Answer: She is not really that bright after all.

Question: Who is Samantha Yale?

Correct!

Sigh.

The Jeopardy! Brain Bus was coming to town, and I was not going to miss that ride.

Why should I? I'm smart.

I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a reputable university.

Advertisement

In high school, I took mostly honors classes.

In second grade, I was tested for a program for the intellectually gifted. I even almost made it.

So, I was feeling pretty good Friday night as I headed to the Santa Maria Town Center to take the pre-test required to try out for the game show Jeopardy!, and play the “just -for- fun” round.

A line of people hoping to be contestants on the show snaked out of the empty store where Steve & Barry's used to be and circled around to Orange Julius directly across from the empty store.

I abused my media credentials to cut to the front of the line. In the public interest, of course.

Grant Loud, senior promotions manager for Jeopardy!,

explained that the pre-test was pass or fail. I had two to three minutes to complete the test, which I am forbidden from divulging details of. Between 15 and 30 percent of those taking the test would likely pass the exam, Grant said.

Joining the others already taking the test, I began reading the questions.

I didn't know the answer to the first one. Or the next one. Man, why didn't I pay more attention in 11th-grade history? Sleeping was probably not a good choice.

At the end, I had only filled out answers to about half the questions. About half of the questions I answered were wild guesses.

Sheepishly, I handed over my test to Grant, mumbling something about knowing I failed.

He politely led me over to the “just for fun” Jeopardy! area, where contestants buzzed in their answers, and lines of people waited for their turn at the board. Clue Crew members Jon Cannon and Kelly Miyahara doled out the questions.

Nervously, I joined one of the lines.

Jason Vanlith, of Los Osos, walked cheerfully by, holding a white paper indicating he passed the pretest and would proceed to the next round to try out for Jeopardy!, held today in Buellton.

“I read the first five questions, and didn't have a clue,” Jason said.

Whew, I thought, I'm not alone.

Then, he said, the answers just came to him.

So much for Jason and my similarities.

Soon, it was my turn at the board. With a clammy hand, I reached for the buzzer and stepped up to the microphone.

I answered one question correctly, but was stumped on an inquiry about lyrics in a Billy Joel song.

Unaffected, I turned to those waiting in line and blamed my youth on missing that one.

It was over.

Relieved, I grabbed my complimentary Jeopardy! T-shirt and headed for the door.

“You better hit the workbooks,” joked Santa Maria resident Steve Bircher as I left, who I had chatted with in line.

I know, I thought.

Then I consoled myself with a free sample of peanut brittle at See's Candies and left the mall, full of new appreciation for the brainy sort.

I think I'm better suited to reporter than I am to Jeopardy! contestant. I like being the one who asks the tough questions.

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamariatimes.com.

October 4, 2008