Andrew Haringer’s goal is simple: “Try not to embarrass yourself on national TV.”
The Quest University professor returns to Jeopardy on Thursday (Nov. 12) to take part in the Tournament of Champions after winning US$98,000 over five shows in May.
He knows he’s up against stiff competition this time – including players like Matt Jackson, who at age 23 managed to win 13 games in a row and take home $411,612.
While taping the show, Haringer, who is 34, enjoyed spending time with the other cerebral trivia champions. Asked if it was intimidating, he replied: “Of course.”
The Squamish Chief reached Haringer in Dresden, Germany, which he was visiting en route to performing a piano concert in Switzerland. He’s still overseas and hopes to find a television airing the U.S. military channel so he can watch the show on Thursday.
He couldn’t reveal how he did this time, but his goal was to avoid embarrassment. Haringer knows some of his students at Quest University in Squamish will be tuning in to see how he fares – and he also has many fans in his hometown of Seattle.
If he wins Thursday night, or if his score is high enough to qualify as a wildcard, he’ll be able to move on in the tournament. Regardless, he considers himself lucky to have competed.
“It was a lot of fun because I got to meet all these people I had watched. It was a great group of people,” he reflected. “We all share this interest in random trivia. It’s funny being on a bus riding to the studio, and someone asks an obscure question about a war or whatever, and nine people know the answer.
“It’s not often in your life you are surrounded by people who have that bizarre talent.”
Haringer, a humanities professor and classical pianist with a doctorate in historical musicology, was “trying not to think about the long-term consequences – that there is a lot of money at stake.”
He prepared for the show with help from one of his best friends from high school in Atlanta, where their trivia team had won the state championship.
His friend recently married and did not want to annoy his new bride, so he went to his car in a parking garage to drill Haringer with questions over the phone. “It was really nice of him to do that,” said Haringer.
The Quest professor also prepared by ensuring he had enough good clothes in case he played in the maximum four shows. Although Jeopardy tapes five episodes a day, contestants change clothes when they play a new game to give the appearance of it being a new day.
Last time, he arrived with a sweater that had a rip, so this time, “I brought four outfits ready to go.”
Jeopardy identifies Haringer as being a professor from Squamish, but he’s actually American. He feels a bit sheepish about being identified as being from Squamish even though he has lived here more than two years.
“I love that. It’s great… but I feel bad that I am not actually a true Canadian.”
From his fame in the spring, he has reconnected with many past acquaintances and been inundated with “weird Facebook requests.” He also heard from former teachers and musicians and will perform a concert soon in Vancouver with an old friend.
As for his second bout of TV fame, Haringer is modest.
“I am proud to represent Squamish, and I will try not to make a fool of myself or make the town look bad,” he said. “I think the tournament is going to be really exciting.”
