Trying out for a game show

[scout]

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is holding auditions about 45 minutes from my home tomorrow. My DH is off on "paternity leave" because I just had a baby. He's one of the smartest people I know, so I really want him to try out. He thinks it will be too crazy and busy with long lines, etc. I say it won't be TOO crazy, because it's Friday and most people will be working.

What do you think? If you had the day off, would you try out?

[Happy1]

I'd at least go and give it a try.

Nikki :D

[Rosebud]

It probably will be crazy, but it doesn't hurt to go anyway! There certainly is money to be won, and the whole process of casting and filming is pretty darn interesting. Even if he doesn't make it on the show, it's pretty fun to check it out.

A few words of advice if he does go: It helps in the casting process to have a "persona"-- something about you that's easily identifiable. Game shows are often looking for a "type" or a "story" that they know an audience will relate to. My DH was recently cast on a game show after telling the producers in his interview that he'd just found out he was going to be a father for the first time and how excited he was. It's a good, relatable story to tell an audience. Your DH should have something interesting to say about himself. Also, I don't know about Millionaire specifically, but think about the tax implications of any winnings before going in there. I won a fairly minor prize when I was on The Price is Right and you do have to pay taxes on whatever you win.

Let us know what he decides!

[scout]

Thanks, Nikki and Rosebud!


but think about the tax implications of any winnings before going in there. Definitely. My Dh always makes fun of me because every time we watch a game show I say things like, "Well, that's really only $8,000 after taxes." LOL! Thanks for the advice about having a persona. I know it would be a long shot, but
There certainly is money to be won, and the whole process of casting and filming is pretty darn interesting. Even if he doesn't make it on the show, it's pretty fun to check it out.
that's what I thought too.

[Goddess Tiff]

Tell Scott to go for it! I tried out for Weakest Link several years ago, but apparently I was weaker than the weakest link, lol.

[MrsSmith]

He should certainly give it a shot!! My one desire before I die is to be on a game show. Good luck to him! Let us know!

[Sophia]

He should go! It would be fun just to check it out!

[PG-rated]

I agree that he should go. What's he got to lose?

And I tried out for The Weakest Link, too! :)

[junkinmytrunk]

(waving) Hi Scout!! CONGRATS!! Got the email and what a beauty!

Anyways, when I worked for WC I had two co-workers that both were on gameshows. One was on Wheel and Pyramid and the other was on Wheel. They both won cash and prizes. Sure, they paid taxes and they didn't actually receive the prizes until AFTER the show aired but in all, they were both really happy with their experiences. So I say, tell DH to go for it! :)

[carrie9142]

I definitely agree with having a story and especially if it is an underdog type story. I have a super smart friend who is also an MD who got to one of the final castings for Millionaire. They ended up not wanting to put him on the show since 1) people expect MDs to be smart, so it is less of a surprise if they do well and 2) people don't really like to see doctors win a lot of money ;) Now if he had been a janitor with 12 kids...

[tlew12778]

A few words of advice if he does go: It helps in the casting process to have a "persona"-- something about you that's easily identifiable. Game shows are often looking for a "type" or a "story" that they know an audience will relate to. My DH was recently cast on a game show after telling the producers in his interview that he'd just found out he was going to be a father for the first time and how excited he was. It's a good, relatable story to tell an audience. Your DH should have something interesting to say about himself.
ITA with this. Before we even cast for game shows we call the prospective contestants and do a full phone interview with them. It saves the time of dealing with lines and forms and whatnot. They ask some very detailed questions almost to the point of the contestant asking "why do you need to know all this information?". It's never anything too private though.

I would go. I mean, even if you have to pay taxes, it's money that you weren't expecting to have anyway.

[scout]

Hi Scout!! CONGRATS!! Got the email and what a beauty! Thank you! I'm so thrilled with my little girl!

Thanks for all of the advice. I shared it with my DH. He's on the way to the audition right now.

[LeslieR]

How exciting! I would encourage my DH to try out, too. Keep us posted on how he does!

[Goddess Tiff]

Yay!!!! Good luck Scott!! :D

[Janey]

I want to know what Rosebud won on Price is Right. :D

Good luck, Scout's DH!

[scout]

My Dh didn't get on to the next round. :( At least he tried! Wheel of Fortune is coming in October....maybe I'll try out for that! :)

[MichelleRenee]

My dream is to be on Wheel of Fortune! I would try out for that in a heartbeat!

[Goddess Tiff]

Oooh, Tracie, where will they be, and what date?? I want my mom to try out, she rocks!

[scout]

Oooh, Tracie, where will they be, and what date?? They'll be in Cicero of all places. Here's the info:

Sunday, October 10 from 1 p.m.  5 p.m.
Where: Hawthorne Race Course
(Auditions will take place in the Grandstands near the Clubhouse Entrance)
3501 S. Laramie Avenue
Cicero, IL 60804 (Get Driving Directions)
Phone Number: 708-780-7050

[Goddess Tiff]

Sweet, thanks! Now to talk her into it...

[katzmeow671]

I'm glad he went to the audition... did you know my brother was on Millionaire? Not only was he on but it was the "Pop Culture" edition and my brother is king of pop culture. He ended up with $100,000 which is still way more than he walked in the door with after taxes (about $60000). Sad to say its all gone now but it did pay for an apartment in NYC for quite a while and new crib for Gracie (which he said on the show when asked what he'd do with the winnings ... "I'm going to buy a crib for my pregnant sister" and the audience replied "Awwwww")

I wish I could show you the video... he's classic game show contestant material down to the expression on his face and jumping up and down when he'd get a question right.

[Rosebud]

I want to know what Rosebud won on Price is Right. :D

$500 worth of camping equipment (which my brother took possession of as soon as it arrived at my parents house- I've never even seen it!).

I also lost a car (!) and got to spin the big wheel (very heavy). I got $0.85 in one spin and thought I was golden, and then the person after me got $0.90 in two spins. :mad:

This was in 1995, and I remember being amazed by how OLD Bob Barker looked when you got up close to him. It was one of my only coherent thoughts during the experience. Despite doing a ton of performing and public speaking as a child, I was so terrified on TPIR that I had no idea what was going on-- it was like an out of body experience.

[scout]

Rosebud What a cool experience, though! :)


did you know my brother was on Millionaire? I didn't know that!!!!!!!!!!

[littlemia]

I went to the Wheel of Fortune auditions in my city a few years ago. Thousands of people showed up so they had a raffle to decide who got to go to the first round of auditions. I'm pretty sure a blind woman got picked. I have little success with games of chance, so I hung around all day in the hot Florida sun for nothing.

[megc1]

Rosebud: What game did you play for the car? That is so cool that you were on! It is still my favorite game show but I never get to watch it.

[Rosebud]

It's a game that doesn't come up very often. There are five empty squares, and then above them are a whole long row of numbers. You have to select the numbers that reflect the exact price of the car- and then they're shown in the empty boxes. If you get it wrong, you get one chance to change something (and they don't tell you what is wrong). That's it- no clues, no guessing prices in between. It's pretty hard. You basically get two chances to guess the exact price with no guidance. I actually came pretty close, but my last digit was off. Bummer!

[megc1]

I am pretty sure I know what game you are talking about--basically impossible to win. At least you got to spin the big wheel! I have always wanted to do that. :D