From ‘Jeopardy’ Fan To Contestant

Photo/Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

Huntington native Coby Klein, right, competes against Joe Nguyen and Christie Burke on an episode of “Jeopardy” that aired last Thursday.

By Rachel Stanislawek
info@longislandergroup.com

Huntington native Coby Klein has long been a fan of “Jeopardy,” but he recently experienced the show from a new perspective.

“I’m always watching [‘Jeopardy’] at home, and at the end of the show they give you the information as to how to apply to be a contestant,” Klein said, adding that last year his wife, Nomi Dayan, pushed him to apply. “After three tries I finally got an audition.”

And so began a nearly four-month-long process culminating last Thursday, when Klein’s episode of the quiz show aired on CBS. He competed against fellow contestants Christie Burke and one-day champion, Joe Nguyen.

Klein isn’t the first of his family to compete on the show. He and his family have been longtime viewers, “It’s something we all sit down and watch together,” Klein said.

In 1969 his grandmother, Nancy Klein, was a contestant, and his father has also tried to audition many times, Klein added.

Klein, an eight-year Huntington resident, completed his undergrad at the University of Rochester and his graduate degree at Hunter College, and is currently a doctoral candidate for biology and works at The City University Graduate Center at Queens College as a teaching assistant. He’s also a director of the Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society, a wildlife conservation group.

In order to get on the show, he said, there’s an online 50-question application that must be completed in 15 minutes. From there, those who do well enough are contacted by “Jeopardy” representatives for an in-person audition.

Klein’s audition was June 2016 in New York. During the audition he played a mock version of the game against other candidates.

Making the cut, Klein flew out to California in Burbank to film the show and compete against other trivia buffs.

“I was hoping it would be more cutthroat,” Klein said jokingly, “but everyone was very friendly and I was surprised at the comradery that was present backstage between contestants – everyone seemed to be in the same boat.”

Klein had the lead for a majority of the game, until returning champion Joe Nguyen hit a huge “Daily Double” question towards the end of the game, which left Klein in third place.

Still, it was such a great experience, Klein said. “I’d love to go back and play again.”