So You Want to Be a 'Jeopardy!' Star?

You scored high enough on the 50-question online test for a Jeopardy! audition.Jeopardy!You completed another 50-question test, answered personal anecdote questions, and played a mock game during the in-person audition. They tested your brain and your personality; that is good.

Then you waited. It might take up to 18 months for them to ask you to be on the show. If you heard nothing in 18 months, you tried again.all over again.

If you make it onto your own episode ofJeopardy!, then you passed a tough series of slim odds and lucky chances. Your trivia skills and intelligence matter, but they are only part of the fight to get on the show.The show's producers said, "out of 100,000 test-takers, only 3,000 get in for auditions, and only about 300 of those make the show."

Your shot at 22-26 minutes of single-episode trivia fame only happens if your smarts and the odds favor you.

Since being onJeopardy!Jeopardy! is a big deal; you can bring your friends! There is a special area in the studio audience for family and friends. But you cannot talk to them (or look at them). This stops cheating.. This prevents cheating.

You need to want the game, not the show's glamour... there is no glamour.Jeopardy!Jeopardy! does not pay for your flight or hotel. They give second and third place winners $2,000 and $1,000, so you will at least break even.

The first three episodes film in the morning,followed by a lunch break. Then they bring in a new studio audience for the last two episodes. After each episode, Trebek and the champion change clothes so the next episode looks new.

Alex Trebek always has five people near him.

At the start of every in-personJeopardy!Show producers ask hopeful contestants to do ice-breaking and trust exercises. One exercise isthe "hugging" ice breaker, where you, a potentialJeopardy! winner, must hug your competition.You, the Jeopardy! winner, must hug your competition.

The goal is to make nervous people laugh and calm down before they start competing hard for the chance to be on TV. That sounds good!

You know the phrase, “Never let them see you sweat”? That is not an issue onJeopardy!. They keep the studio temperature cool to balance thehot lights. That is life on TV! You are just sweating inside!

Ultimately, Trebek choosesHe asks you about a topic, but you must give him many options. Every contestant fills out a three-page questionnaire. These 'first date' questions ask things like 'Brushes with greatness and secret ambitions?' or 'What is the one mistake no one will let you forget?' Many contestants...You draw a blank.You realize your funny stories do not work for TV or TV viewing.

The show’s contestant coordinators handle this.They manage the entire job.Their job is to make you feel comfortable and help you find interesting things to talk about. They are the real MVPs!

He is busy. He also cares about clear speaking, so he...He reads.He reads the clues and answers early in the day. The show keeps contestants separate from him until it is go-time. Your guests get a chance to know him. During breaks, he...A Q&A.It happens with the audience!

Most contestants know the right answer to a clue. Buzzing first wins. While Alex reads the clue, lights signal when you can buzz. Buzz too soon, and your buzzer gets...locked out.

Jeopardy!champions would likely do well at Bop It.

Contestants get thirty seconds to write their answer during Final Jeopardy. The pressure is high. Luckily, the show gives you a bone. A tiny, baby bone. During the commercial break, while you make your final wager,...you will be toldif your answer needs to start with a 'Who is' or a 'What is.'

This lets you write the setup ahead of time and save time.

Because the show tapes five episodes in one day, producers find things for contestants to do when they are not on stage under the hot lights and Alex Trebek's stare. What better way to kill time off stage than...Contestants watch each other compete.? When you are not competing, you watch the other rounds as a studio audience member. Also, like in-class talks, being picked first can be a blessing and a curse.

Good news: You finish your round early and do not get stressed by other contestants' skills. Bad news: You go first and do not know your opponent.

The show lasts half an hour, including commercials. After commercials, you play for only about 22-26 minutes. That equals about four *NSYNC songs, so the time flies fast. Between answering clues, Alex interviewing you, and competing in front of a loud crowd, it is quite a...blur. Take a second to absorb it!

The episode ends. Credits roll. Viewers watch contestants talk to Alex, wondering what the room of intellectuals discusses. Likely, nothing much.Jeopardy!Three-time champion Michael Bilowsaid on TwitterThey talked about the bracelet Alex always wears. That was riveting.

Wait a bit before seeing yourself on TV. They tape episodes two months early to keep content stocked. Also, you cannot tell anyone the episode results beforehand.

This made things difficult forKen Jennings, whose 74-episode streak meant he taped new episodes while his first ones aired.

Now that you've been onJeopardy!, a new world opens up. A world full ofotherpeople who have been onJeopardy!. Alumni form their ownpub trivia teams, post on contestants-onlyFacebook groups, and join inpanelson one of the manyJeopardy!fan pages on the Internet. Brainiacs must stick together!