Nicole June Reporting
njune@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Who is…Cindy Summers? A Clarksville resident who tried out for and competed on ‘Jeopardy!’, that’s who.

Summers, a Medication Safety Pharmacist at Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Hospital, has been a fan of the popular TV quiz show for many years. She decided to try out in 2012 by completing the online test. After patiently waiting for about six weeks, she received an email inviting her to audition in Nashville.

“I thought ‘this is my year, it’s a Nashville tryout!’” she said of the acceptance email. After the audition, Summers was told she would be placed in a pool of contestants and wait for up to 18 months before being selected.

Finally, in January of this year, she was asked to fly out to Los Angeles to tape an episode in February which would air in June. She was excited to take the trip to sunny California.

“It was very much the dream of a lifetime. I’ve loved ‘Jeopardy!’ for a long time,” she said. “This is Alex Trebek’s 30th year and I was just thrilled to be on there.”

Upon her arrival, she was allowed to sit in the audience and watch tapings of other shows while she waited to be randomly chosen. Contestants were allowed to walk on the set to familiarize themselves. “I was just in awe. I got to meet Alex Trebek and everyone on the set was very nice and very pleasant,” Summers said.

Once she was called, the nerves set in a little, but she maintained her composure. She was surprised, however, to be competing against a woman from Nashville.

She had no problem remembering to phrase her answers as questions, but noted that timing is everything. If a contestant buzzes in before Trebek finishes reading a question, they are locked out from buzzing for about a quarter of a second.

“Some of the people who are the best at this are the ones who time it just right,” she said.

Overall, Summers was pleased with her game (no spoilers here).

“It was a lovely experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

The episode airs Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. central on WUXP My TV 30, channel 13.