Robert Kochersberger, an associate professor of English, said he has watched the popular game show Jeopardy! for 20 years, and now he finally became a contestant on the show.

As a journalist, he is used to asking the tough questions, but on April 28 at 7 p.m., you can watch Kochersberger as he competes to provide a few answers.

The journey

Kochersberger said he was tempted to get a spot on the show after the qualifying exam became available online. Four attempts later, representatives from the show got in touch with him in March 2012. Within months, Kochersberger said he was sent to New York for his in-person audition to take another knowledge test. 

The competition selects about 1500 people out of millions who take the online qualifying exam to attend the in-person audition, according to Kochersberger. 

After the audition, it can take about 18 months to receive word if producers want you on the show, Kochersberger said. Typically, about 350 people are selected as contestants.

Kochersberger said he thought his dreams would not be realized, until Jan. 2014 when he received a phone call from an unrecognizable area code.

“I thought, ‘Oh my god! They want me on the show!’” Kochersberger said.

After making sure the authorities had not convicted him of any felonies, Kochersberger said show representatives invited him to Culver City, Calif. for filming Feb. 4 and 5.

The training

“I didn’t try extensively to prepare,” Kochersberger said. “In three weeks, you cannot amass the knowledge of the world.”

Given the number of newspapers he’s read, Kochersberger said he already had a solid amount of knowledge of the world. Still, he thought he could brush up a little on his Shakespeare, the presidents and pop culture as these topics were particularly challenging for him.

To strengthen these weaknesses, he said he frequented sites such as SparkNotes and Wikipedia and found himself looking up the names of recent American Idol winners, as well as the blogs of previous Jeopardy! winners.

On set

After arriving in California with his wife, Kochersberger said he decided to do some sightseeing at a few area museums. He said he arrived at the studio two days later carrying two extra pairs of clothes. (Jeopardy! tapes five shows each day, so the champions change into new closes in between games.)

Before the competition started, Kochersberger said he got his makeup prepped in order to “take off shine and add color.” He also filmed a promotional piece for the show, urging North Carolinians to drop their barbecue and watch Jeopardy!

During the practice rounds, Kochersberger, who is 63 years old, said he noticed he was the oldest in a group primarily consisting of women.

“I looked around and thought there were a lot of quick reflexes,” Kochersberger said.

Soon it was show time and he was shaking hands with Alex Trebek, the show’s host.

He said the studio seemed “shabbier” than he imagined, and the set was smaller than the one used for the practice rounds. Security was also on hand.

“It was amazing to see that set,” Kochersberger said. “It was the real deal.”

By Kochersberger’s luck, he said an outside agency had drawn his name from among the cards that determined who would play in the first game, increasing his nerves.

“It went by in a flash,” Kochersbeger said. “It’s funny how you focus in on a moment like that; I was oblivious to the audience.”

Though Kochersberger said he could not spoil the results of the show, he said if he did win, he would donate part of the money to “worthy causes,” such as homelessness and hunger charities.

When not competing on game shows or teaching journalism, Kochersberger said he has participated in a number of interdisciplinary and international programs at the University.