December 22, 2008
'Jeopardy!' appearance by staff member to air Dec. 30
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Branson, library assistant in the Humanities, Social Science, and Education Library, says her job helped her qualify and perseverance helped her get a contestant's spot.
"One of my duties is the reference desk, and that has helped," she says. "And working with a really good bunch of people who are very intelligent is great."
But it didn't all come easily or quickly. Branson recalls that in the show's earlier incarnation with Art Fleming as host, she thought "It would be fun to be on this" but mostly as an idle thought.
Years of encouragement by her sister led her to send in a postcard when, in 2001, the show announced that it was going to hold auditions in Chicago. That year, and again in 2003, she qualified but wasn't called to appear. When the online test became an option, she took it in February 2007 but heard nothing until that June, when she was invited to an audition that August.
"Then I didn't hear any more until September of this year, and they called while I was recuperating from surgery," she says. "They wanted me to come in October but I wasn't cleared to travel. I flew out Nov. 3."
Branson's family and friends all over the country have really revved up the enthusiasm, she says, and when she was shopping for clothes to wear on the set, a few people who overheard her got excited for her.
"I feel like I have a nationwide fan club," she says.
She followed the show's advice to bring a couple of changes of clothing but to avoid pastels or busy patterns. She says she enjoyed being there.
"Contrary to what the set may look like on TV, it is kind of small," she says. "And the audience section held maybe 200, so it wasn't overwhelming. The staff were very helpful and very expert at putting us at ease. It was really quite fun."
Branson encourages others who share her dream to try out, and she thinks most "Jeopardy!" contestants agree that even qualifying for "Jeopardy!" beats being on most shows.
"If there's one thing I'd like for a child to take away from this," she says, "it would be 'Hey, it's cool to be smart.'"
Branson is not permitted to discuss the outcome of the show until it has aired, so her fans will have to tune in Dec. 30 (a Tuesday) to find out.
"Jeopardy!" airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on WLFI (broadcast Channel 18) and WTHR (broadcast Channel 13).