Robin’s most recent episode aired March 5th. Thanks, Robin!
Q: Your husband was on the show a few years ago. You also mentioned your daughter Caitlin in your contestant interview this time. Did either of them come with you to your taping?
A: Yes, Dan was on the show in 2011 and lost. He’s now my ex-husband, although not because he lost on Jeopardy – that would be pretty harsh. I have 3 children – Caitlin, Devin and Allison. I didn’t bring anyone to the first taping, but Allison is coming with me for the quarterfinals.
Q: Do any of your kids aspire to be on the show?
A: My son is the only one who is considering trying out. He’s 24 and he feels 30 is a good age for the show – you’ve lived long enough to finish your education and know stuff but you’re still young enough to be quick on the buzzer. (IIRC, Mike Dupee said his mother gave him similar advice.) I was 37 in my first appearance and I agree, your 30s are a good age to go for Jeopardy immortality.
Q: Have you spoken to Bob [Harris] or Shane [Whitlock] since your taping? Did you know them before?
A: I knew Bob from the Million Dollar Masters in 2002 and we are good friends. I had never met Shane before; he’s very nice and funny as well as smart. We are all friends on Facebook (along with most of the people in my round). We’ve had a lot of fun rehashing the games and telling each other how wonderful we are. One of the best things about this group is that we leave the rivalry on the set.
Q: How did you come up with the correct response on the final?
A: The final question was the sort of thing that you get immediately or you never get at all. I already knew that “macaroni” was an 18th century term for dandy and is used in the song “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” which led me to dude.
Q: Have you thought about what you’re going to wear in your next episode? 🙂
A: The clothing question may be facetious but actually it’s very important. The show has a business/business casual dress code. You cannot wear a plain white or very light blouse without a jacket or sweater because it sort of glares on camera. You’re also discouraged from wearing very busy prints. Rachael’s dress was fine because it was a bold, geometric print that countered the off-white background without looking busy. Meanwhile, you also want to be comfortable. Women contestants are usually advised to wear a blouse with a skirt or slacks to make it easier to run the wire for the microphone. It’s not an iron-clad rule – Rachael and Pam both wore dresses without a problem. Then there’s shoes – comfort matters. For most of my appearances I’ve worn a skirt or slacks with a blouse or sweater in solid colors. I’m not really comfortable in a structured jacket. I also try to pick colors that make me happy – this time around I chose purple, my favorite. Next time around I have no idea, but I’m looking forward to going shopping!
Q: Are you doing anything particular to prepare for the next rounds?
A: I am doing some game prep, but nothing very formal or organized. I’m reviewing some basic things, like Shakespeare, and watching more educational shows. The new “Cosmos” is really good.
Q: Is there anything else you want to say?
A: Not really, except to say how grateful I am to the producers for the opportunity to play again. One thing I’ve always remembered is what Maggie said to the group before my very first game: “Remember, it’s a game. Have fun.” I have had fun every time I’ve played, win or lose.