Weiss put to the test on Jeopardy
Erin Fox
Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: News
Instead of giving the tests like in class, Professor Scott Weiss of the math and computer science department will be in the hot seat on Jeopardy where his trivia knowledge will be tested.
The show he appears on will air tonight on ABC at 7 p.m.
"To be able to get on the show at all is a miracle," he said.
Weiss says he applied for the show in March of 2006 after an online application came out that asked 50 questions with 10 minutes to answer. Weiss said that those who passed that test were chosen randomly for a live audition. He estimated that about 100,000 people took the online test and he happened to be one of those chosen.
"I've been watching the show since it came on…I never really thought about trying out until the online test," Weiss said.
In May of 2006, Weiss went to an audition in D.C. where he played a mock version of the show. After that he waited for a call back, which came in November of 2006, inviting him to fly to Los Angeles in December to be on the show and tape an episode.
The episode that was taped in December airs this Wednesday night. Weiss could not say whether he won the episode or not. He did say that if he wins the episode on Wednesday, then he will be on Thursday's episode as well.
"You keep playing until you lose," Weiss said. "No matter what happens, how could you not want to be on [the show]."
Weiss has known the outcome of the episode since December and the only other people who share his secret are his wife and sister who were at the studio while taping.
"It's like I have a secret identity," Weiss said. "It will be a relief to talk fully about it."
On Friday March 16 starting at 6 p.m. in Laughlin Auditorium, there will be a showing of the taped Jeopardy episode from Wednesday night with Weiss' commentary. If he wins that game, a taped version of Thursday's episode will be shown and if wins that show, then everyone can watch Friday's game on cable at 7 p.m. followed by a second viewing of the show with Weiss giving more commentary.
The show he appears on will air tonight on ABC at 7 p.m.
"To be able to get on the show at all is a miracle," he said.
Weiss says he applied for the show in March of 2006 after an online application came out that asked 50 questions with 10 minutes to answer. Weiss said that those who passed that test were chosen randomly for a live audition. He estimated that about 100,000 people took the online test and he happened to be one of those chosen.
"I've been watching the show since it came on…I never really thought about trying out until the online test," Weiss said.
In May of 2006, Weiss went to an audition in D.C. where he played a mock version of the show. After that he waited for a call back, which came in November of 2006, inviting him to fly to Los Angeles in December to be on the show and tape an episode.
The episode that was taped in December airs this Wednesday night. Weiss could not say whether he won the episode or not. He did say that if he wins the episode on Wednesday, then he will be on Thursday's episode as well.
"You keep playing until you lose," Weiss said. "No matter what happens, how could you not want to be on [the show]."
Weiss has known the outcome of the episode since December and the only other people who share his secret are his wife and sister who were at the studio while taping.
"It's like I have a secret identity," Weiss said. "It will be a relief to talk fully about it."
On Friday March 16 starting at 6 p.m. in Laughlin Auditorium, there will be a showing of the taped Jeopardy episode from Wednesday night with Weiss' commentary. If he wins that game, a taped version of Thursday's episode will be shown and if wins that show, then everyone can watch Friday's game on cable at 7 p.m. followed by a second viewing of the show with Weiss giving more commentary.
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