Blog: Stories & Insights

Ori Perl & Amanda Liston were both in this past season of TBS's King of the Nerds. They were on the same team briefly, representing Team Smash. Funny story, I got their publicist's information from Ori when attempting to reach out to Amanda. Ori was very helpful in setting that up, so we connected via Twitter. Once I was done interviewing Amanda (see below), I wanted to interview a male contestant on the show. Ori and I previously built a connection, so it was only a matter of time before I asked him questions, too. He seems like a fascinating person worth getting to know. I hope you enjoy learning about #OriKOTN, like I did...

When did you first identify with being a nerd? How did that impact you during your educational tenure?

"I don't remember. I have always loved math and science. I think I accepted being a nerd when I joined my high school's FIRST robotics team and realized how much fun it was."

You were among 12 contestants on TBS's King of the Nerds. What interested you about King of the Nerds? Why did you want to be on the show?

"Honestly, I had barely heard of the show before I applied. The challenges seemed like a lot of fun, and I felt I would fit in very well with everyone at #Nerdvana. Plus, it looked like an awesome place to be!"

What was your favorite moment on the show?

"My favorite moment on the show was being the Space Constable. I love making people laugh, but I would make a terrible comedian. It was a great feeling having my character (which was created entirely for the “lulz”), and it was awesome to make the judges laugh. Jonathan and Colby scripted some of the jokes, but I got to add my personality to it as well (like the spittoon noise and other things not seen on the show). I wish they could post the entire play because it was amazeballs! Also, yelling "Leroy Jenkins!" on TV; that was a goal I had from the very start of the show."

Who was your favorite person to work with on the show and why? Are you still in contact with them?

"My favorite while I was on the show was Jacob. He was really funny, and it was great hanging out with him at #Nerdvana, for the brief time he was there. After the show, I think my favorite became Raychelle (unfortunately, we were on different teams, so we didn't get to hang out as much on the show), but now we talk a lot more."

At age 22, you were one of the younger contestants on the show. Did that have an impact on connecting with the older contestants?

"I think people might not have taken me as seriously. I called the people older than me my "senpai" because I enjoy anime tropes. But we all got along well otherwise."

You were part of Season 3, King of the Nerds, but unfortunately, you were on the losing end. If you could give it another go, would you change your approach?

"The biggest thing that I was trying too hard to be funny at the beginning. I was nervous and made the mistake of making a really bad joke. That alienated me. I also did not realize that I should have been trying to gain allies from the very beginning, but I was not trying that hard to win anyway. I was more in it for the fun and the experience, and was not as focused on winning. If I do go back, I would focus more on "networking" from the very beginning and gaining allies instead of just enjoying being on the show."

Can you share something about yourself that people might not already know?

"I could technically count myself as the Asian representative of the show only because Israel is on the Asian continent. I’m first-generation American on my mom’s side, as she was born in Israel."

Your Twitter profile says you are a “LARPing battle rabbi”. What is that? I’ve seen you wear what I believe to be a yarmulke in your profile video. Are you Jewish? If so, how much are you in touch with your roots?

"It is a 'battle cleric' but of a different Jewish religion. I wear a battle yarmulke and heal people with Jewish prayers. I am indeed Jewish (Ori means "My light" in Hebrew), but I am a secular Jew, so I can enjoy bacon and crab-cakes (like a true Marylander)."

How did you get into Robotics? What is the creation that you are most proud of?

"Fortunately, there was a FIRST robotics team at my high school, and I joined freshman year. I fell in love with it immediately, and it helped me solidify my love for engineering. I spent my four years in high school on the team and my four years in college mentoring them. I also helped to create another FIRST robotics team. The coolest robot I have made was for my Bio-inspired robotics course. I designed, 3D printed, wired, and programmed a robot that walks like a crocodile. I am sad they didn't let me keep him."

What is the coolest thing about your hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland?

"It has a very great public school system!"

Ori, you are a Mechanical Engineering student at? Where are you in your education? What do you want to do when you graduate?

"I have recently graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with my degree in Mechanical Engineering. Class of 2015! I hope you will join a robotics company or do some cool design work somewhere."

What are your favorite Anime shows?

"Trigun is my absolute favorite anime. Vash the Stampede is a badass gunslinger who is also a pacifist and a goofball. I want to be just like him when I grow up."   

You are a fan of bad puns. What are some of your favorites? You can’t use the one in the promo…ha-ha.

"I can never pick a favorite, I love (and everybody else hates) them all equally. One that I like to use a lot is when somebody gives the time, I say "Not on my watch!" and I correct him or her with the time on my watch (which is usually a phone). I also figured out my super hero name would be the Pun-isher (quite a marvel-ous name for myself)."

Haha, clever wordplay! I heard about your LARPing injury. Do you have any more stories about LARPing? I’ve never participated in it before.

"I have a lot of 'war stories". All those would be another interview altogether. For example, when I first started LARPing, I was once sneaked behind an entire unit and started "killing" them from behind. I thought I was going to get noticed after a few kills and quickly be disposed of, but after killing ten or so of them, I realized I ran out of people to fight because they were all dead. I was able to reunite with my unit, and eventually we won that battle. It was one of my first thrills!"

I'm a musician, so I wanted to know how your team came up with the idea of your anthem. You guys had a great performance. Why do you think you lost the battle to the other team?

"Colby wrote most of it. We found nice background music from the music people to match the lyrics. I think we lost the competition because the other team's song was better as an anthem."

Team Smash Anthem

Ori's Links:

Twitter handle: @pickleking

Facebook: search "Ori KOTN" or go to https://www.facebook.com/the1pickleking

Thanks for opening up and answering my questions, Ori! I hope it was as much of a pleasure for you as it is for my subscribers. Best of luck with your educational pursuits! Thanks again for your time!