W&L Alum Makes Run On ‘Jeopardy!’

W&L Alum Makes Run On ‘Jeopardy!’

Fisher Qualifies For Tournament Of Champions

Editor’s note: The following story was taken from a story and interview by Laura Lemon for Washington and Lee University. Her full story can be found on The Columns section of the school’s website.

A Washington and Lee University graduate who first took the “Jeopardy!” online test on a whim in duPont Hall a decade ago has now become one of the quiz show’s top players of the season.

TJ Fisher, class of 2015, appeared on the long-running trivia program on Oct. 2 and strung together five consecutive wins, earning $15,089 in his debut and securing a place in the show’s prestigious Tournament of Champions. The annual tournament features the top 21 players from the previous season.

Fisher, who now works as a marketing specialist for San Francisco realtor Sherri Howe, had been a lifelong fan of the program but didn’t begin pursuing a spot until his senior year at W&L. He first took the online exam between classes — “figuring he might as well,” he later recalled — and continued to take the annual qualifying test every year afterward. He even took it once on a Greyhound bus.

Despite scoring well, Fisher was never selected to advance until this year.

Getting onto “Jeopardy!” involves several stages. After the initial online test, prospective contestants may be invited to take a proctored test via Zoom, followed by a mock game and audition. Fisher said he advanced through each stage without knowing how he had performed, since the show does not release scores or feedback unless a contestant moves forward. Once selected, he received a Monday-morning phone call inviting him to tape in California within a month.

In the weeks leading up to the taping, Fisher ramped up his preparation, reviewing past “Jeopardy!” clues through a fan-compiled database of more than 500,000 questions, studying common subject areas and brushing up on topics such as presidents, Olympic host cities and world history. He also continued his daily habit of watching the show.

Fisher, who majored in history and theater at W&L, credited his liberal-arts background — especially the wide range of classes he took outside his majors — with fostering the curiosity that helped him succeed on the show. He participated in University Singers, theater productions and Science, Society and the Arts projects during his time on campus, experiences he said encouraged exploration across disciplines.

During his run on “Jeopardy!,” Fisher found himself particularly well-matched with categories on Peanuts, saints and Monopoly — topics he knew from a mix of personal interests, upbringing and academic exposure. He said he was most concerned with staying composed on camera and avoiding last-minute wagering mistakes, but in his first game, he entered Final Jeopardy with more than double the secondplace contestant’s score, securing a runaway win.

Fisher said qualifying for the Tournament of Champions felt “euphoric,” especially knowing the caliber of the competitors.

He also noted that he is not the only W&L connection to the show: several alumni and former members of University Singers and campus a cappella groups have appeared on “Jeopardy!” over the years, which he attributes to the university’s strong culture of interdisciplinary learning.

Now that his episodes have aired, Fisher said he hopes his experience encourages others to keep learning — whether through reading, listening to short explainers during commutes, or asking friends what they’re curious about. “Travel time is one of the best chances you have to learn something new,” he has said.

Fisher will compete in the Tournament of Champions later this season.