Aside from the fact that the plot is kinda weak, there's nothing particularly challenging about reading The World Almanac cover to cover. The question is whether that's a useful way to digest information, especially in the context of our Jeopardy conversation. Strikes me that the vast majority of it is charts and tables that, even if you could memorize it all, would never come into play in a Jeopardy game. Or normal human conversation, for that matter.
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...there's nothing particularly challenging about reading The World Almanac cover to cover. The question is whether that's a useful way to digest information, especially in the context of our Jeopardy conversation. Strikes me that the vast majority of it is charts and tables that, even if you could memorize it all, would never come into play in a Jeopardy game. Or normal human conversation, for that matter.
As someone who's read his fair share of almanacs over the years (The World Almanac is a favorite), I would be inclined to agree with you, Matt. I would expand upon the charts and tables point with "a fair trove of entirely trivial information". I'm sure an almanac would be of some use if you were studying up for a test like the one they give you for your tryout, but like Travis said- whatever you'd get out of it would probably be of minimal benefit to you. Unless you really think that the year Montana Senator Jon Tester was sworn into office, the leading export of Palau, or the home countries of every single United Nations Secretary General will help you win on Jeopardy, I would keep the almanac out of the study materials.
(although I'm pretty certain the third example I used has been a category at least two or three times)
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I would suggest doing what I've done and read the World Almanac cover-to-cover.
Really? That sounds remarkably labor intensive for a minimal payoff.
Wasn't hard at all.
"Remarkably labor intensive" does not equal "difficult". Aside from the fact that the plot is kinda weak, there's nothing particularly challenging about reading The World Almanac cover to cover. The question is whether that's a useful way to digest information, especially in the context of our Jeopardy conversation. Strikes me that the vast majority of it is charts and tables that, even if you could memorize it all, would never come into play in a Jeopardy game. Or normal human conversation, for that matter.
Just from casual observation, since reading the Almanac it has upped my game. As far as being labor intensive, it's no more labor than I would have done reading something else in the same time frame anyway.
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How often is Potent Potables/alcohol-based categories showing up these days?
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How often is Potent Potables/alcohol-based categories showing up these days?
Usually about 2-3 times a season. (http://"http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=potent+potables&submit=Search")
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Just from casual observation, since reading the Almanac it has upped my game. As far as being labor intensive, it's no more labor than I would have done reading something else in the same time frame anyway.
Counter question: have you actually taken the Jeopardy! contestant exam at any point?
(really don't want to take it in this direction but I have to know)
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To the original poster: Do you have "The Jeopardy! Book" ? If not, I do. It contains several sample games of J! Note that the book was released in 1990, but the sample boards can give you a general idea of what subjects to look up. If you don't have it, PM me, and I will make scans of the games in the book for you.
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To the original poster: Do you have "The Jeopardy! Book" ? If not, I do. It contains several sample games of J! Note that the book was released in 1990, but the sample boards can give you a general idea of what subjects to look up. If you don't have it, PM me, and I will make scans of the games in the book for you.
Well, if studying past games is what you want to do (and that IS probably the best way to dig in), then your best bet -- by far -- is to poke around in the fan-created Jeopardy Archive (http://"http://www.j-archive.com/").
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Just from casual observation, since reading the Almanac it has upped my game. As far as being labor intensive, it's no more labor than I would have done reading something else in the same time frame anyway.
Counter question: have you actually taken the Jeopardy! contestant exam at any point?
(really don't want to take it in this direction but I have to know)
Yes, I took it in Philadelphia in 1997 (passed, but didn't get further), in Washington DC in I think 1999 or 2000, and I got to take two tests in Boston in October of 2002.
Since the incarnation of the online tests, I think I only missed one year. My scores have gone up since reading the Almanac, and although it took until this year to pass, I've been much closer in recent years. I have also passed 5 of the last 6 tests I have taken for Millionaire, 4 of those since reading the good book. The Jeopardy tests are heavy on Art/Literature and that is my weakest subject of the classic 6 Trivial Pursuit subjects. What I'm saying there is that if you were to place the Jeopardy test questions into those classic 6 categories, AL is a runaway favorite of the tests, but not this test-taker.
When watching Jeopardy at home and keeping score, my average score (straight, no betting, total score after two rounds) has gone from $14,662.79 in 05-06 to $19,859.72 this season.
I tend to retain much of what I read, and no I didn't memorize all the tables and basically meaningless stuff, but it did show me how much GM spent on advertising vs. other companies and yeah, the fact that GM is (was at the time of the 2007 almanac) the biggest spender on ads has probably come up.
One of the best things it did for me was to get me to finally memorize the presidents and most of the elements and their symbols. While I read the parts about the countries of the world, it helped me to better remember their capitals and some history. While I read that part I also made sure to look at the included maps and learn some rivers and other major cities in those countries plus the languages they speak and the currency they use.
Another thing I've done that has furthered my trivia game was crossword puzzles--lots of them. I did that before I bought the Almanac. My reason for doing it, well it got me to quit smoking after more than 20 years of lighting up! When I went on break, I would do a crossword puzzle, or read some trivia and forget all about wanting a cigarette. By the time I was done with the puzzle, break was over and back to work, no time to smoke.
To date, I have passed 28 game show tests and will be going for #29 next Friday (Millionaire).
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To date, I have passed 28 game show tests and will be going for #29 next Friday (Millionaire).
Terrific. How many times have you gotten The Call?
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Yes, I took it in Philadelphia in 1997 (passed, but didn't get further), in Washington DC in I think 1999 or 2000, and I got to take two tests in Boston in October of 2002.
Ah, cool.
Reason why I didn't quote the rest was because that was all I needed to know, but the post was interesting. That is a rather unique way to quit smoking, for the record. Kudos.
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To date, I have passed 28 game show tests and will be going for #29 next Friday (Millionaire).
Terrific. How many times have you gotten The Call?
Whoa there, low blow. He was asked how he could tell his Jeopardy game has improved and whether he had taken the test. No more, no less. He answered the question.
How many times have *you* gotten The Call?
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To date, I have passed 28 game show tests and will be going for #29 next Friday (Millionaire).
Terrific. How many times have you gotten The Call?
Whoa there, low blow. He was asked how he could tell his Jeopardy game has improved and whether he had taken the test. No more, no less. He answered the question.
How many times have *you* gotten The Call?
Not one, but I've only ever taken three tests, passed none, but Only Connect thinks enough of me that I have five screen credits for submitting puzzles.
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To date, I have passed 28 game show tests and will be going for #29 next Friday (Millionaire).
Terrific. How many times have you gotten The Call?
Whoa there, low blow. He was asked how he could tell his Jeopardy game has improved and whether he had taken the test. No more, no less. He answered the question.
How many times have *you* gotten The Call?
Don't worry Clemon, I can take it, I'm used to a large number of posters on this board being that way, which is why I don't jump into too many of these threads. Just another case of a wimp hiding behind a keyboard.
anywho...no I have never received "The Call", but I am realistic about it. Millionaire only has in my estimate 150 shows a year, maybe 3 contestants per show, so that's about 450 slots available for all those people who do pass the test. Jeopardy has maybe 45 weeks of programming times two new contestants per show times 5 shows per week, so that's also 450 slots per year for all the people that pass that test (as I've said, usually not me). I do realize that even after passing the tests, getting on the show is about as possible as winning the lottery. Add to the odds against factor that I'm in my late 30s and white, well I'm a dime a dozen to them. If I was a black woman of any age the contestant coordinators would be tripping over themselves to put me on the show. I'm OK with the reality of what goes on in television, but I see no reason to give up on something I love doing.
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Just another case of a wimp hiding behind a keyboard.
I humbly beg your pardon. Sir. I was not aware that we're not allowed to reply to your posts. I'll write that down for the future.
I'm OK with the reality of what goes on in television, but I see no reason to give up on something I love doing.
And here's the question I have about this: I understand that the combination of not scoring high enough, not being what the coordinators are looking for and not having the skills for the show means that I don't put myself out there to try out for the shows. What's fun about undergoing a process that isn't going to end the way you want?
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I do realize that even after passing the tests, getting on the show is about as possible as winning the lottery.
My Numbers Have Meanings sequel is going full steam.
"Unlikely" does not equal "about as possible as winning the lottery". In this case, not even remotely close. If you're one of the fortunate few who pass the test, my guess is that your odds are in the neighborhood of 5 to 1 or maybe 10 to 1 of being selected. And even if it was 100 to 1, or 1000 to 1 (how many people are you thinking pass the test each year anyway?) that still wouldn't come close to a number you'd compare with lottery odds.
I'll leave your racist, sexist comments to stand on their own merits.
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If you can't pass the test with the knowledge you already have, you won't do well on the show. Better to focus on having an attractive personality. Take the test and let the chips fall where they may.
Lots of advice in this thread, but I think this is really the best one for your purposes. If you've already passed the online test, you have the knowledge set to pass it again. I don't know if it's really possible to "fail" the second test, and everything I've read indicates that everyone at the live audition gets to play the mock game/gets a brief interview, regardless of how the second test goes. I suppose that the second, "live" test is simply to weed out cheaters and kill some time/set the mood. (I don't actually know this. Unfortunately, the official Jeopardy Message Board is down right now, so it's harder to find out.)
The key word is "audition". At this point, the Jeopardy Powers That Be have assembled for themselves a room full of people who have the knowledge to play the game. Now they are trying to cast a television show. Be yourself, but go at it with the goal of showing them why they should put you on TV, on their TV show specifically. (My theater and radio experience was especially helpful for me in this regard.) Start thinking up 5 interesting things about yourself to write down, and practice what you are going to say when they ask you to tell them a little something about yourself, and what you are going to do with the money. It doesn't need to be super-cutesy, but you should be able to speak confidently/clearly. Pay attention and follow their instructions, and you should do just fine.
Speaking as one of the many white guys who've made it on the show, it's not such a disadvantage. A crappy attitude is a disadvantage. Go in there to have fun and play the game. That's the kind of player they want, regardless of any other demographic.
Finally, if you really want a book to practice with in the weeks before your audition, I'd recommend the "Trivial Pursuit Word Search" book, newly released and probably available at your local big box bookseller. It's got 50 general knowledge quizzes in a variety of subjects, presented in a format which is very compatible with learning/practicing for Jeopardy.
Have fun, and good luck!
-Myron M. Meyer
(Jeopardy, 2002)
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I recommend Steven Ferrill's "The Cultural Literacy Trivia Guide". Plenty of lists, including Shakespeare. Spent a few weeks perusing it and at least half a dozen questions in my J! qualifying test were things I remembered reading in the book that I had specifically memorized. More recently, while not helping me directly, I recall other newly-memorized facts showed up on fellow contestants' Millionaire questions during our taping dates.
I would also throw in reading the newspaper every day (yes, I know some of young'uns don't know why we still read that relic) and/or news sites online to be familiar with current events, if only to remember names in the news.
World Almanac is also a great source, as mentioned earlier.
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A good choice is the New York Times Guide To Essential Knowledge. It's basically a 1300 page desk encyclopedia that covers a wide array of subjects and includes a 350 page "reference library" which are various appendices, including about 35 pages about food, a guide to languages, rulers of the world, and a 125-page biographical dictionary.
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Curious how your tryout went, and which materials you chose.
-M
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Curious how your tryout went, and which materials you chose.
You know, I meant to update this when I got back from my tryout. Thanks for reminding me.
I ended up mainly using the link Matt posted earlier in the thread, in conjunction with this wonderful program for OS X called Cerebral Imprint (http://"http://www.alexrose.net/code/cerebral-imprint/")--it's a free, open-source flash card program similar to what Travis mentioned a while back. I read a page at a time, copied down the major points on paper, then used the program to make flash cards out of the facts and quizzed myself.
To be honest, though, I didn't do a LOT of studying for the test. I took someone else's advice and just concerned myself with having a good audition, and having fun. If I get on the show, that's when I'll REALLY study.
I was very happy with the way my audition went. Without getting into too many details, I'll just say that nothing that I read appeared on the written test. C'est la vie. I think I did about as well--if not a teeny bit better--on the in-person test than I did on the online test.
The mock game was a lot of fun! I surprised myself with how well I handled the signaling device...other than Quizzard and NES, I've never really gauged myself as to how fast I could hit a button when I know something. Good times.
The personal interview went well, too. I had to write five "interesting" facts about myself. Mine were:
- My lifelong dream is to be a television game show host.
- I am an avid thrift shopper and board game collector; I have about 200.
- I can rap very, very fast. (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGca2OvkIw0")
- I am a cashier at Babies R Us by day, and a college radio DJ by night.
- I once had an embarrassing moment involving the pastor of my church and my family's outgoing voice mail message.
Of all of these, Maggie (the contestant coordinator) focused on my dream of hosting a game show. She asked me what my dream show would be as a host, and I immediately responded with The Price Is Right--to which Maggie responded "Well, I think they NEED a new host..."
She then tested me by telling me to put an item up for bids for her and the other two coordinators. I grabbed Maggie's can of Diet Coke and immediately took bids for it. When Maggie and Karina (the other female coordinator) argued over who won, I threw to commercial.
Overall, I'm very happy. And hopeful.
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Oh that sounds very good!
If you are going to start studying in earnest, the book to go with is mentioned a couple of posts above, The Cultural Literacy Trivia Guide. You can order the newest edition here:
http://culturalliteracytrivia.com/
. I am one hundred percent convinced that it was originally compiled by the author by just writing down clues that came up on Jeopardy. There is no wasted info in this book. Everything in it could be a potential clue on the show. You can get earlier editions for cheap at places like Amazon, but be warned, they're notorious for being riddled with typos and flat out errors. I have the 4th edition on order, and I'm interest to see what additions/corrections have been made. There's still at least one weird clue on the samples pages at the web site.
Again, good luck.
-Myron