CT Resident Competes On ‘Jeopardy!’ In Noteworthy Appearance

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

PROSPECT, CT – Being a contestant on the wildly popular game show Jeopardy is big news. But a Connecticut resident next week will take it to another level next week by becoming only the third transgender person ever to appear on the show.

Fran Fried, a Prospect resident and a writer, editor and professional disc jockey, will appear on Jeopardy next Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Fried, who described the whole Jeopardy experience as “being a blur,” isn’t allowed to talk about how well the appearance went.

“But win or lose, I’m hoping something good comes from it,” Fried said. “I’m crossing my fingers.”

Fried, who is hoping the appearance on the game show that attracts nearly 9 million viewers nightly, might open some doors – and potential job opportunities down the road.

Fried talks openly about being transgender and how that was discussed with the Jeopardy crew.

“I was told that I was the third of my tribe to ever be on the show,” Fried said. “But I was also told by the crew that they expect there will be many more.

“Being transgender played no part in the whole process. I was made to feel very comfortable.”

Fried said that the appearance on the show was filmed in California during the month of August.

“I was flown out from Bradley Airport and the next thing I knew I was in the studio,” Fried said. “Like I said, the whole thing was a blur.”

Asked about the questions asked by host Alex Trebek during the interview portion of the show, Fried said the conversation was about a movie Fried narrated.

“Overall, the whole group of people I was with were very nice,” Fried said. “The group I was together competing was an ethnically and age diverse group, though I will say I was one of the older people in the group.”

Fried said one of the contestants in the group of contestants in her group was Austin Rogers, who has made a name for himself in recent days – both for the amount of money he has won and for his unique demeanor.

As to how well Fried did on the show, contestants are not allowed to say in advance of television screenings how much they won.

So you’ll have to tune in next Tuesday to see for yourself.

Photo credit: Jeopardy!