Wharton prof to compete on 'Jeopardy!'

Chip Hunter to appear tonight When Management Professor Chip Hunter went to Atlantic City last spring, he planned on playing more than roulette and blackjack. The Wharton professor had made the trip to Atlantic City not to gamble, but to try out for Jeopardy!. And tonight, having successfully passed the audition, Hunter will appear on KYW-TV, channel 6, at 7 p.m. as a contestant on the show. He said the game show did not call him until November to ask him if he wanted to be on the show. "They asked me if I wanted to come and tape in December," Hunter explained. "The day was actually in between the last day of classes and a final I was giving, so I was able to go." He said his students "thought it was funny" that he was going to the tryout. To prepare for his appearance, Hunter said he asked Sociology Professor Robin Leidner -- who competed on the show last year -- for help. "I also watched the show more often," he added. "And I memorized the kings of England -- but then I forgot them." Hunter said he noticed during the taping that contestants who were the quickest to "buzz in" were most successful -- not necessarily those who were the most knowledgeable about the categories. "By the time you get to that stage, it's just a question of whether you can get to the buzzer in time," he explained. Unlike the Jeopardy! tournaments -- during which the show pays for the contestants' expenses -- participants on the regular show must foot the bill for airfare, hotel, transportation and food on their own. But Hunter had accumulated enough frequent-flier miles that he was able to fly to the California taping for free. "I was out for a couple of days," he explained. "They taped five shows on Tuesday and five on Wednesday." He added that contestants are told to bring three changes of clothes. Therefore, if the players advance to subsequent rounds, it will look like the games were played on different days. "Alex Trebek is a master smooth guy," Hunter said. "I wasn't really nervous once the camera started."