This. Is. The Jeopardy! Online Test
As far back as I can remember, I've wanted to be a Jeopardy contestant. And that's why I take part in the annual tradition of the Jeopardy Online Test. The first step towards being a contestant on the show. Take the test. If you do well, they contact you for a live audition in one of usually 10 cities. If you do well, you'll get an invite to be on the show. But the online test... oh that's a tough gate to break through.
For 14 years, ever since I was first eligible to take the test, I've been taking that test. Fifty questions, covering everything from late 19th century opera to 1980s Soviet politicians to 1930s Oscar winners. The test is, by design, a lot more difficult than the show. They want to make sure you're smart, not just lucky. You're given 10 seconds to answer each question. You hope the spelling of the answer you type is close enough to count, and once it's all over, you sit and wait for Jeopardy to give you a call. You aren't given a final score. You aren't told how you did. You just have to hope you did well enough to get a call.
Fourteen years later, I'm still taking the test. Fourteen years later, I have yet to get the call. But my twitter bio includes "3 Day Jeopardy Champion (pending)," so I'm optimistic that one day I'll be able to walk on stage at Sony Picture Studios in Burbank, California, have Johnny Gilbert introduce me as "A radio DJ, from Quincy, Illinois," and become an at minimum 3 day champ.
I go to trivia nights, and usually do exceedingly well. My friends and teammates have often said, "Brodie, you know way too much useless trivia." I always respond, "As long as Jeopardy's on the air, no trivia is useless."
All you have to do is sign up at Jeopardy.com, and you're all set. Make sure you mark your calendars for March 6th through the 8th for the adult test, and March 15th if you've got a teen who would rock it on Jeopardy. Otherwise, you'll have to wait till next year. But even if you have no designs on being a contestant, it's a fun mental exercise.