By STARLA POINTER of the
News-Register on 11/8/2016
Between the moment “Jeopardy!”
notified Chuck Dunn he had been chosen as a contestant until the day he
reported for taping, the Linfield College math professor had a month to feel
nervous. As he sat through four earlier rounds of the game show, waiting his
turn, his anxiety grew.
This was his big chance — the chance
he’d been seeking for 25 years, even mailing in his initial application during
his college years.
As he stood in front of host Alex
Trebek, with the cameras rolling, the Jeopardy board lit up with the
categories. “Musical Instruments,” it said, and Dunn relaxed.
“What is a trombone?” he asked
confidently — very confidently, as that’s his instrument.
He provided the right questions to
three of the four other instrument descriptions — synthesizer, harpsichord and
pan flute — and to many other answers during the game. He ended up the winner,
with $22,000 to his credit.
The show, taped in August, aired
Friday, Nov. 4. Since Dunn won, he appeared again on Monday’s show.
At press time, he was still sworn to
secrecy, so he couldn’t say whether he would be seen tonight or later in the
week. Viewers will just have to tune in to KATU Channel 2 at 7
p.m. to find out.
But win or lose, appearing on
Jeopardy! was a dream come true.
He said he has considered
Jeopardy! his favorite game show since he was in high school. He’s applied
multiple times, taken the online test four times and tried out in person four
times.
Earlier this year, he was finally
chosen, following a lengthy application and interview process. He again took
the test on Jeopardy’s website, then advanced to an audition that included a 50-question
test, mock games and a mock interview.
He found out he’d been chosen in
July, seven months after his audition. In August, he flew to California to tape
his show.
His partner and five friends went
along to the taping. Hearing them cheering in the audience helped him focus on
doing everything right, he said.
Excelling on Jeopardy! involved more
than just knowing about musical instruments and all sorts of other categories,
from in-depth history to light trivia. Contestants need to read the clues quickly,
formulate their questions and hit the button at the right time, Dunn said.
If a contestant is too quick, he
said, the button locks. He or she needs to let Trebek finish speaking before
ringing in.
It’s different on the set than it is
when watching from home, he said. “It’s easy when there’s nothing at stake,” he
said.
Contestants also need to be patient,
as Jeopardy! tapes five shows a day.
All the contestants arrive first
thing in the morning. The first contestant is randomly chosen to tape the Monday
show. The winner and two new contestants go on to tape Tuesday’s show, and the
drill continues until a week’s worth have been taped.
Dunn was picked for the Friday show,
so he had most of the day to wait, watch and get nervous.
He said he expected the atmosphere
to be tense and competitive, but it wasn’t. He and the other contestants
developed a lot of camaraderie, he said.
“Everybody was rooting for
everybody,” he said. “You’re excited for the people who win.”
During the long wait, Dunn said,
coordinators made sure he and the others were comfortable and having fun. A
happy contestant is more fun to watch on TV, he explained.
And he did have fun, he said. A
great deal of fun.
Back in Oregon, Dunn went about his
day-to-day life. He started his 15th year at Linfield soon after the taping.
When his students asked about Jeopardy!, he told them a bit, but couldn’t
reveal anything about the outcome.
Instead, he described the math
skills involved in wagering. For the final question in each Jeopardy! game,
contestants have a chance to wager some of their winnings in an attempt to
achieve a higher score.
On Friday, students and staff held a
“watch party” to see how the professor did. Dunn knew they would recognize him,
as he was wearing one of his trademark bow ties.
“I’m a creature of habit,” he said.
“I wear a bow tie to class every Monday.”
He has about 60 in his wardrobe. If
he keeps winning on Jeopardy!, maybe he’ll add to his collection.
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