YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Clue: “I’ll take ‘PRIZES’ for $500, Alex.”
What might you say if you’re on a television game show and have a chance to win some serious money?
If you were savvy enough to answer the clue with a question, then you may want to see how you stack up against the competition when “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek scouts out players at four U.S. bases in the Pacific starting later this month.
United Service Organizations and Armed Forces Entertainment will host a Jeopardy Tour March 28-April 1. It will stop at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Yokosuka Naval Base in mainland Japan and Kadena Air Base and Camp Kinser on Okinawa.
Alex Trebek will host events, pose for pictures and sign autographs at each location, said Donna St. John, USO vice president of communications.
But while a crowd-friendly “just for fun” version of the television show will be given at each base, pretests for potential candidates will be given only at Atsugi, Yokosuka and Kadena. Those who make the cut will take final tests at Atsugi, Yokosuka and Camp Kinser (see box for details).
If you are SOFA sponsored, 18 or older and have a taste for trivia, take a crack at the pretest, said Earl Murray, Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Yokosuka entertainment director.
“It’s not often that people have the chance to do this,” Murray said. “Who knows? You could get on television.”
But plan ahead, he cautioned, as the testing takes time. A copy of the rules said 2½ hours are needed for the final test.
The show, which has been on the air for 35 years, touts itself as “the most difficult game show on television,” and attracts 32 million viewers, according to the “Jeopardy!” Web site.
Jeopardy season champions win $100,000, plus the money they earn in each episode as they compete against two other challengers.
The mock games on bases are open to all ages and feature fun questions, a buzzer system and prize giveaways, St. John said.
Show off your smarts
JAPAN
March 28: Naval Air Facility Atsugi
Pretest, mock game and Alex Trebek autograph session a 8-10 a.m. at Club Trilogy
The final test will be given at 4 p.m.
March 29: Yokosuka Naval Base
Pretest, mock game and autographs from 9-11 a.m. on the third floor of Club Alliance
The final test will be given at 4 p.m.
OKINAWA
March 31: Kadena Air Base
Pretest for Okinawa SOFA personnel, mock game and autographs at 3-5 p.m. at Schilling Community Center.
April 1: Camp Kinser
Mock game and autographs sign starts at 1 p.m. at the Surfside. The final test for Okinawa hopefuls will be given at 5 p.m.
From staff reports
