12-year-old Andrew Grace from Apex will be in the spotlight this week, during a special Kids Week edition of "Jeopardy!"

The rising 7th grader at St. Mary Magdalene School said he first got interested in being on "Jeopardy!" when he saw the television commercials last year for Kids Week auditions. After getting permission from his parents, Andrew took a 15-minute timed test online and did well enough to earn an invitation to try out with producers in person.

Andrew and his family, parents Mike and Nancy Grace and sister Abigail, went to Atlanta in November for the tryouts, where he took another timed test, participated in a mock "Jeopardy!" game and went through an interview designed to show a bit of his personality.

Duke senior Greer Mackebee, 22, will compete for the $100,000 grand prize in the “Jeopardy!” College Championship tonight. Mackebee, pictured here with "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. "Jeopardy!" airs locally at 7 p.m. on WTVD.

Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

Charles Temple, the Ocracoke school teacher who won the first "Jeopardy!"  Teacher's Tournament earlier this year, will compete tonight in the show's Tournament of Champions.

Temple, a high school English teacher at Ocracoke School, one of the smallest public schools in the state, won $100,000 in the May tourney.

"Jeopardy!" airs tonight at 7 p.m. on WTVD.

Photo of Temple with host Alex Trebek is courtesy of Jeopardy Productions.

Charles Temple, an English teacher from Ocracoke School -- North Carolina's smallest public school -- has won the first ever 'Jeopardy!' Teacher Tournament.

In the episode which aired tonight on WTVD, Temple earned $100,000 and secured a spot in the show's Tournament of Champions.

The teacher ended the show with this Final Jeopardy Question: "In March 2011 he gave his first televised speech in 22 years on the throne, saying he hoped things would get better." Templed answered "Who is Abdullah," which is incorrect (the correct answer Emperor Akihito of Japan), but Temple, who already had a huge lead, only bet $125.

In episodes running this week and next, the quiz show 'Jeopardy!' is showcasing the nation's "Outstanding Teachers." One of the educators selected to participate in the show's first-ever Teachers Tournament is Charles Temple, a high school English teacher at Ocracoke School in Ocracoke, N.C. 

The Teachers Tournament shows were taped at the end of March, and Temple's episode will air tomorrow night (Thursday, May 5). Then on Friday, Kelly Miyahara from the 'Jeopardy!' Clue Crew will demonstrate the educational tool "Classroom Jeopardy!” to Temple’s students at Ocracoke School.

The two-week tournament features 15 of the nation’s brightest K-12 teachers. The winner will receive $100,000 and a guaranteed spot in the 'Jeopardy!' Tournament of Champions airing later this year.

The second place winner earns minimum of $50,000, and third place gets $25,000. Semifinalists receive $10,000, and contestants eliminated in the first round receive $5,000. In addition, each teacher will receive a Classroom 'Jeopardy!' unit for their school.

'Jeopardy!' airs in the triangle on WTVD at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions

In the next logical step toward robots ruling the earth and harvesting humans for food, a computer system built by IBM will challenge (and likely destroy) mere mortals tonight through Wednesday night on 'Jeopardy.'

Watson the super computer (not to be confused with supercomputer) goes up against the quiz show's all-time top champions, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.

Here's some great background on Watson, who has roots in North Carolina. Sorry, which has roots in North Carolina. It's such a slippery slope...

'Jeopardy' airs here on WTVD at 7pm (the State of the State speech will air on WTVD's digital channel 11.2).

Our colleague Pam Nelson was a contestant on "Jeopardy" last night. We were so thrilled to watch her compete, and the consensus in the office is that it was the most exciting game of "Jeopardy" we've ever watched.

Pam fell behind early on and then made an incredible comeback. At Final Jeopardy, it was so close, but unfortunately, Pam was unable to beat the returning champion. Pam, who also writes a blog on grammar, has posted a really wonderful account of what it's like to be on "Jeopardy," from the application and audition process through the filming of her episode. Please take a moment to read it.
 

I was a contestant on "Jeopardy!" The show aired Monday (July 26), so now I can write about what it was like.

If you have recorded the show but haven't watched yet, I warn you that this post is one big spoiler.

Our colleague Pam Nelson makes her national television debut Monday when she appears as a contestant on "Jeopardy."

Pam is a features copy editor at The News & Observer and writes the Triangle Grammar Guide blog. She has also worked as the managing editor of the website HowStuffWorks.com.

Pam, who lives in Clayton with her husband Chris, was inspired to go on the show by their late son Jake; "Jeopardy" was Jake's favorite game show. Pam and Chris will be watching "Jeopardy" at home with a large group of friends and family, and she'll write about her experience on her blog after Monday's show is broadcast. We'll update you here as well.