State House aide is a 'Jeopardy!' whiz

January 2, 2008 11:59 AM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

(Photo courtesy Jeopardy! Productions Inc.)

Dan Pawson says he developed a knack for hitting the buzzer right after "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek (left) finished reading the question.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Which legislative aide at the State House has racked up $109,100 in a winning streak on the "Jeopardy!" TV game show?

Dan Pawson. (Or, as they would say on "Jeopardy!," "Who is Dan Pawson?")

Pawson, a 2006 University of Chicago Law School graduate, works as legislative director for Senator Bruce Tarr, Republican of Gloucester.

A resident of Boston's Allston section, he is married, and he and his wife are expecting in a few days.

He filmed the show in September and October. It's just airing now. He’s not allowed to talk about whether his winning ways continue in tomorrow night's show, which airs at 7:30 p.m. on WSBK-TV (Channel 38).

What's his secret?

He said he developed a knack for swiftly hitting the buzzer just after host Alex Trebek finished his questions, a talent Trebek commented on at the beginning of tonight’s show, when Pawson faced former Bay State resident Katy Halpern, now a stay-at-home mom of two in Dublin, CA.

A Chicago native, Halpern majored in English at Wellesley College, graduated in 1999 and lived in Charlestown for two years, working as a magazine editor.

Reached at home tonight, the 29-year-old said Pawson "was definitely tough competition. He ran away with it. He was absolutely lightning fast on the buzzer ... and he just has a really good broad base of knowledge, so I’m not surprised he’s doing well."

Pawson said it helps to be lucky. "A lot of it’s just pure dumb luck, having things you know about come up."

One key question Tuesday night had to do with the Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi, Pawson said. He knew the answer because he grew up in Staten Island, N.Y., which happens to be the home of a museum dedicated to Garibaldi. Tonight, Pawson dominated a category on American history, a favorite topic of his, and answered a Daily Double question about one of his favorite authors.

"I like Jonathan Swift, and I got a nice Jonathan Swift Daily Double, so that was fun," he said after the show aired.

Pawson admitted he was "reckless" for incorrectly guessing the answer to a question about physics, which cost him $2,000.

He advised would-be "‘Jeopardy!" contestants to prepare by reading up on topics that always come up on the show, such as American history and Shakespeare.

"And play a lot of video games, that helps with the buzzer," he added.

Globe Correspondent Jillian Jorgensen contributed to this article.