Now in its 29th season, Jeopardy! has had thousands of contestants, but few do as well as Andrew Moore.
“Once you get over the nerves of being on stage, it is just about answering the questions,” the 28-year-old from Buford said. Answer those questions he did. Moore won six games and $137,803.
Moore’s run on the iconic trivia game show ended on his seventh show Tuesday night. The final question was, “Economically speaking, this plant family, with about 10,000 species, is by far the most important.”
Moore wrote corn. The answer was grass.
Moore’s game total dropped below another contestant’s total, ending his run, but his total winnings were enough to put him on the game show’s all-time top 20 list.
His journey on the show began in the spring of 2012 when he took the initial online test. He did well enough to get an in-person interview.
Then, in February 2013, Moore made his way to Los Angeles to the show’s studio.
“On the first day, they randomly drew to see who would play and I was chosen,” he said.
Moore said it was surreal to play Jeopardy!, which has been one of his favorite shows since childhood.
“I am doing something I see other people do all the time,” Moore said.
Moore was a member of the academic team at Brookwood High School and the University of Georgia, where he got a bachelor’s degree in history and political science and a master’s degree in political science.
“When you are in the moment, your instincts take over,” Moore said. “It isn’t different than what you are used to doing.”
Moore’s wife, Amanda, said it was unbelievable to see her husband on the show they have watched together since they got married eight years ago, but she said the way he was on the show is not the way he is at home.
“On the show, he is very serious and locked-in,” she said, “but at home, he is very casual and laughing with our (three) kids.”
Moore said he has had a lot of people reaching out to him since his appearance on the show.
“I have gotten a lot of emails from people I haven’t met before congratulating me on the show,” he said. “It feels nice.”
Amanda Moore said the show has already brought a few new clients to her husband’s SAT preparation business, Top Score.
Moore said he plans to use his prize money to help finish building a new home.
Moore’s days on the game show aren’t over. He will be competing in Jeopardy!’s Tournament of Champions, which will be taped next year.
About the Author
