I like game shows. Not Howie Mandel with a bunch of briefcases, but real game shows - like Jeopardy. My favorite part of Jeopardy happens just after the first commercial break (usually a Head On or Adult Diaper Commercial). That's when Alex gets to know more about the contestants. Each contestant has their Jeopardy fact - Alex gives them a teaser and then the contestant finishes the story. Example:
Alex: "So I hear you've got something in common with an American icon..."
Lame Contestant "That's right Alex, I share a birthday with Elvis - January 8."
As you can see from the example above, some Jeopardy facts are really, really uninteresting. This makes me sad, especially if it's a first time contestant. I think a decent quarter-life goal is to have five interesting Jeopardy facts. It shouldn't be that hard - to average one interesting life experience every five years. Or I guess you could come up with one really good lie every five years (I doubt the Clue Crew is doing their due diligence between episodes).
Having five interesting facts at your disposal would certainly come in handy if you're ever on Jeopardy, as you'd have an interesting Jeopardy fact for your entire first week as a contestant (I'm assuming you're smart). After the first week, Alex just starts talking about all the money you've made or takes the 30 seconds to show how smart he is anyway.
I also think five good Jeopardy facts can help your career. I've found myself in plenty of awkward work situations where only a good Jeopardy fact can break the awkwardness. Whether it's a way too dull client dinner, a get to know you meeting with new coworkers (i.e. scheduled play date), or just a planning meeting that is dragging on longer than anyone expected - a well positioned Jeopardy fact (like telling people that you were in a circus for seven years, or that your dad was your junior high sex ed. teacher) can shift the conversation away from work for just long enough. It often will lead to others sharing their Jeopardy facts, which is a great coworker screening tool.
So I speak for my blogmate when I say that we'd love to hear your Jeopardy facts. You can post them as comments to this post, or just save them for your next game show appearance or awkward work situation.
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7 comments:
If I remember correctly, I believe you have to give a few facts to them during try-outs for Jeopardy!.
One of mine would be that I was in the mascot suit for men and women's DePauw basketball 2006 SCAC tournament wins... including Austin Brown's 61 foot buzzer shot.
While in college, my friend's brother noticed that same Jeopardy episode was on twice a day: #1 in the morning when he didn't have class. #2 In the afternoon when his class finished, and his roommate religiously watched the show. So, Adam, my friend's brother, would remember the clues from the morning and after afternoon class (missing the contestant interviews), would rattle off all of the correct answers, INCLUDING the obscure, 'you either know it because you're a geek or don't know it' Final Jeopardy.
One of my interesting Jeopardy facts:
The first time I ever tried a Sierra Mist, I split it with Emmanuel Lewis (aka, Webster).
He drank his from the can, mine I mixed with Barcardi...
Sometimes, I tuck a few flushable baby wipes in my pocket before I hit the can at work. Interesting? Debatable. A fact? Indeed.
I thought I was a "special" client... now I realize that you use the same "my dad was my sex ed teacher in high school" line on everyone. I feel used.
my family once helped oprah catch her dog. it all started when my mom insisted that we try to find oprah's farm in indiana, what we didn't expect to do was find oprah herself. she was running down the road with some friends trying to catch her dog. my mom decided it would be a GREAT idea to get in on the action and help. so we did...
To anonymous #4 - You are a special client. Only special clients have blog access. Also, I think the sex ed teacher comment came up in a larger group setting, and one of the guys looked like a young Alex Trebek so it just came out.
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