I debated putting this in the Pit, so the mods should do so if it is more appropriate.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire had tryouts near Cincinnati yesterday. The producers gave a test, and also interviewed prospective contestants for personality and "talents".
WTF is the use of a “talent” for a game show? Why, oh why do game show producers think that some ditz who can do cheerleader moves would be a superior contestant to someone who is a serious threat to win the million?
(Major disclaimer: I was ineligible for these tryouts because I was on WWTBAM about 10 years ago. I got on when you could do so via phone tests only. I have tried out for 2 other game shows, and was not selected for either one.)
Seriously, what makes for better TV - the mediocre contestant who passed the audition because he or she was more telegenic; or the nerd who actually does well with the questions?
Contestant wins after much struggle and near-failure: interesting
Contestant loses after much struggle and near-success: interesting
Contestant loses immediately: boring
Hence, people who are too smart or too dumb get rejected. Frankly, I’d be amused to see someone running through the Smarter than a Fifth Grader questions with polished ease and unbridled contempt for the kids and the host, but I admit that would wear thin pretty fast.
Great - but IMHO the original run of WWTBAM made for much more compelling TV when you had smart people struggling with tougher questions, then the current run where you have so-so contestants randomly missing random questions.
I was planning to go to the audition in St Louis next Monday. Are they really looking for ditzes? The cute female contestant wearing the Snow White dress that was on last Wednesday & Thursday appeared to be on meth.
Yes, but isn’t that victory often citied as the beginning of the end of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, or at least the boffo ratings it had had up to that point?
The producers aren’t interested in making better TV. They’re interested in making TV that sells more ads. Cheerleaders sell more ads than earnest nerds.
Beginning of the end? The US version of Millionaire began in August 1999 and Carpenter won in November 1999. He was the beginning of the beginning. The show began to fall in the ratings immediately after 9/11.
I tried out for Millionaire about a month ago. Questions were easy, but that’s only to make sure you’re smart enough to handle the show, and weeds out about 90% of the audience. The rest of us then get a face to face interview where they go over the following questions:
What are your superstitions and quirks?
How would winning $1 Million change your life?
What is the one thing you do that makes everyone laugh?
If you could nominate yourself for “the best” at something, what would that be?
You’d never believe it, but I once…
answering those questions is what leads to the chit chat with Meredith between questions. Unless you have something that’ll keep the TV audience interested, this is where you get shown the door. Next time, I’ll be better prepared
Speaking of which, the episodes airing today and tomorrow are the ones where you can see me in the audience, second row, left shoulder of the contestant.
Wasn’t he the guy who made the original Halloween?
Here’s my proposition. I’ll turn on my webcam so you can watch while you ask me questions. If I know the answer I’ll tell you right then. If I don’t know off the top of my head, I’ll Google the answers. Either way, I’ll get damn near 100% correct. Then you can tell me how telegenic I am.