Someone from the show's production company posted an audition flyer to Reddit back in late summer 2019. It was a simple online process, and they picked some people (not sure how) for an online test (in November), then later for a Skype interview (December). For the interview, they sent a large packet to fill out, then I discussed what I wrote with one of the production staff for about 20 minutes (in typical "Bring your loud voice and dress like you're going to be on the show" style). That went well, and they strongly hinted to me repeatedly that I was on, but nothing was official. Lots of "Congrats! Now you get a background check!" and "We're still deciding, but make sure you're available these dates!" communications. Finally got the call in January for a February 6th taping date.alietr wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 6:22 pm
So, some general questions since we really haven't heard too much about the process on here. How did you audition? Do they pay expenses at all (not likely)? Do the runners-up get any compensation? Is it in LA? Do the Master Minds get a financial incentive for winning? How did they treat you during the taping? Are you kept sequestered from the MM's? I'd really like to see a good write-up like a lot of people do for their Jeopardy appearances.
No expenses paid at all, and no prizes for the runners up. The show taped at CBS studios in Studio City, California (north of LA), so it was neat seeing another studio (I was on Wheel years ago, and I've been to Jeopardy tapings and tests in Culver City). They kept us 100% sequestered from Brooke and the Master Minds until taping time. The green room (a curtained-off area of a larger room) was tiny and cramped, and there were snacks and Subway for lunch, but nothing special. We had some games to play and got to know each other (quite a few Jeopardy, Chase, WWTBAM and other game show alumni there), but you could tell it wasn't as well-funded a game as Wheel or Jeopardy. No phones, books, personal reading materials or other stuff was allowed, even in the green room. We all got kinda bored. I'm not sure how the MMs were compensated - someone asked during our orientation, but either they couldn't tell us or I forgot the answer.
We weren't told who we'd be playing with or what order we'd be taping - at various points, the producers would grab two or three or us (depending on whether someone beat the MMs, I assume), put us in final makeup, and ushered us to the stage. We got a primer early in the day on game play (the show has a lot of rules and some weirdness with various writing rounds/buzzer rounds), and a final buzzer primer right before we went on the air. None of us got to watch the show taping, and even after I was done, I was taken back stage and put into another little curtained-off room with the contestant who was eliminated before me, so we could hear what happened but not watch. Once that was done, the two of us were escorted off (I think the guy who went up against Ken had to stick around for paperwork purposes, since he won $1,000) - no further communication with the other contestants, and no hand shakes or pictures or anything with the MMs.
The show aims to tape in 30 minutes the same way J! and Wheel do, and Brooke would re-read clues on camera the way Alex does during commercial breaks. While taping, I got the impression that the MMs were the stars (lots of kinda forced jokes, you could tell Ken was doing his best to be fun/funny on the fly) and the contestants were just there to move the game along, like on Match Game or Hollywood Squares. But on watching today, I was on camera more than I thought I'd be. No promo shots with Brooke or the MMs for us - I was hoping for a picture with the MMs like Jeopardy does with Alex and each individual contestant - but it was a good time. I knew we'd likely air in May or June, but didn't hear from the producers until May 1 (after the show had already started airing) telling me my show would be on today. I had to sign up for a Philo account to watch GSN since I don't have cable. I'd really like a copy of the show, but I'll have to dig around to find one, I'm sure.
Feel free to ask any other questions - it was fun reliving it today!
