The professor had first started applying to participate in the show a couple of times in passing during college, but decided to start applying annually after 2019. “I always kind of took it on a whim,” Johnston said. 

When he most recently applied in April of 2024, he was surprised to receive an invitation to move on to the next stages of the "Jeopardy!" application process—a first for him. The "Jeopardy!" application process has two stages: after filling out the initial application, potential contestants are expected to complete a trivia quiz; if they pass, they then compete in a mock version of the game. Johnston, despite moving on and passing both rounds, didn’t expect to get a call back with an invitation to participate in the show.

Candidly, Johnston said that he forgot he applied, until he checked his phone after watching a "Jeopardy!" episode in March and found a message from "Jeopardy!" producers asking him to be on the show. Johnston flew out to LA to record in mid-April. 

Despite the nervousness that surrounds participating on the show and competing on national TV, Johnston gave praise to the "Jeopardy!" community and to all who participated on the same day. “It was this great kind of community of folks who are just as into Jeopardy! as you are, just willing to nerd out about it and to dig into the specifics of the game while trying to suppress their nerves,” Johnston said. 

The crew and producers were "so sweet" and "amazing," Johnston said. Host Ken Jennings was also "such a kind, class act." 

Johnston's episode aired on July 15. Up against two players, one of whom was reigning champion Scott Ricardi, Johnston had more than a little competition. The professor competed in a variety of categories, including 'Drums and Percussion,' 'King Me,' 'Single,' 'Double,' 'Homer' and 'Can We Hit For The Cycle?' 

Back in Michigan, film studies professor Kaveh Askari was at the viewing party held in support of Johnston on the show at Pizza House. Family, friends and colleagues all came together to cheer on Johnston.

“I expect that most of Jeopardy! Nation was rooting for Pete that evening,” Askari said. “Pete is talented, effective, funny and easygoing. These are the qualities that you hope for in a close colleague as well as in a world-class Jeopardy! contestant.”

Askari said that while Johnston couldn't catch many lucky breaks, he made up for it with grit. Being up against Ricardi, the "trivia machine" and not landing one more Daily Double were disadvantages that Johnson had; if he landed another daily double it would have been the "beginning of a streak," Askari said. Instead, Johnston "won on style."

Even though he didn’t emerge victorious in his game, Johnston emphasized how great of an experience it was, saying it was a "blast."

Johnston's favorite part of "Jeopardy!" has always been that it gave him the motivation to learn and be curious. The professor has taken that lesson to encourage students to learn outside of their majors and expand their cultural literacy.

“It's also an important time to understand who we are and to be able to explore who we are and how we fit into this world and our curiosity about that world,” Johnston said. “You're surrounded by expertise in literally every aspect of human knowledge, especially at a place like MSU. You have world leaders in not just your field, but every field imaginable.”

If given the chance to go on the show again, Johnston said, "I'd do it in a heartbeat."