Classroom to the Contestant Podium: Dr Antoniades' Journey to Jeopardy!

This fall, Dr Tony Antoniades, English teacher at HTS and advisor for the Reach for the Top trivia club, had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand behind one of television’s most iconic podiums on Jeopardy!

For Dr Antoniades, a lifelong fan of the show, the moment was nothing short of surreal. “I’ve been watching Jeopardy on and off since high school,” he shared. “It’s been a dream for 40 years, a bucket list item.”

After multiple audition attempts over the past decade, including making the contestant list twice without a callback, his persistence finally paid off. In June, he took the virtual test followed by a second round in July. A few months later, while leading his TAG group at HTS, his phone lit up with a call from none other than Jeopardy itself.

“The caller ID said ‘Jeopardy,’ and I thought, this can’t be real,” he said. His students and the Reach for the Top club were thrilled when he shared the news.

Filming took place in Los Angeles in October, on a set that Dr Antoniades described as bigger than he ever imagined. The experience, he said, was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. “Everyone on set was so kind and welcoming. Ken Jennings was very friendly and the contestants were all supportive of one another,” he said. “They told us that around 70,000 people audition each year but only 400 make it onto the show. It felt special just to be there.”

Preparation for Jeopardy was intense. Dr Antoniades devoted months to studying, brushing up on everything from American presidents and geography to state capitals and history. “I had a whole notebook of study notes and I’d record voice memos to listen to while commuting,” he said. “The timing of the buzzer was the hardest part. It’s something you can’t really practice until you’re there.”

While Dr Antoniades signed an NDA and couldn’t share details of the outcome, he reflected candidly on the experience. “The results weren’t what I dreamed they would be,” he said. “But there’s a lesson in persistence here. I’ve wanted this for 40 years and worked hard to make it happen. Even if it didn’t end the way I hoped, being part of that culture, one that celebrates curiosity and the joy of learning, was deeply affirming.”

Jeopardy films five episodes per day, and Dr Antoniades’ appearance was in the second game of the session. Afterward, in true teacher fashion, he returned to marking assignments and catching up on a Blue Jays game. Reflecting on the experience, Dr Antoniades also shared one of his favourite takeaways from a Q&A session with host Ken Jennings. When asked why people love the show, Ken stated that the show has become such a constant presence and fabric in many people’s lives. 

“For me, what I love about Jeopardy is that in a world where knowledge is often valued for what it can do, its utility or influence, Jeopardy celebrates knowledge simply for its own sake. Knowing something, even if it’s not practical, still has value. That’s a beautiful thing."  - Dr Antoniades

For his students, colleagues and family, Dr Antoniades’ journey to Jeopardy is a powerful reminder of the importance of curiosity, perseverance and lifelong learning.