While some Tufts students are content with a spot on Jumbo Love Match, David Michaels set his sights a little higher. The sophomore has landed a coveted spot in the college tournament History IQ, a game show on the History Channel.
Michaels qualified for the show - which will be taped on Tuesday and aired sometime later - after taking a 30-question short-answer test at a History IQ site in New York City. In addition to questions like "Who led a slave revolt in 1831 in Virginia?" (Nat Turner), the test also included a bonus matching section. This set, which resembled the final round of the actual game show, consisted of nine events and nine dates, and required the tester to match one to the other.
Michaels left the test feeling confident in his performance.
"I had a pretty good feeling. You had to get 70 percent right on the test to get an interview with the producers," Michaels said.
Qualifying for the show is not enough, though - to become a contestant, Michaels had to impress the judges.
"The history test was to make sure you had enough knowledge to be competitive on the show, and then the interview is to see if you'd make a good TV personality," Michaels said.
Michaels nailed every question during the interview, including a request to state the most obscure historical fact he knew, as well as which historical figure he would most want to be stuck with in an elevator. He responded to the first question by reciting the order in which the Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk at the Battle of Midway (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu). And about the elevator?
"I said Robert Kennedy - I guess I had a good defense for that," Michaels said.
Most importantly, however, Michaels proved to the producers that he was contestant material.
"It's clear that I know enough about history to be a competitive contestant, but I also think that I would joke around with Marc Summers," Michaels recalls telling the producers.
Yes, the Marc Summers, formerly of Nickelodeon's Double Dare, Family Double Dare, and, of course, Super Sloppy Double Dare - and now host of History IQ. Michaels jokes that he will be tempted to ask Summers if he can take the "physical challenge" during Round Two of History IQ.
Michaels said he has always been both a trivia whiz and a history buff.
"I love Jeopardy. I love Trivial Pursuit. This is perfect because this is my area of most interest in trivia," Michaels explained.
In preparing for Tuesday's taping in New York, Michaels has been studying a book of facts and dates given to him by Provost Sol Gittleman and has been watching the show nightly to see how he matches up to the regular contestants. Despite the fact that Michaels will compete against college students and receive less advanced questions, he has been consistently matching or beating the regular contestants. Last week he even won the grand prize - all in the comfort of his very own dorm room.
During the show, Michaels could be quizzed on everything from the pyramids to the last presidential election. No topic in history is off limits. Tufts' history department might be watching especially closely should Michaels answer questions related to African-American history since 1865, modern Russia, wars in East Asia, sports in America, and rock and roll - all topics he was taught in college. Of these classes, Michaels said that African-American history is his favorite. He has been particularly
inspired by professor Gerald Gill, whom he chose as an advisor based on his experience in Gill's African-American history class.
"Professor Gill has confidence in me. His advice is to relax and concentrate on what I know. There's no way to be an expert on everything," Michaels said.
Aside from studying, Michaels has done his share of fantasizing about what he would do with the prize money, especially the $250,000 grand prize. The prize for winning one game is $25,000, in addition to any money won during the game itself.
"I'll probably use some of the money to travel around Europe. Also, I would not have my parents pay for any more college, if they would accept that," Michaels said.
Michaels has sought out game show positions before. Earlier this year he qualified for the college version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, but was not granted a spot on the show.
"There were 1,875 applications for 30 spots, so I wasn't too distraught when I didn't get that, although I was a little disappointed." Michaels said.
Michaels is also looking forward to applying to College Jeopardy, though he fears that his previous experience on History IQ may keep him off the show.
Years of history trivia building and these past few weeks of studying and observing the show have left Michaels feeling confident and ready to go. While some people may feel nervous before appearing on television, Michaels says that he is not. Excited by the prospect of winning the grand prize, he encourages everyone to watch his appearance on the show.
After all, he says, "I've been preparing for this more than my homework."
