Want to know who wins Jeopardy? Can’t tell you. We had to sign an NDA, swearing not to reveal the outcome of the episodes we watched being taped.
Being a member of the studio audience for a game show has been on my bucket list for decades. We recently attended a taping of the Jeopardy Masters Tournament in Los Angeles, and it lived up to my expectations. Not only did we see contestants we had previously seen on TV, we also saw a previous winner in the audience. Ken Jennings was even more personable, quick-witted and self-effacing in person than he appears on TV. During breaks he strolled to the front of the stage to take questions from the audience. The pace was slower than we expected, with many breaks for technical issues, to correct mistakes, to consult the judges, or to allow contestants to have a drink of water and relax for a few minutes.
We did get the answer to a question that had puzzled us for years. When you watch the show, you see the contestants all punching their buzzers madly, trying to be first to ring in. In the olden days, contestants could ring in before the host had finished reading the question. Now, there are a string of bulbs on either side of the Jeopardy board that light up the exact second that Jennings finishes reading the question. (You cannot see these lights on TV.) After they light up, the first to press the buzzer wins. If a contestant presses the buzzer before the lights come on, they are locked out for a fraction of a second before they can press again, giving the other contestants a slight advantage.
Insider tip: If you decide to go to L.A. for a taping, report to the staging area an hour before your scheduled time. Seats are given last minute to celebrities and family members, so there’s a chance you won’t get seated if you are among the last to sign in.
Mark and Saimi Boldly Go 