Local
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Jeopardy!
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fans are probably still reeling from last night’s defeat of Rich
Way, Aromas resident and gameshow champ for two nights in a
row.
Aromas – Local “Jeopardy!” fans are probably still reeling from last night’s defeat of Rich Way, Aromas resident and gameshow champ for two nights in a row.
“I wasn’t really expecting to win anything,” he said. “I thought, worst case scenario, I get third place and $1,000, and the trip to the studio would pay for itself. So winning just over $36,000 is a nice surprise.”
Way, who works for Diversified Software in Morgan Hill, has been following “Jeopardy!” since childhood. When he learned about an audition call in San Francisco last May, he decided to try for his 15 minutes of fame, although he didn’t anticipate actually making it onto the show.
“I’d been a longtime fan,” he said. “So I had to give it a shot.”
Some 150 people turned out for auditions, and were a given a 50-question written test, with only eight seconds to complete each question. A score of 35 or better was required to go on to the next phase of selection, and only six would-be contestants – Way included were able to move forward.
The six were split into two groups of three, organized into mock games and interviewed about their work and hobbies.
“At this point they were really looking for screen presence,” said Way. “After all, it’s an entertainment show, and they’d rather have someone interesting to watch than someone full of arcane trivia.”
Way didn’t hear anything else about his audition for another three months. Then he received a call in August inviting him on to the show in September. While he did make an effort to brush up on philosophy and cultural literacy, Way didn’t feel the need to study too intently.
“Once you get on the show, you either know the question or you don’t,” he said. “If you study Shakespeare they give you opera, if you study opera they’ll throw Shakespeare at you.”
With next to no knowledge of how an episode of “Jeopardy!” was filmed, Way drove to Sony Studios where he was in for a few surprises. Five episodes are filmed each day, with only ten minute breaks in between for water, touch-ups, and a change of clothes. All told, Way was only on the set for three hours.
“What I found most surprising was the lack of interaction between Alex and the contestants,” he said. “What you see on camera is exactly how much was exchanged … they don’t want anybody to be able to even suggest that he’s passing answers.”
Another unexpected challenge was the timing involved with the buzzers – everyone knows that contestants can’t buzz in until Alex is done reading the question, but actually, contestants must wait for a judge to arm the buzzer. The best way to answer then, Way says, is to ignore the cues and simply “get into the zone.” But even buzzers and a frantic filming pace weren’t Way’s biggest shockers.
“I really wasn’t expecting to have to wear make-up,” he said. “But of course you have to on TV. So it looks like I have a really dark tan, but I’m actually very pale. I’m Irish – we don’t tan. We just burn.”
Those watching last night’s “Jeopardy!” may remember the Final Jeopardy clue that sealed Way’s fate: “The only surname shared by a President of the United States and Prime Minister of the UK.” For the curious, the name is Wilson.
“The person who actually got the answer right was Canadian,” said Way. “So of course he was bound to know more about Prime Ministers than anyone else.”
Even though the episodes were filmed months ago, Way says that watching himself on TV these past few nights has been a surreal experience.
“I thought I was prepared for it,” he said. “But watching it at points I would almost get upset and think ‘Oh no! There’s no way I can come back and win the game now!'”
While Way is pleased to have won his prize money, he won’t see any of it until 120 days after the last episode is aired – mid-April, in this case.
“I haven’t really thought about what I’ll do with the prize money,” he said. “Until I have the check in my hands, it doesn’t seem real.”
