Third time’s the charm for MUHC translator on Jeopardy!

“It was an incredible experience,” shares MUHC translator Alicja Buffa from Formation continue partagée (FCP) in the Human Resources Directorate, as she described her recent appearance on Jeopardy! “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a contestant.” Alicja auditioned for the popular TV game show twice before but wasn’t chosen to be a contestant. It was her third audition in July that finally secured her a spot.  

Potential contestants can sometimes wait up to two years to be called to appear on the show, but things moved much more quickly for Alicja. From start to finish, she says, the experience was a whirlwind. “I did the Anytime Test (knowledge test on the game show’s website) last spring,” she explains. “In June, I was contacted to do more tests, including an audition on Zoom.” The Jeopardy! episode featuring Alicja aired October 31st, filmed in Los Angeles the month before.  

The big day

Alicja knew her two weak spots were U.S. history and geography, but during the taping she was also hit with questions about rap genres and the U.S. government. Timing was another issue. “I was trying to buzz in and wasn’t getting in. If you ring in before you are supposed to, then you are locked out for a quarter of a second and, while it doesn’t seem like a lot, it’s enough time for someone else to swoop in and answer,” she explains.

So, how did she do? After a challenging start, Alicja entered Final Jeopardy with a respectable sum, bet all but $1 and ended with $23,999. Competitor Greg Jolin from New Hampshire won by a mere $2.  “I was quite far behind in the beginning, but I somehow made it back into contention. I consider myself lucky to have come in second.”

As the runner-up, Alicja took home $3,000—enough to cover her trip and leave her with an incredible memory. “Even though I lost, I walked off that stage with a smile on my face,” she says. “I plan to keep on watching Jeopardy! and play along.  It keeps my mind sharp.”  

Congratulations, Alicja!  

Who wowed the MUHC community with her intelligence, quick thinking, and competitive spirit? The answer (in true Jeopardy! style – in the form of a question): Who is Alicja Buffa?