Her Poise and Presence Were Never in Jeopardy!
Toastmaster tests her skills in popular quiz show
By Julie Bawden Davis
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As a little girl watching Jeopardy! with her mom, Deb Grehn never imagined that one day she’d be on the show herself. But there she was last year, appearing on the popular TV quiz program and answering questions from suave host Alex Trebek.
Grehn, a 17-year Toastmaster and past District 53 governor, loves trivia and learning new things. That’s what prompted her to try out for the program. Jeopardy! tests contestants’ knowledge in different subject areas. As her TV adventure progressed, she drew on her communication skills, as well. All those years of Table Topics, speeches and feedback from fellow members came in handy for Grehn – just as it had at other times. “In every new venture, I use the valuable communication skills I’ve learned as a member of Toastmasters,” she says.
Grehn’s Jeopardy! journey began in early 2009 when she passed a preliminary exam online, earning a second test and an interview, in Boston, Massachusetts. A member of three clubs in Connecticut, she prepared for the big day with the help of her fellow club members.
Eventually, she was tapped for a spot on the show. The episode aired October 20. During the part where Trebek asks the contestants about themselves, Grehn charmed the host with an anecdote … about the time she was Lady Godiva. Well, more specifically, about her first date with the man who is now her husband. Deb and Kim Grehn began their courtship at a Halloween party, where she came costumed as Lady Godiva.
Was talking to Trebek a daunting experience?
“I wasn’t nervous at all, but felt very composed,” says the West Hartford, Connecticut, resident. “The audience and Alex laughed at my story, which really bolstered my self-confidence. I attribute that self-assurance to my Toastmasters training.”
Grehn isn’t the only Toastmaster to have appeared on Jeopardy! over the years. In 2008, Darryl Tahirali was selected for the program – and his experience was a lucrative one: He won three games, pocketing $86,000. Tahirali’s appearance was also great publicity for Toastmasters. He told Trebek – and the TV audience – that the Toastmasters program had boosted his confidence and helped him grow as a person. He even managed to mention the value of Table Topics.
Tahirali is a member of the Contrarians club in Irvine, California, and he says fellow members were excited to see him on the quiz show: “One of them said to me, ‘Hey you got the Table Topics phrase out there on national TV.’”
Although Grehn didn’t win on Jeopardy! – she had the misfortune of going up against a defending champ – she says her experience was rich in other ways. The longtime Toastmaster says she had a lot of fun and gained some great memories. After all, she had the chance to tell her Lady Godiva story to Alex Trebek!
Editor’s Note: This is a condensed version of articles on Deb Grehn and Darryl Tahirali that appear in the April issue of the Toastmaster magazine.
Julie Bawden Davis is a freelance writer based in Southern California and a longtime contributor to the Toastmaster. You can reach her at Julie@JulieBawdenDavis.com.