'Jeopardy!' was this Springfield man's longtime dream. Here's how to watch him on the show

A Springfield pilot will be a contestant on an upcoming episode of "Jeopardy!"

Josh Martin, a corporate pilot and native to Springfield, first took the "Jeopardy!" online test about 10 years ago. He said he did "OK," but he didn't get the call to go on the show. Prospective contestants are allowed to take the test once a year, so Martin took it again. And again. And again.

Finally, after seven or eight years, Martin got an email from the "Jeopardy!" team in the summer of 2022. He had passed the test, and they wanted Martin to take a proctored version of the test and participate in an audition and mock "Jeopardy!" game over Zoom.

Two years later, Martin's episode has been filmed. The Springfield native's episode will air at 5 p.m. July 4 on KSPR. Martin is planning a watch party for the episode for friends, family, and anyone who wants to watch at Holdfast Brewery from 4 to 6 p.m.

"It's still a little surreal, but it was an incredible experience just to get to do it," Martin said. "A longtime dream fulfilled and just a really exciting, exciting time."

Under explicit directions from "Jeopardy!" not to tell anyone until after filming had taken place, Martin was allowed to tell close family. He still didn't tell his kids until just before they left for filming in mid-May, for fear of loose lips at school. He quietly prepared with online and real-life trivia on everything from opera to classical music to Shakespeare.

"Most people that want to go on 'Jeopardy!' and get on 'Jeopardy' are basically people who are just naturally curious and want to know things and that's just how they are," Martin said. "They're lifelong learners and readers and that's kind of how I've always been too."

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As for how his big day on "Jeopardy!" went, Martin's lips are still sealed. But he said he had two goals going in: he didn't want to embarass himself or his family. Martin said he accomplished that. He also encourages anyone who likes and watches "Jeopardy!" to try their hand at the online test.

"I can't reveal what actually happened," Martin said. "You'll have to watch for that."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield pilot Josh Martin to appear on 'Jeopardy!' in July