Friday, August 22, 2003
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Friday, August 22, 2003 |
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McIntosh teacher shoots for game show stardom By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
The programming decision that moved "Jeopardy!" from 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on WXIA 11 Alive has aggravated a lot of local viewers, perhaps none more than Peachtree City resident and McIntosh High School English teacher Lynne Bruschetti, who will now have a hard time catching herself on TV when she appears on the program Oct. 20. Bruschetti, a teacher at the school since 1984, was registered for a chance to appear on the program by her husband, John, last spring. The producers came to the Mariott Marquis in Altanta in April and she was selected to take the 50-question test. Test takers have four seconds to answer each question and then the test is graded immediately afterward. If test takers make the grade, which Bruschetti did, they get to participate in a mock game. "Near the end of June I got a call from the producers and was told that I made it on 'Jeopardy!'," recalled Bruschetti. "I had to pay my own way out there - airfare and hotel - and wait until myn ame was called." "Jeopardy!" typically tapes five shows a day and Bruschetti was not called on Monday. Tuesday's taping was delayed when a piece of equipment broke down but she finally got before the audience Tuesday afternoon. To prepare for her appearance, she used a clicky pen and played along with each episode and also played the "Jeopardy!" video game. "I felt out of my league as I met all the other contestants waiting for their shot," said Bruschetti, who met an assortment of doctors, lawyers and scientists with advanced degrees. Though she can't say how she fared on the show, she can say that she made it to Final Jeopardy, so we know she finished the game on the plus side. Bruschetti also said that even the third-place contestant leaves with $1,000, so the expenses for the trip do eventually get covered. She also revealed that one category during her time on "Jeopardy" was The Goodyear Blimp, which she admitted she knew nothing about. As for her other observations on appearing on possibly the most popular game show of all time, "The studio is smaller than I thought it would be, but there are still close to 100 people in the studio audience. Also, Alex Trebek is very nice to everyone. He answered the studio audience's questions during breaks like it was the first time he heard them." Bruschetti also offers this advice for people who make it on the show. "Being fast on the buzzer is very important. It may be the biggest factor on if you win or not. Chances are that if you know the answer, the others do, too." While in California, Bruschetti stayed in Venice Beach and had a blast. She enjoyed the sights and people-watching and ate at a number of good restaurants. "I would encourage everyone to try out for the show next time they come to the area," said Bruschetti, who said members of the Clue Crew were on hand at the tryouts. "It was a lot of fun." Unfortunately, Bruschetti will not be able to appear on "Jeopardy!" again as only five-time winners are brought back. As for other game shows, she said that she has always wanted to appear on "The Price is Right." Now that her game show experience is behind her, she will enjoy spending time with her husband and three-year-old son, Jack, on the bike paths of Peachtree City. It is also time to go back to school. This year, she will be teaching American literature, which has produced some of her favorite books. Her students should know, however, that their answers need not be posed in the form of a question.
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