Former Wayne Resident Competes On Jeopardy: 5 Questions With Garrett Levenbrook

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne “Jeopardy” fans take heed… one of your own is slated to appear on the Tuesday, Dec. 13 episode of the iconic TV trivia show.

Garrett Levenbrook, who grew up in Wayne and is a die-hard Jeopardy fan, recently got his chance to test his mettle as a contestant on the long-running program. Patch recently got the chance to pick Levenbrook’s brain and find out some behind-the-scenes details about what it’s like to appear on what many consider to be the intellectual summit of game shows.

Check out his answers below, and click here for local Jeopardy viewing information.

PATCH: Tell us more about your educational background and local connections.

LEVENBROOK: I live in Montclair (grew up in Wayne). I'm 28 years old and work at my family business, The Original Bagel Company, a wholesale bagel bakery in West Caldwell. I attended Solomon Schechter (now Golda Och Academy) in West Orange for high school and University of Michigan for university. I hold a bachelor's in business administration from Ross School of Business.

PATCH: How long have you been watching Jeopardy? What’s the draw?

LEVENBROOK: I've been watching Jeopardy as long as I can remember, must be about 15 years. People always ask, "how did you study for your appearance?" I tell them the best way has been watching the show for 15 years. That's been the ultimate study prep. Material often gets recycled on the show, though clues are never verbatim repeated.

PATCH: What was the audition/application process for the show like?

LEVENBROOK: The audition process is straightforward, though the passing qualifications are somewhat arcane. It starts with an online test of 50 questions (mine was in January 2016). I have taken the online test for the past five years, but never made it passed that round until this year. If you pass that, you'll receive an email invitation to a local interview. That email came around May and my interview, with about 35 other people was the end of June. That day consists of three parts: another 50 question test, a one to two-minute “tell me about yourself” in front of the other applicants, and a mock Jeopardy came complete with buzzers and a giant clue-board. The whole day is recorded on camcorder, so contestant coordinators (Jeopardy's are the best in the business) can review for personality and performance. Upshot is just keep applying until you make it - it's so worth it!

PATCH: What are some things you've learned about the show/cast/etc. that casual viewers might not know?

LEVENBROOK: There's a lot a casual viewer wouldn't know and there are many books written by smarter contestants than I am about this kind of stuff. What was most interesting for me to learn is how important the buzzer is to succeeding on the show. The buzzer is enabled by a staff member off set as soon as Alex finishes reading the clue. If you buzz early, you'll be locked out for about 2/10th of a second, which is a big deal, so timing is key. I practiced at home for weeks with a toilet paper spring rod, which is about the same size as the actual buzzer. Viewers have to remember that 80% of the time, all three contestants know the answer, so Jeopardy is just as much a show of reflexes as knowledge.

PATCH: What are your prep plans for the Dec. 13 show?

LEVENBROOK: I'm having a viewing party in NYC with my friends and family.

Photo: Garrett Levenbrook