OUTLOOK, Sask. — For many Jeopardy! fans, appearing on the long-running quiz show remains a lifelong dream. For former Saskatchewan resident Rian Robertson, that dream became a reality this year when he competed on the popular television program.
Robertson, whose parents now live in Broderick, resides in Ottawa with his wife, Christina, and their four children.
“It’s something that has always been on my bucket list since I was a kid,” Robertson said. “My dad and I used to watch Jeopardy! pretty much every night before dinner.”
Over the years, Robertson's interest in the show grew into a passion.
“At some point, I started getting some clues and answers right, and it had a snowball effect. It became a real passion for the game of Jeopardy!
“It’s been a long haul trying to get on the show. It’s been about 15 years since I took the online test, which is part of the process of trying to get on.”
Robertson said he went through four different auditions, which have transitioned from in-person to online in recent years.
“The last audition was in the summer of 2024. I thought I was out of their window of eligibility, but I was lucky enough to get the call at the end of June 2026 asking about my availability to come to California at the end of August. I made myself available.”
When Robertson received the call confirming his appearance, he could hardly contain his excitement.
“I got off the phone and told my wife. She was doubtful and thought it was just another audition, but I reassured her they only call you by phone when they’re asking you to come down. Then she got really excited.”
Robertson and his wife travelled to California a few days before filming began to adjust to the time change.
“The taping days begin pretty early, around 7:30 in the morning, so I wanted to make sure I got a good night’s rest.”
The production schedule was intense, with five episodes filmed in a single day.
“As a contestant, you don’t really know when you’re going to be on until they tell you.”
Robertson’s first appearance aired as a Thursday episode.
“Since I managed to win that one and the next one, it meant I had to come back for the next taping day.”
Because his first day was the final taping day of the week, Robertson had a four-day break before returning to compete again.
“My wife left the next day to get back home and help with the kids. I stayed around Los Angeles and Culver City rather than flying back and forth. That would have been very draining. I just stayed there, relaxed and prepared.”
One lesson he learned quickly was the importance of timing on the buzzer.
“In the second game, the two younger guys I was playing against were super fast on the buzzer. I practised as best as I could.”
The experience of stepping onto the famous stage was overwhelming but exhilarating.
“The first game, you have no idea what to expect. It’s a whirlwind.
“The crew does an amazing job of making you feel as comfortable as possible. For the most part, we’re just regular people who have never been on television in front of millions of viewers. They do a really good job of keeping you relaxed.”
Even so, nerves quickly turned into adrenaline once the cameras started rolling.
“When you’re on stage for the first time and the cameras start rolling, your adrenaline is in overdrive. I think that helps. I was feeling pretty good at that point.”
The quick turnaround between games can be challenging.
“As soon as you’re done and you win, you go back, change your shirt and get right back out there for the next game.”
Robertson admitted he felt some fatigue entering his second game.
“It must have been a bit of an adrenaline crash. I was making a few blunders that probably wouldn’t have happened in the first game. I was actually in third place heading into final Jeopardy and somehow managed to squeak out the luckiest of wins.”
The four-day break before returning proved helpful.
“I think having that break was an advantage because I’d already been through the whole process.”
Robertson said winning five games in a single day would be mentally and physically demanding for any contestant.
Strategic wagering also played a key role in his success.
“In the second game, I had to strategize my way to a win. I had to hope both contestants would get the answer wrong, and they did. It was a super small win, but a win is a win.”
Robertson ultimately won four games before being eliminated in his fifth appearance.
Because the episodes were taped weeks before airing, he had to keep the outcome secret for more than a month.
“My dad was going crazy wanting to know what happened,” Robertson said with a laugh.
His wife was present for his first two victories but returned home during the break between taping sessions.
“On the last day of taping, I was the only one of my family who knew what happened.”
His mother, Susan Robertson, who operates a pottery studio in Broderick, said the family eagerly followed his appearances.
“It was heartbreaking to find out he didn’t win the last game, but he achieved a lifelong goal, and that in itself was something special.”
She joked about the difficulty of keeping the results secret.
“I’m ready to throttle him,” she laughed. “He lied to his mother.
“We speculated that he had done well,” Susan said. “We had a group of friends over for a watch party. If he had done horribly, I think he would have said, ‘Mom, don’t tell anybody.’”
She said the family was particularly surprised by his second victory and believes his educational background helped him excel at the strategic aspects of the game.
Robertson noted that while he was introduced as being from Ottawa during his first appearances, the show’s staff later highlighted his Saskatchewan roots after learning more about his background.
His father, Ian Robertson, had also been trying to determine how many Saskatchewan residents had appeared on Jeopardy!, a fact that came up in conversations during filming breaks. This led to Robertson being introduced as being from Saskatchewan.
The experience has sparked a new interest in the show among Robertson’s children, much like the bond he shared with his own father growing up.
Looking ahead, Robertson hopes he may have the opportunity to return for a future Tournament of Champions or another special event.
“Ken Jennings even said something along the lines of, ‘I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see Rian on the Alex Trebek Stage,’” Robertson said. “That was reassuring to hear.”
Robertson won approximately US$66,000 during his run on the show and is still navigating the logistics of receiving prize money as a Canadian resident.
“However, it was never about the money for me,” he said. “It was just about getting on the show and playing the game that I’ve loved for so long.”
