Morganton native on 'Jeopardy!'

Credit: photo contributed

Becky Michaels Anderson

By: Julie n. Chang | Morganton News Herald
Published: April 05, 2009

Morganton --

Tune in Tuesday night as a Morganton native vies for the top spot on "Jeopardy!"
Becky Michaels Anderson, 64, said the show has been recorded, and people will have to tune in to find out what happens.
Anderson, who currently lives in Washington and Vancouver Island, Canada, said she has been a long-time fan of the trivia game show.
Her journey to become a contestant began in the 1980s when she took a test in Chapel Hill, but that didn't pan out.
Then in January 2008, Anderson took the test online.
"It was a real workout," Anderson said. "It's a good sample of the program."
The test consisted of 50 questions and a new question was asked about every 10 seconds, Anderson said.
In March 2008, the show called Anderson in for an in-person audition in Portland, Ore. And finally in December, Anderson found out the show had selected her as a contestant.
Anderson said the contestants were allowed to practice in the studio for about 15 to 20 minutes before filming began.
And although most the contestants are half her age, Anderson said she had an advantage when questions about the 1950s or 1960s came up.
That's not all; Anderson goes to the show with a hefty resume behind her.
After graduating from Morganton High School in 1962, Anderson attended Wake Forest University then Duke University, where she acquired a master's degree in mathematics.
Anderson, as a high school student, worked as a proofreader for The News Herald. Before her retirement, she worked in the computer software industry in Silicon Valley, Calif., and Raleigh.
"I'm real proud of her," Elizabeth Michaels, Anderson's mother, said.
Michaels still lives in Morganton at Grace Ridge Retirement Community, and she's arranged for the community to watch "Jeopardy!" on the communal television.
"I knew she had wanted to get on for some time," Michaels said. "I'm real excited about it."
Anderson probably gets her love of "Jeopardy!" from her mother.
"I watch 'Jeopardy!' every night," Michaels said. "Ever since it's been on I've always been a 'Jeopardy!' fan."
Anderson said many of the contestants, including herself, felt that it wasn't important to win, but that the experience was enjoyable.

Morganton native on 'Jeopardy!'

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

More Ways to Connect

Reader Photos» Browse More

Things to Do