Howdy-ho!

Can’t believe it’s been more than a year since I last posted on this site! Mea culpa.

But, it’s a new year - and for me, a new job and a (sort of ) new city. I have left newspapers (and New York) and am now working for SmartBrief in Washington, D.C., which publishes email newsletters for associations and industry groups. (And I’m trying not to be too upset that the Ravens missed the Super Bowl.)

I say Washington is sort of new because even though I haven’t lived in the nation’s capital, I’ve spent plenty of time there. It’s a fantastic place with lots to see and do, and I look forward to being part of it.

But, what may be even more exciting is that in December, I finally got to fulfill one of my “bucket list” items and go to the Los Angeles area to be on “Jeopardy!” My air date is March 21, so set your DVRs.

I can’t reveal how I did, but I can answer a few questions that I’ve been asked:

  1. What’s Alex Trebek really like?
    Very nice and easy to talk to - and funny! He genuinely seems to enjoy his job and getting to know the contestants.
  2. Do they pay your way out there?
    No. But, the deal is that even if you lose, you get $1,000 for third place and $2,000 for second place (before taxes, of course), which theoretically covers your travel costs.
  3. How many episodes do they tape at once?
    They tape five each day, two days a week.
  4. How do you get picked to be on the show?
    First, you have to take the online test. If you do well enough, you get invited to an in-person audition (mine was in Times Square, a few days before Faisal Shahzad tried to blow it up), where you take a written test, play a mock game and chat with the contestant coordinators (who are all awesome people). You are then in the contestant pool and can be called any time within the next 18 months or so. I got invited near the end of my time in “the pool,” for what it’s worth.

The whole experience was way too much fun, and I will write more about it in March.

Until then, if you love this show as much as I do, check out Jeanie Kenkel (who was also in my contestant group) at The Jeopardy Fan.