Student to Appear on "Jeopardy!"
This summer, Zach Blumenfeld did what few people will ever do: Appear on "Jeopardy!" The junior flew to Los Angeles in August to appear in a teen tournament that will air beginning November 3.
Although he can’t reveal how he did on the show, Blumenfeld doesn’t hold back when talking about the experience.
"You’re on the set of one of the most famous game shows in television history, and it’s an exhilarating experience," he said. "You’re so lucky to be able to do this."
Luck played a role in Blumenfeld’s appearance. Last spring, he found out about an online test for potential Jeopardy! contestants ages 13-17. After taking the 50-question test, he was among 300 people chosen at random – from among the 50,000 who took the test – for a live audition in Chicago in late May. During the audition, Blumenfeld and the others took a written test, went through an interview, and played a mock game of Jeopardy! On July 24, he was notified of his selection for the show, and flew to L.A. on August 15 for two days of taping. He was among 15 teens picked for the show, and one of three from Illinois.
Blumenfeld said it takes only 40 to 45 minutes to tape a half-hour episode of the show. There are very few breaks, and rarely did host Alex Trebek make a mistake.
"He’s a very impressive man," Blumenfeld said. "He’s very smart. He’s also a very funny guy. People only see the business side of him on TV."
Despite being under the glare of lights, and standing in front of a TV legend and room full of strangers, Blumenfeld said he was able keep his nerves in check.
"At first, my heart was hammering," he said. "But I got into a zone and started to feel more comfortable fairly quickly."
Ironically, Blumenfeld isn’t a fervent Jeopardy! fan, mostly because the show airs at 3:30 in the Chicago area – a time when he’s either just getting out of school or busy as a member of the boys swimming and water polo teams. He’s also involved in the Freshman Mentor Program, National Honor Society and Scholastic Bowl.