# Game show producers = morons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148 "2010-10-05T17:49:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/1 "2010-10-05T17:49:08Z")
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](http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101004/ENT11/10050324/-Millionaire-hopefuls-audition-at-Levee). 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? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/2 "2010-10-05T17:52:48Z")
When I watch game shows, I like to feel superior and see big boobies. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/3 "2010-10-05T17:56:43Z")
Contestant wins easily: boring 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. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/4 "2010-10-05T18:01:31Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Contestant wins easily: boring > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/5 "2010-10-05T18:02:41Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > When I watch game shows, I like to feel superior and see big boobies. Do you think it would help my chances if I got breast implants before trying out? I’m a guy. Also, great user name/comment combo. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/6 "2010-10-05T18:26:15Z")
John Carpenter won easily and that was one of the greatest things I will ever see ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/7 "2010-10-05T18:30:09Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > 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? The former, unquestionably. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/8 "2010-10-05T18:32:05Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Do you think it would help my chances if I got breast implants before trying out? I’m a guy. > > Also, great user name/comment combo. Ditto for your post. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/9 "2010-10-05T20:14:38Z")
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. Talent, huh, maybe I should work on my juggling. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/10 "2010-10-05T20:25:57Z")
> [@5\_time\_champ](#): > > The cute female contestant wearing the Snow White dress that was on last Wednesday & Thursday appeared to be on meth.. She was a cutie, and with the nearly $30,000 she won, she should be able to stay spun out for several months… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/11 "2010-10-05T20:31:45Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > John Carpenter won easily and that was one of the greatest things I will ever see 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? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/12 "2010-10-05T21:51:40Z")
Seems fairly simple. 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. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/13 "2010-10-05T22:11:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > > [@PSXer](#): > > > > John Carpenter won easily and that was one of the greatest things I will ever see > > 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? 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. From WIkipedia: > [@](#): > > In the 1999–2000 season, it averaged #1 in the ratings against all other television shows. The next season (2000–2001), three nights out of the five weekly episodes placed in the top 10[6] However, the show’s ratings began to fall during the 2000–2001 season, and by the start of the 2001–2002 season, the ratings were only a fraction of what they had been one year before. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/14 "2010-10-05T22:27:19Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > John Carpenter won easily and that was one of the greatest things I will ever see Was he the guy that called his dad to tell him he was going to win? ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/15 "2010-10-05T23:46:07Z")
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. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > [@PSXer](#): > > > > John Carpenter won easily and that was one of the greatest things I will ever see > > Was he the guy that called his dad to tell him he was going to win? Wasn’t he the guy who made the original Halloween? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/16 "2010-10-06T00:11:05Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > 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? The telegenic one by a country mile. I see plenty of ugly nerds in real life; I want my tv filled to the brim with pretty people. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/17 "2010-10-06T00:30:50Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > > Was he the guy that called his dad to tell him he was going to win? > > Wasn’t he the guy who made the original Halloween? Wasn’t he one of Jesus’s disciples? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/18 "2010-10-06T00:33:28Z")
Well, I stand corrected. That’s what I get for listening to [jumptheshark.com](http://jumptheshark.com), back when it still had some credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/19 "2010-10-06T00:41:30Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > 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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148/20 "2010-10-06T03:52:51Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > 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? I’d much rather see the latter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-show-producers-morons/556148.md?page=2)