NC ‘Jeopardy’ fan tried out ‘on a whim’ — and he’ll be on the show. How to watch
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- A North Carolina man took the “Jeopardy” test “on a whim” and was invited to compete.
- Patrick Creech’s episode is set to air Thursday, Feb. 26.
- The contestant is a UNC graduate who works as Alexander County planning director.
A longtime “Jeopardy” fan tried out for the game show “on a whim” — and soon, he will be on TV.
“I’ve watched Jeopardy! for as long as I can remember,” Patrick Creech of North Carolina said in a Facebook post. “It was just something my family always did. I particularly remember watching with my grandmother, who turned 100 last summer.”
Creech, who works in county government, is set to appear on the episode that will air Thursday, Feb. 26. Here’s what we know about the contestant and how to watch him compete.
Who is the NC ‘Jeopardy’ contestant?
Creech is originally from Pink Hill, a roughly 90-mile drive southeast from Raleigh. He has a master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and works as planning director for Alexander County, northwest of Charlotte, according to the show’s website and the county’s Facebook post.
“Before transitioning into local government in 2025, Creech worked 20 years as a teacher in Mecklenburg and Gaston County schools, teaching civics, economics, and history,” county officials wrote. “A few years ago, he decided to move from teaching about government to working in the field.”
Creech, a longtime trivia buff, reportedly took the “Jeopardy” test “on a whim” two years ago. After going through the audition process, he was invited to Los Angeles for filming. To prepare to answer clues on the game show, he brushed up on literature and other topics.
“I spent a lot of time learning about books I’ve never read before,” Creech said in the Facebook post. “I read a lot, but usually non-fiction. One thing I’ve decided to do since appearing is to actually read some of those classic works I was trying to memorize.”
How to watch
The “Jeopardy” episode is set to run 7 p.m. Feb. 26. Here’s how to watch it on TV:
- Raleigh area: ABC-11
- Charlotte area: WCNC
On Feb. 27, the episode also will be available for streaming on Hulu and Peacock.
Creech will face off against Elizabeth Hurd — a pastor from Michigan — and returning champion James Hirsh, a lawyer from Toronto.
Representatives for “Jeopardy” didn’t immediately share additional information with The News & Observer.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 9:53 AM with the headline "NC ‘Jeopardy’ fan tried out ‘on a whim’ — and he’ll be on the show. How to watch."
