HARTLAND — Sean Duffie grew up competing in quiz bowl – hoping to one day test his knowledge on the popular game show, “Jeopardy!”
On Monday, the Hartland High School alum will officially become a contestant on the show.
Duffie will appear on “Jeopardy!” on Monday, July 22. The episode is scheduled to air at 7:30 p.m. on NBC in the Livingston County area. Duffie is a 2007 graduate of Hartland High and has tried to get on “Jeopardy!” several times over the years.
“I catch it as much as I can – I've been watching it my whole life,” Duffie said.
In fall 2022, Duffie submitted another application to the show and, this past April, he got the call to come to Culver City, California. Duffie’s episode was filmed on May 29. He was the first game of the day, competing with two other contestants on the show hosted by Ken Jennings.
Duffie said he was comfortable playing the game but had to get familiar with the buzzer.
“It’s pressure because it’s ‘Jeopardy!’ You can go in with the most amount of stage confidence and charisma but you’re going on an American cultural staple show,” Duffie said. “You’re going to feel something.”
Duffie competed on quiz bowl teams at Hartland Consolidated Schools from 5th through 12th grade. Harland’s quiz bowl program is coached by science teacher Kate Hagerman. Duffie said the program was “phenomenally transformative” for him and taught him to be curious.
“(The coaches) really fostered a culture of creativity and that it’s OK to wonder and question,” Duffie said. “I remember, all through school, I always had a place as a student in the quiz bowl program, and so did my friends. We weren’t athletes, but we, like all kids, deserve some sort of space to belong to when we’re at school.
“None of this would happen and a lot of my formative stuff wouldn’t have happened if not for that program.”
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Duffie, 35, now lives in Kentwood, located near Grand Rapids. He works as a Spanish immersion teacher at Forest Hills Northern High School. He received the call to be on “Jeopardy!” during a staff meeting.
While Duffie’s friends and family will watch Monday’s episode live, he won’t. Duffie is on vacation in Poland and doesn’t leave until Wednesday, July 24. He plans to watch it on a friend’s DVR when he returns to the U.S.
“I’m curious to see how it looks on TV,” Duffie said.
Duffie credits his school experience for helping him achieve a dream.
“The whole process is a whirlwind but really cool after years of trying to get on,” he said.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.
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