This is Jeopardy!
As I was finishing college, I tried out for regular Jeopardy! in an open casting call in San Francisco. I didn’t have any money or career plans after graduation so the idea was to win big on Jeopardy! and then go to Europe and travel around. I didn’t make the first cut.
Luckily I found a cheapo plane ticket to London and my friend Yvonne said I could sleep on her couch if I came to visit. The trip was great and thankfully my negative try-out experience did not cloud my enjoyment watching Jeopardy! since then.
Right before the pandemic, in February of 2020, I went to a GOAT party at Town Hall Seattle for Ken Jennings, the winningest contestant ever on Jeopardy! and now host of the show (What is rest in power, Alex Trebek?). I just looked this up, Ken Jennings won more than $5million that’s USD when he was a contestant.
Before Ken came onto the stage, the lights went dark in the room. In the Are You Ready To Rumble? voice, the announcer said “Seattle Welcome The Greatest of All Time Keeeeeennnnnn Jennnnnnnningssssssss!!!!!”. The lights went crazy - red siren cuckoo spotlights and flashing strobes. I think there was a smoke machine? It felt like the start of a Chicago Bulls game in the nineties. Ken came running from the back of the old church up front to the stage and the crowd went wild. It was one of the nerdiest things I have ever done, and that is really saying something.
At this Town Hall Seattle event I learned that Ken’s archnemesis, James Holzhauer, never wore a jacket or sportscoat during competition because that extra layer of fabric on his forearm slowed down his ability to buzz in. I also learned that Ken knows a lot about game theory (among other topics) and he got those big bucks not only by buzzing in first and always getting the clues right but by betting super strategically at every wagering opportunity.
In 2023, my friend from tasting group, Kelly Barry, told us at a tasting that she was going to be a contestant on Jeopardy. (I think at that point the shows had already taped but she has such a good poker face there were no spoilers.) I delayed the evaluation of the wines that night because I had a zillion questions for her. Together with my other buddies from tasting group, we had a group text the night her first episode aired. Spoiler alert she won the first show and then lost the second but was brought back in 2024 for a Champions WildCard show.
Kelly was kind enough to answer some of my questions below.
Kelly Barry, how long have you been watching Jeopardy?
Since my college days, watching occasionally with my dad. I’ve been a regular viewer for about 20 years now.
What did you do to study - were you hoping for Potent Potables? What are your strong suits / what were you hoping was not a category?
Having been a regular watcher for years, I had a pretty good idea of where my weaknesses were. Often with the help of family and friends, I studied categories such as military history, Shakespeare, NBA, fantasy and sci fi literature, pop music, and many more. I was hoping for “dream” categories such as Wine, Science/Physics, Tennis, Hockey, Geography, 80’s Movies, Classic Rock, to name a few. I was hoping to not have to deal with Shakespeare, since there are so many details to know! Luckily, there was a Shakespeare category just prior to my taping, so I knew it would not reappear for me.How did you train for clicking the buzzer?
Once I knew I was going to be on, I would always watch with a ballpoint pen clicker. My friend Andy Tirrell used a toilet paper holder springy thing, which a little closer in dimensions to the real thing. (that’s a pro tip right there, you guys)What do you think about Celebrity Jeopardy? Pop Culture Jeopardy? SNL's Jeopardy spoofs?
Celebrity Jeopardy for me is about the personalities – it isn’t very challenging so it’s like doing the Monday NYT crossword if you know what I mean. However, it can be pretty entertaining! I’m not a regular watcher, though. I am caught up on all the Pop Culture Jeopardy! episodes – Colin Jost is perfect for the job, but the subject matter is pretty difficult and I would say I know the answer MAYBE 30% of the time. These are some deep dives!Would you share any fun stories from your experience?
For my first taping in December 2022, we all hung out in the Wheel of Fortune studio and two by two they came and got us for the next game against the reigning champ, Stephen Webb. The next-to-last game of the day had me and fellow competitor Mark Bernstein waiting by ourselves. The Final Jeopardy! was a stumper (A writer & producer of this movie said he wanted it to be like a Western or James Bond film, “only it takes place in the ’30s”) but Mark and I both knew it (What is Raiders of the Lost Ark?). When he and I were walking over to the Jeopardy! studio for the final game of the day, I said to Mark, “Okay, Mark – we can do this – we can beat Stephen. It’s going to be you or it’s going to be me, but one of us will do it.” He smiled, but I don’t think he was quite convinced, since Stephen was an 8-day champ by that time.
There is a website dedicated entirely to rating the fashion choices of Jeopardy! contestants.
Kelly, how did you choose your outfits for taping?
I wanted a professional yet comfortable look and wore jewelry pieces that my friend Jules had designed for me. Comfort was also key, so I was wearing black leggings and black Allbirds for every taping. I tell you, having professional hair and makeup is FANTASTIC!
I have to say that what I didn’t expect is that the entire Jeopardy! crew are some of the nicest, friendliest, helpful, wonderful people you will ever meet!
Are you still in contact with the other contestants?
When we did Season 39 Champions Wildcard, they flew us all in for a week and we stayed at the same boutique hotel near the studio – so we got to hang out at night and it was amazing! I visited with one my CWC39 cohorts Ittai Sopher on a trip to New Orleans, and recently attended a taping of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast at the Neptune with cohort and local favorite and Queen Anne resident Martha Bath – we got to meet recent TOC contestant Mehal Shah (from Seattle) and also Sam Buttrey! See attached photo of me, Martha, Sam, Julie Sisson and Mehal. I do keep in regular contact with my CWC39 cohort though a What’sApp thread, so we all keep up with each other that way – I love my nerdy tribe!
Kelly sent me this video clip of her favorite clue
Big thanks to Kelly for her time and cheers to Turd Furguson