“I arrived at South Park Mall. There was a long line that wrapped all around J.C. Penney, “ said Hood.

“Jeopardy” representatives offered a 10-question test for interested contestants. From 1000 who took the test, 64 were selected. A second test consisted of 50 questions. Out of those 64 contestants, 14 were selected.

“We stayed for rehearsal, something like a tryout,” said Hood. “It was very fun. They told us, “Don’t call us. We’ll call you.”

Hood received the call in December 2003 from Glenn Kagan, a Contestant Coordinator, to be on the show. Filming would start on Jan. 21, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA.

“There really wasn’t a way for me to prepare, but I practiced by studying the Alamanc. I also read a book called “Don’t Know Much about Geography” by Kenneth C. Davis,” said Hood. “I also went through a lot of Trivial Pursuit cards.”

Hood flew out to California with her husband. It was a three-day event. The first day was to settle in. The second day was for filming, where contestants first practiced in the booth with the buzzer. There is a light that lights up once the question is read. Only then are you allowed to press the buzzer.

“If you press the buzzer too early, it blocks it for two seconds,” said Hood.

After practice, contestants had their makeup done and were taken to the Green Room.

“The contestants were all very nice,” said Hood. “They also had us sign a contestant release form, which was five pages. I also did a promo, a “Hometown Howdy.” It’s used on the local station,” said Hood.

Then it was show time.

“I had no time to be nervous,” said Hood. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience.”

Out of the five shows recorded, Hood was in the fourth show.

“Sports Quotes, Madonna Songs, Herbs and Spices and Geography were some of the categories used,” said Hood. “Toward the end, I was super frustrated. The questions were easy. The buzzer was the problem. You have to concentrate on the question that Trebeck is reading, then concentrate on the light, then press the buzzer.”

After the show, the contestants signed a release for the amount that they had won. They also received gifts.

Hood will appear on “Jeopardy” on KENS, on April 1, 2004, the day before the anniversary of her mother’s death.

“It was so much fun,”said Hood. “Next year, “Wheel of Fortune”!”