If you were going to be on a quiz show like Jeopardy! how would you train?
Would you read the whole encyclopedia, or break it into categories? Would you watch endless hours of the show? Would you get Ken Jennings on speed-dial? Or maybe you wouldn’t do anything because you’re confident you’d win with what you know already.
How would you quickly gain the most knowledge to ensure minimal embarrassment on national television?
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Unfortunately, the accumulation of trivia is lifetime of work. I should know. (I’d re-memorize the capitals of every country, relearn the order of the US presidents and Veeps and call it a day.)
I’d definitely just read the encyclopedia.
Or maybe take a history class at the community college.
You have to narrow down not read the encyclopedia. I would study Jeopardy itself to determine any narrow lines of questioning which come up again and again. Study up in those areas. They try to be broad but I suspect they have certain areas where they ask more question and certain where they ask less.
If I had the confidence I would love to go on something like that. I would break it down into sections and work from there.
Lift a lot of heavy weights. Run 10 miles a week.
If you had long enough you could put together a study plan with areas to work on… short of that .. buy all the different type of trivial pursuit and read the cards again and again.
@erichw1504 Hahaha… you’d be great, you should audition!
I’d exercise, both aerobic and soothing yoga/zen things, eat lots of fish, drink a lot of alcojhand socialize a lot with the smartest people I knew, and go home at night and type up stream of consciousness stuff I learned and surf into the wee hours. I’d burn my candle at both ends with a 48-hr chill out period before the show.
Meditate to relax just before going on, and drink plenty of coffee.
I’d probably start phrasing everything in the form of a question.
@Yetanotheruser Wouldn’t the coffee counteract the meditation? It would for me…
@jealoustome Lol… I fear that would be my biggest problem!
@ubersiren Don’t you mean, “What is my biggest problem?” :)
I’d also practice random bar trivia, contacting various places to see their old questions.
I would watch GSN 24/7 until the day I compete.
I’d find a source to learn College, President, sports and Geography questions. Ooooo, and Q’s about the Oscars.
@Trillian Sounds like you’re a fellow superfan! Yes, those damned sports questions. I never know any of them unless it’s ultra-common knowledge. And then there’s the government stuff like the different cabinet members/ departments and political figures. I don’t know what the hell the department of the interior does or who Martin VanBuren’s veep was.
Trivial Pursuit and Cranium
:)
@PhillyCheese Hah, yes Cranium will be good for those charade questions on Jeopardy where Trebek moves your arms and legs! ~
@ubersiren The meditation would be more to clear the mind and focus, rather than for relaxation. The coffee, okay, it would probably not be necessary, I would be excited to be there.
Martin van Buren;
Born in the town next to me.
Being 5’ 6”, he was known as ” the little squirt.
His VP was the well-known Richard M. Johnson’
He was VP under Andrew Jackson.
He was governor of NYS.
His home has been restored and is very elegant.
I have tried out for Jeopardy and made it to the final round, and it is not easy. It turns out that you can know everything about every subject, but if you’re not good with that signaling device, you may as well not show up to play. I like to watch Jeopardy with a click-top pen, and practice signaling when he finished asking the question. If you buzz in too early, you get penalized a quarter of a second until you can ring in again. Obviously, this detriment can be the difference between winning and losing.
As far as studying for the show goes, as a kid I used to read the Almanac and Trivial Pursuit cards before going to bed, and I have watched the show since I can remember. Also, being in school for 26 of the 30 years of my life has helped a great deal. Nerds rule!
@gailcalled Awesome! I’ll bookmark all that in case I get a call from the Jeopardy team one day.
@brownlemur Wow, great firsthand advice! I knew skill with the signaling device was a factor, but had no idea you’d be penalized for buzzing in early. Almanac and Trivial Pursuit- got it.
I’d practice my Sean Connory or Burt Reynolds impressions, then give random answers like “Turd Ferguson.” Suck it, Trebek!
If you have qualified to be on the show, you are already plenty smart.
Don’t try and learn anything new. Just go and scan stuff you already know, just to remind yourself.
And when in doubt, write “What is Kebert Xela?”
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