I appeared on Jeopardy! on October 31, 1995. Not being Ken Jennings, I came in third on my first (and only) appearance on the show. But I did OK, despite the obtuse categories like "Texas Airports" (HUH?) The only question I got wrong was Final Jeopardy (who cares about the U.N. anyway?) and I even beat 2 guys to the punch on a few sports questions. To the eternal surprise of everyone who knows me, I answered a question about football coach Mike Ditka that, to this day, I cannot explain why I knew. They know that my sports knowledge is basically limited to what time the Notre Dame football game will be televised on a given fall weekend. 
Even though, as a contestant, I had to pay my own way across the country to play the game and win Valuable Prizes (a "$600-value" set of videotapes that I mostly gave away--what? no refrigerator? No stereo? No lifetime supply of Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat?), I did get the cool "Jeopardy Challenge" scorekeeper gadget, which was fun, but is now obsolete since they've doubled the dollar amounts given for each question.
I don't like the new rule that allows amazing people like Ken Jennings to play forever. When I was on the show, we were told that only about 400 contestants per year have the chance to be on. That was with the 5-day-win limit. With no win limit, that makes the annual contestant pool that much smaller, so people like me might not ever have the chance to play the game. But I still listen to the show on my kitchen radio while I do dishes. Maybe someday one of my kids will be a contestant!
COUPON TIME
I didn't get any fabulous electronics as my game-show consolation prize, so I'll have to console myself with electronics deals like these:
15% off your online order at Sirius 
Use coupon code SIRIUS15.
Valid through: Unknown
Free Emergency Radio when you buy a Grundig GS350DL Portable AM/FM/Shortwave Radio at Crutchfield.com 
Receive free compact Eton Microlink Emergency Radio with hand crank, solar panel, and built-in flashlight and cell phone charger. Receives AM, FM, and all NOAA weather bands.
Valid through: January 24, 2009
10% off Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones Plus Free Shipping! 
Use this link to activate coupon.
Valid through: January 17, 2009
Save up to 30% on Digital Cameras at Circuit City 
Valid through: January 10, 2009
10% off all Toshiba Accessories at Toshiba Direct 
Use this link to get the coupon code or input DYNAMITE10 at checkout.
Valid through: January 19, 2008
